Auto-suggestion
“I think I can”, that mantra of the Little Engine That Could is auto-suggestion.

Auto-suggestion is the communicating link between the conscious mind, where thought takes place, and the subconscious mind, which is the seat of action.

More simply put, you cannot do anything unless you think you can. In fact, you cannot even fail unless you convince yourself, or allow others to convince you, that you can fail. Think about that.

It is the thoughts that you permit to dominate and remain in your conscious mind that influences the subconscious mind to action. NO THOUGHT, whether it is negative or positive, CAN ENTER THE SUBCONSCIOUS MIND WITHOUT THE AID OF THE PRINCIPLE OF AUTO-SUGGESTION.

Beware of Negativity
The conscious mind is the filter for the subconscious. That is why it is so important that we guard our minds like sentries on guard duty. When any sense impression enters your conscious mind – the second you become aware of it – you should stand at attention, with your weapon at the ready and demand of that sense impression, “Friend or foe?”

Be aware, though: that sense impression may lie to you. How often, when confronted with an alert sentry, does an enemy wanting to breach the defenses openly admit that he is a foe, shrug at being caught, and return to his trenches in defeat? More often, they sneak up, try to catch the sentry unawares, throttle him, and proceed to wreak havoc.

We have ABSOLUTE CONTROL over the material that reaches our subconscious minds through our five senses. We just don’t always exercise that control and that is why many of us fail at the goals we set for ourselves.

Gardening
If little engines and sentries on guard duty don’t float your boat, consider this image: the subconscious mind is a fertile garden spot. We have control of what grows there. If we don’t keep it cultivated and plant the right seeds, weeds will invade and grow in abundance.

But if we uproot each weed, each negative thought, when we come to it – if we don’t let them take root – and if we plant positive seeds and nurture them, they will grow in abundance and bear a bountiful harvest (Jesus alluded to this truth in a couple of his parables.).

How can we cultivate the gardens of our minds? Earlier, you were given six steps and were instructed to “read ALOUD twice daily the WRITTEN statement of your DESIRE FOR MONEY, and to SEE AND FEEL yourself ALREADY in possession of the money! By following these instructions, you communicate the object of your DESIRE directly to your SUBCONSCIOUS mind in the spirit of absolute FAITH.”

Say It Like You Believe It
Remember though, that you have to say it like you believe it. Merely reading the words will do no more good than standing in your garden and identifying the weeds without actually pulling them, then dumping good seed on the ground without covering or watering them. You have to mix emotion (of which faith is among the strongest) with your words.

If At First You Don’t Succeed…
Don’t worry if you cannot control and direct your emotions the first time you try to do so. Remember that there is no such thing as SOMETHING FOR NOTHING. The price of the ability to influence your subconscious mind is PERSISTENCE.

Concentrate (focus your attention) with your eyes closed, until you can ACTUALLY SEE the money before the eyes of your mind. Do this at least once a day. See yourself actually IN POSSESSION OF THE MONEY!

The subconscious mind takes any orders given it in a spirit of absolute FAITH and acts upon those orders, though the orders may have to be given over and over again.

You can play a perfectly legitimate ‘trick’ on your subconscious mind by making it believe because you believe it that it MUST give you the money you are visualizing.

Then give the thought that your subconscious mind MUST give you the money you desire to your IMAGINATION and see what your imagination can come up with in the way of practical plans to accumulate that money.

Don’t trust to your ‘reason’ when creating your plan for accumulating money through the transmutation of desire. Your ‘reason’ is faulty or may be lazy. If you depend solely upon it, you may be sorely disappointed.

DO NOT WAIT for a definite plan. Start now to SEE yourself in possession of the money, DEMANDING and EXPECTING that your subconscious mind will deliver up the plan or plans you need. Be on the lookout for these plans – which may “flash” into your mind through the sixth sense or by inspiration (an “Instant Message” from the Infinite Mind) – and ACT ON THEM IMMEDIATELY. Failure to do this will be FATAL to your success.

When visualizing the money you intend to accumulate, (with closed eyes), see yourself rendering the service, or delivering the merchandise you intend to give in return for this money. This is important!

The Formula For Success
To recap and expand the instructions given earlier:

(1) Go to some quiet spot (preferably in bed at night), close your eyes and repeat aloud (so that you can hear your own words) this formula:

“By the first day of January, 20___, I will have in my possession $____________, which will come to me in vaious amounts from time to time during the interim.

“In return for this money I will give the most efficient service of which I am capable, rendering the fullest possible quantity, and the best possible quality of service in the capacity of ______________.

“I believe that I will have this money in my possession. My faith is so strong that I can now see this money before my eyes. I can touch it with my hands. It is now awaiting transfer to me at the time, and in the proportion that I deliver the service I intend to render in return for it. I am awaiting a plan by which to accumulate this money, and I wil follow that plan when it is received.”

(2) Repeat this formula morning and night until you can see, (in your imagination), the money you intend to accumulate.

(3) Place a written copy of your formula where you can see it night and morning and read it just before retiring, and upon arising until it has been memorized.

(4) Print out this entire article and follow in spirit and in action, this instruction: READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE ALOUD ONCE EVERY NIGHT, UNTIL YOU BECOME THOROUGHLY CONVINCED THAT THE PRINCIPLE OF AUTO-SUGGESTION IS SOUND, THAT IT WILL ACCOMPLISH FOR YOU ALL THAT HAS BEEN CLAIMED FOR IT. AS YOU READ, UNDERSCORE WITH A PENCIL EVERY SENTENCE WHICH IMPRESSES YOU FAVORABLY.

Follow those instructions to the letter and it will open the way for a complete understanding and mastery of the prinicples of success.

Author's Bio: 

Sara Dillinger is a Baby Boomer herself and a newbie internet entrepreneur focusing on the Baby Boomer generation because she spent sixteen years serving as pastor in United Methodist congregations all over Kansas. Those congregations were made up primarily of Baby Boomer or older members, so Sara has developed some expertise with the Baby Boomer generation. Sara is now on leave of absence and living in Atchison, Ks. with her almost-thirty year old son and two cats. She also helps her daughter, also living in Atchison, with three sons, ages 8, 6, and 1, while their father is in Afghanistan. Her blogs are found at http://www.for-boomers.com.