Yawn and Grow Rich Course
By Paul Adams – The Yawn Guy
SECTION 14: THE SIXTH SENSE
- Text in black (after legend) = original text of Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill
- Text in blue = paragraph numbers and course instructions to you, the student
- DEMO = draw out pictures of real-life situations on paper using stick figures for you, your partner, your boss etc. Demos will help considerably with your understanding. Do not use a lot of words in the demo. Demo the ideas as they apply to your own life. You can also do demos at your discretion to help with any "non-demo" paragraph too. If you are feeling "light-headed" from too much theory, do lots of real-life demos until the light-headedness goes away.
- PRACTICAL = an assignment for you to do now before continuing to read further in the text. Sometimes it will be something for you to do later in the day, or a continuing action, and if so this will be stated.
- Text in green = explanation, not written by Napoleon Hill
- Mark the radio buttons ( | ) honestly as you do each paragraph. Note that these buttons will clear when you close your browser. It is not a good idea to leave lots of "Hmmm"s behind you. (That doesn't mean close your browser often!)
- Look up any word or phrase you don't understand when you first encounter it. This is important—don't guess or slide by without getting it. Use it in sentences of your own until you fully get it. This might take a few or it might take ten or more sentences.
- If you really can't understand a paragraph and it does seems like you understand every word, click on the "Didn't get it" link at the end of that paragraph. Follow the instructions you find there. This is different to a "negative reaction". "Didn't get it" means you have gone foggy or blank and didn't understand the paragraph, either the whole of it or some part of it.
- If you understood the paragraph, but have a negative reaction to the text, first make sure you understand the words the author is using, and the idea he is trying to put across. In other words, make sure your reaction is to what the author is saying, not to what you misunderstand him to be saying. If the reaction persists, click on the "Negative reaction" link and follow the instructions there. An example of a negative reaction would be "Oh! I'll never be able to do that!"
CHAPTER 14: THE SIXTH SENSE
THE DOOR TO THE TEMPLE OF WISDOM
The Thirteenth Step toward Riches
14.1 THE "thirteenth" principle
is known as the SIXTH SENSE, through which Infinite Intelligence may,
and will communicate voluntarily, without any effort from, or demands
by, the individual.
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14.2 DEMO: This principle is the
apex of the philosophy. It can be assimilated, understood, and applied
ONLY by first mastering the other twelve principles.
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14.3 DEMO: The SIXTH SENSE is
that portion of the subconscious mind which has been referred to as the
Creative Imagination. It has also been referred to as the "receiving
set" through which ideas, plans, and thoughts flash into the mind. The
"flashes" are sometimes called "hunches" or "inspirations."
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14.4 The sixth sense defies
description! It cannot be described to a person who has not mastered the
other principles of this philosophy, because such a person has no
knowledge, and no experience with which the sixth sense may be compared.
Understanding of the sixth sense comes only by meditation through mind
development from within. The sixth sense probably is the medium
of contact between the finite mind of man and Infinite Intelligence, and
for this reason, it is a mixture of both the mental and the spiritual.
It is believed to be the point at which the mind of man contacts the
Universal Mind. After you have mastered the principles described in this
book, you will be prepared to accept as truth a statement which may,
otherwise, be incredible to you, namely:
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14.5 DEMO: Through the aid of
the sixth sense, you will be warned of impending dangers in time to
avoid them, and notified of opportunities in time to embrace them.
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14.6 DEMO: There comes to your
aid, and to do your bidding, with the development of the sixth sense, a
"guardian angel" who will open to you at all times the door to the
Temple of Wisdom.
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14.7 Whether or not this is a
statement of truth, you will never know, except by following the
instructions described in the pages of this book, or some similar method
of procedure.
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14.8 The author is not a
believer in, nor an advocate of "miracles," for the reason that he has
enough knowledge of Nature to understand that Nature never deviates from her established laws.
Some of her laws are so incomprehensible that they produce what appear
to be "miracles." The sixth sense comes as near to being a miracle as
anything I have ever experienced, and it appears so, only because I do
not understand the method by which this principle is operated.
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14.9 This much the author does
know—that there is a power, or a First Cause, or an Intelligence, which
permeates every atom of matter, and embraces every unit of energy
perceptible to man—that this Infinite Intelligence converts acorns into
oak trees, causes water to flow down hill in response to the law of
gravity, follows night with day, and winter with summer, each
maintaining its proper place and relationship to the other. This
Intelligence may, through the principles of this philosophy, be induced
to aid in transmuting DESIRES into concrete, or material form. The
author has this knowledge, because he has experimented with it—and has
EXPERIENCED IT.
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14.10 Step by step, through the
preceding chapters, you have been led to this, the last principle. If
you have mastered each of the preceding principles, you are now prepared
to accept, without being skeptical, the stupendous claims made
here. If you have not mastered the other principles, you must do so
before you may determine, definitely, whether or not the claims made in
this chapter are fact or fiction.
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14.11 While I was passing
through the age of "hero-worship" I found myself trying to imitate those
whom I most admired. Moreover, I discovered that the element of FAITH,
with which I endeavored to imitate my idols, gave me great capacity to
do so quite successfully.
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14.12 I have never entirely
divested myself of this habit of hero-worship, although I have passed
the age commonly given over to such. My experience has taught me that
the next best thing to being truly great, is to emulate the great, by
feeling and action, as nearly as possible.
