Questions & Answers RSS FeedMonthly Mind Power Questions & Answers
September 2006
Q I'm writing my first horror novel and screenplay now. Naturally, I'm doing a good deal of imagining and replaying of "negative" scenes as part of the creative process. Since getting into Mind Power, I've become a bit paranoid that all this imagination could negatively impact me, but these creations are something I really want to pursue. Any suggestions?
NY, USA
A This is an interesting and challenging dilemma that actors also often encounter. When they have to rehearse over and over again a scene that has anger or hate, they take on these emotions inside them. A successful playwright whom I know also experiences similar situations when she lives day and night with the script she is writing. Fortunately her themes are almost always positive and she receives the benefit.
A good practice to nullify the effect of focusing on "negative" scenes is to do some meditation or some physical exercise such as yoga or tai chi to get you out of your mind. You can also use positive affirmations after each writing session to feed your subconscious, plus a daily visualization, seeing all good things happening to you. You are very observant to realize that there could be a problem here. Doing the above should more than compensate.
Q I seem to be stagnating. I've been studying mind power and visualizing for quite a few years now. I have had many positive results but now feel that I am at a standstill. I do get small results, and I am very appreciative, however I feel that I have done this so often and can be quite adept at manifesting that which I don't receive. I am very disappointed and start to think I am losing my powers, and maybe it's all just been lucky coincidence and not me creating it, and... Plus, I envisioned myself to be where I want to be by this time and I am not. Any advice? Also, what is the difference between daydreaming and creating what you want by visualizing?
Syracuse, New York
A First of all, in regard to the difference between daydreaming and creating what you want by visualizing, you could call visualizing creative daydreaming if you choose. The real difference between daydreaming and visualizing is that daydreaming is simply meandering, thinking about something when you want to think about it. Visualizing is an actual exercise that is structured, and that you repeat to yourself over and over and over again.
Regarding your stagnating, this can happen to anyone. In fact there are very few individuals who don't go through these low periods. You mention that you have had many positive results in your life, and you should use this as a testament to the fact that mind powers work. A life is a long affair, and sometimes if we don't get what we want or we seem to be at a standstill, we can get depressed and feel that really we're achieving nothing at all. Instead choose to look at your life as if you are achieving many things. Take a positive perspective on it. Start up a new mind power program and work consistently for what you want, and I think you'll find that you're going to get it.
Q What do you think will happen when the earth is over?
California
A I have no idea what will happen when the earth is over. However, it doesn't concern me in the slightest. Being a gypsy and travelling to countries all over the world, I find that I am at home in many different places and comfortable wherever I am. From a larger metaphysical perspective, I believe that in this world of ours there are many dimensions and many possibilities. If this world was to end, I'm sure I would find myself in some other dimension, and I'm sure it would have its joys and challenges, just like this one does. I welcome the opportunity to explore them.
Q I am writing mainly for my 30-year-old son, but also myself. Both of us have ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder). My son's is quite a bit worse than mine. So, concentrating on visualizing is not easy. I've also tried tapes (as it's hard to concentrate on reading books), but it's also hard to stay with a tape. Do you have any solid suggestions we might follow? I'm open to most anything.
California
A I think a great technique would be affirmations. Affirmations are simple; they're easy. All one has to do is repeat them over and over and over again to yourself. You can do it for thirty seconds, you can do it for a couple of minutes, you can do it whenever you feel like it, and since you have difficulty in other areas, I would suggest that you work very strongly with this technique. I know people who have had great success working with Mind Powers working just with affirmations.
Q Do you know hot to get your brain in the Alpha state?
South Africa
A The Alpha state is really just a state of relaxation where your mind is calm and clear and receptive. Meditation, and there are hundreds of different types, helps our mind to relax. Deep breathing is also a good technique. When you slow your breath your thoughts tend to slow too. Your breath and thoughts are linked to each other. Spending several minutes slowing your breath will basically put you into an Alpha state.
Q Recently I picked up the collective works of Florence Scovel Shinn who talks about the subconscious mind. She also talks about the Bible and the subconscious mind much like you do. However, she doesn't recommend repeating affirmations as you do in your book. Instead she says it's best to say it and have faith. She also believes in nonresistance, but not so much in visualization. I noticed you didn't make reference to her work in your "Mind Power" book. I'd like to know if you've ever read her and if you did, what you think of her work? Do you recommend following her suggestions?
New York
A Florence Scovel Shinn is one of about a dozen pioneers in this field of study. Every mind power system will have many similarities, and some differences. Her work is valuable and you should drink from many sources. Her teaching perspective has a very Christian emphasis, and if this is to your liking, go for it.
Q I would just like to say thank you for your wonderful book, Mind Power. I started practicing it religiously, and good things have really started happening in my life. The biggest thing was that I quit smoking! That was very tough. Most interestingly, I practiced the technique on this subject for only a few weeks, then kinda forgot about it - I just went on smoking. But then a year later, suddenly one day I just up and decided, "Today is the day I quit," and just like that, I stopped smoking. It was tough, but the thing is, I got through it. It's been a year more or less since I stopped and now things are a breeze! I attribute this to Mind Powers, because I had tried to stop many times before, over many years, without success.
