The Law of Suggestion

How often do you talk to yourself and say, “I am beautiful, intelligent, and I can do it!” ” Nothing is impossible if I put my mind to it.” Or sang the lyrics of the song entitled Fight song by Rachel Platten, “This is my fight song, take back my life song, prove I’m alright song. My power’s turned on, starting right now I’ll be strong, I’ll play my fight song. And I don’t really care if nobody else believes, cause I’ve still got a lot of fight left in me.” during our lowest moments, which gives us the confidence that pushes us over the finish line.

They are called affirmations, mental suggestions. They are a way to cultivate self-confidence at the moment when I need it most. As we experience this life, we develop the elements of the mind that we require to realize what we need to accomplish our goals, and it starts with learning to have confidence in our abilities.

If one lacks self-appreciation, we are inclined to live an inferior life when we might do better. We will never know our capacity until we are tested. There is much truth in Theodore Roosevelt’s saying, “A man is like tea; he never knows his real strength until he gets in hot water.”

Newton N. Riddell once said, “Men of very ordinary ability that believe in themselves, command respect and confidence from others and push ahead into responsible places, while men of superior qualities that lack self-confidence are held back to serve in inferior positions.” In his book Psychology of Success, he gives the six requirements and how to use self-affirmations to help us achieve success.

6 Facts of Suggestion

1.  Any perception of stimulation that makes a clear, deep impression upon the mind or subconscious life, becomes a suggestion and tends to modify mind, character, or functional activities.
2. The higher the emphasis and the more frequent the repetition of a suggestion, the more powerful it becomes.
3. Any fact, idea, or ideal that can be put into word form can be lodged as a suggestion, and built into our brain cells.
4. While all persons are not equally amenable to suggestion, nor is anyone equally susceptible at all times, all are responsive to suggestions and may become more so by complying with receptivity laws.
5. Receptivity to a suggestion or an impression depends upon the degree of attention. The degree of attention, in turn, depends mainly upon two conditions: the degree of mental activity and intensity as focused upon the thing to be perceived; and the subtraction of everything that might scatter the attention.
6. Suggestions that are most often and most forcefully repeated control of the stream of consciousness and become the dominant elements in character.

How to Use Suggestion

1. Decide definitely upon the thing to be accomplished.
2.  Put the ideal into as few words as possible.
3. Repeat these words earnestly, wholeheartedly, and at the same time with will and desire that the thing affirmed shall become a fact.

In A Nutshell

Mental suggestions can be used in building our mind centers but also in managing predispositions, regulating our energies, strengthening the will, and refining and elevating our points of view.

Repetition is the key for suggestions to take root in our brain cells. These suggestions must be repeated adequately to be grounded in our mind and character. Repeat the words with desire and will, and it will be effective. “To both affirm and desire without willing in the same direction, leaves a suggestion with but little potency, but when the mind affirms a thing which is supported by earnest desire and a positive will, the thing affirmed soon becomes a fact in character.”- Newton Ridell

We must remember that words and thoughts are powerless in themselves. It’s the DESIRE that gives them form, gives them life, and the WILL that gives them power. As we repeat the affirmation, it floods our consciousness, we think about and then do it.

Source

Riddell, Newton(1909). The Psychology of Success. Riddell Publishing Co. Chicago, Il. p. 27-29