Anyway, I thought you would like to know that. I use Mind Power every day. I am working on some big changes in my life, and though Mind Power does not take away the pain of doing what you have to do, it really does "shift the sh*t" and blow away a lot of your mental blockages deep down - it's amazing. For the first time in my life, I feel like I have a tool that will allow me to program my own destiny.
I keep your book on my bedside table and refer to it every now and again for a refresher. I'm convinced Mind Power works. In fact, I would say that in my experience it works better than anything I have ever tried, except perhaps prayer.
New Zealand
A Thank you for your e-mail and sharing your story.
Q I am 16, turning 17 in October. I am currently in my last grade and I still don't know what to do after I've graduated high school. I've been interested in self-help books from the moment I discovered them and have books by Napoleon Hill, Anthony Robbins, and Dr. Joseph Murphy. In one of Joseph Murphy's books, he advises people like me who still do not know what they really want to do to question ourselves aloud in a quiet place (I've been doing this in my bed at night) and the answer may come from within. However, I want to ask you, how do you think the answer can come? I've been thinking for a long time about doing something, but I simply want to make sure that it is the right thing. I feel like I want to do what I've thought about for the wrong reason. Will/Can the answer come from the outside? From a pure coincidence? Or from within? (In which case I have no idea how it can.)
Brussels, Belgium
A Follow your passion and trust that all will work out. At 17, this is the best possible advice I can give. Many people will have ideas and suggestions for you, and they are all worth listening to, but ultimately you must trust the choice which has the most energy for you. Forget what career makes the most money or is most in demand. Trust your passion and follow it. Your passion is in you for a reason. It is a direction for you. Follow it wherever it leads and you will have a happy and successful life. I suggest you read the past monthly topic, "Follow the Call" for more about this.
Answers can come from without as well as within. Notice any coincidences that seems to point in a certain direction. Also listen to the still small voice within you, as well as your hunches and feelings. What "feels right" is as valuable as what you "think" is right.
You can also use the affirmation, "I will make the right decisions and have a happy and successful life." All this will most definitely lead you to your correct path.
Q Earlier this year I decided to go to Canada for the summer and try a sport that didn't exist where I lived and I had heard about on the Internet. I have an uncle who lives there, so I never had any trouble finding where to go during my long stay. At first, my mom would tell me that I couldn't go to the school I had planned to go to, because no one could get me there because my uncle would be busy with work, and it was too far. But every time my mom called upstairs to tell me that, for whatever reason, it wasn't possible, I kept saying, "NO, I WILL GO TO THIS SCHOOL. END OF DISCUSSION."
As time went by, I had decided to go by myself using the subway, even though it was extremely far-the closest school was one I didn't want to go to because of the limited lessons per week.
I told myself, "Well, guess I just have to wait and see when I get to Canada."
A few weeks later, after I had spent a few days resting because of the jet lag between Belgium and Canada, we decided to go to the school. It turned out that all the Internet websites that showed us a map and kept showing the distance between my uncle's house and the school as huge WERE ACTUALLY ALL WRONG. It was in fact one street away and I could go there by bus, took me 15 minutes to go there.
It was only when I looked back that I realized that the only reason that made it possible is that I didn't ACCEPT the fact that I couldn't go where I WANTED to go. In other words, I would tell to my subconscious mind even though it LOOKED impossible," Okay, I don't care how you do it, but I WILL achieve my goal and go there, so keep working on the "how."
This experience taught me a lot. I hope that anyone who reads this learns from my experience as well, that they shouldn't worry too much about the "how." As long as they know the "what," the subconscious mind will focus on the "how."
Brussels, Belgium
A Thanks for sharing your experience. I'm sure many will be inspired and learn from it. You are very astute to realize that the subconscious always finds a way when the desire and will are clear. Let me reiterate: Don't spend time wondering how it will happen. Those details will naturally fall into place. Just be clear on what you want and daily feed that image to your subconscious. Well done!
Q I believe in the theory of Karma. I think there is a specific course of life decided by Supreme/Nature for each of us. Now when we use Mind Power, don't you think we are trying to interfere with this Nature? We may inflict more Karma on us and we may even unknowingly use Mind Power for goals which may prove to be negative in the long run.
Delhi, India
A Free will gives us the opportunity to choose our own goals. Mind Power gives us the ability to achieve them. Your question is a very deep and spiritual one, and I will answer accordingly. All action and thought create Karma, and if we do only for ourselves with no thought of others or no thought to what our destiny may be calling us to do, we are out of harmony with the greater good. However, the daily practice of Mind Power awakens one to the subconscious mind. Working with the subconscious mind awakens one to the soul. Working with the soul awakens one to their cosmic destiny. When you act and think according to cosmic destiny you are in harmony with all. So while there may easily be goals and directions that are not in harmony with what we should be doing, this too is part of the path to enlightenment. The wonderful thing about Mind Power is that this discipline will quite naturally lead you in a harmonious direction if you listen to your inner voice and trust your instincts. That is why, if you notice, this website is dedicated to awakening all aspects of the self, not just the mind.
We have a body, a mind, a subconscious mind, and a soul. To be an awakened human being means all are awakened and functioning and in harmony with the greater good of all.