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14.13 Long before I had ever
written a line for publication, or endeavored to deliver a speech in
public, I followed the habit of reshaping my own character, by trying to
imitate the nine men whose lives and life-works had been most
impressive to me. These nine men were, Emerson, Paine, Edison, Darwin,
Lincoln, Burbank, Napoleon, Ford, and Carnegie. Every night, over a long
period of years, I held an imaginary Council meeting with this group
whom I called my "Invisible Counselors."
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14.14 The procedure was this.
Just before going to sleep at night, I would shut my eyes, and see, in
my imagination, this group of men seated with me around my Council
Table. Here I had not only an opportunity to sit among those whom I
considered to be great, but I actually dominated the group, by serving
as the Chairman.
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14.15 I had a very DEFINITE
PURPOSE in indulging my imagination through these nightly meetings. My
purpose was to rebuild my own character so it would represent a
composite of the characters of my imaginary counselors. Realizing, as I
did, early in life, that I had to overcome the handicap of birth in an
environment of ignorance and superstition, I deliberately assigned
myself the task of voluntary rebirth through the method here described.
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14.16 Being an earnest student
of psychology, I knew, of course, that all men have become what they
are, because of their DOMINATING THOUGHTS AND DESIRES. I knew that every
deeply seated desire has the effect of causing one to seek outward
expression through which that desire may be transmuted into reality. I
knew that self-suggestion is a powerful factor in building character,
that it is, in fact, the sole principle through which character is
builded.
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14.17 With this knowledge of
the principles of mind operation, I was fairly well armed with the
equipment needed in rebuilding my character. In these imaginary Council
meetings I called on my Cabinet members for the knowledge I wished each
to contribute, addressing myself to each member in audible words, as
follows:—
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14.18 "Mr. Emerson, I desire to
acquire from you the marvelous understanding of Nature which
distinguished your life. I ask that you make an impress upon my
subconscious mind, of whatever qualities you possessed, which enabled
you to understand and adapt yourself to the laws of Nature. I ask that
you assist me in reaching and drawing upon whatever sources of knowledge
are available to this end.
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14.19 "Mr. Burbank, I request
that you pass on to me the knowledge which enabled you to so harmonize
the laws of Nature that you caused the cactus to shed its thorns, and
become an edible food. Give me access to the knowledge which enabled you
to make two blades of grass grow where but one grew before, and helped
you to blend the coloring of the flowers with more splendor and harmony,
for you, alone, have successfully gilded the lily.
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14.20 "Napoleon, I desire to
acquire from you, by emulation, the marvelous ability you possessed to
inspire men, and to arouse them to greater and more determined spirit of
action. Also to acquire the spirit of enduring FAITH, which enabled you
to turn defeat into victory, and to surmount staggering obstacles.
Emperor of Fate, King of Chance, Man of Destiny, I salute you!
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14.21 "Mr. Paine, I desire to
acquire from you the freedom of thought and the courage and clarity with
which to express convictions, which so distinguished you!
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14.22 "Mr. Darwin, I wish to
acquire from you the marvelous patience, and ability to study cause and
effect, without bias or prejudice, so exemplified by you in the field of
natural science.
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14.23 "Mr. Lincoln, I desire to
build into my own character the keen sense of justice, the untiring
spirit of patience, the sense of humor, the human understanding, and the
tolerance, which were your distinguishing characteristics.
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14.24 "Mr. Carnegie, I am
already indebted to you for my choice of a life-work, which has brought
me great happiness and peace of mind. I wish to acquire a thorough
understanding of the principles of organized effort, which you used so effectively in the building of a great industrial enterprise.
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14.25 "Mr. Ford, you have been
among the most helpful of the men who have supplied much of the material
essential to my work. I wish to acquire your spirit of persistence, the
determination, poise, and self-confidence which have enabled you to
master poverty, organize, unify, and simplify human effort, so I may
help others to follow in your footsteps.
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14.26 "Mr. Edison, I have
seated you nearest to me, at my right, because of the personal
cooperation you have given me, during my research into the causes of
success and failure. I wish to acquire from you the marvelous spirit of
FAITH, with which you have uncovered so many of Nature's secrets, the
spirit of unremitting toil with which you have so often wrested victory
from defeat."
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14.27 My method of addressing
the members of the imaginary Cabinet would vary, according to the traits
of character in which I was, for the moment, most interested in
acquiring. I studied the records of their lives with painstaking care.
After some months of this nightly procedure, I was astounded by the
discovery that these imaginary figures became, apparently real.
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14.28 Each of these nine men
developed individual characteristics, which surprised me. For example,
Lincoln developed the habit of always being late, then walking around in
solemn parade. When he came, he walked very slowly, with his hands
clasped behind him, and once in a while, he would stop as he passed, and
rest his hand, momentarily, upon my shoulder. He always wore an
expression of seriousness upon his face. Rarely did I see him smile. The
cares of a sundered nation made him grave.
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14.29 That was not true of the
others. Burbank and Paine often indulged in witty repartee which seemed,
at times, to shock the other members of the cabinet. One night Paine
suggested that I prepare a lecture on "The Age of Reason," and deliver
it from the pulpit of a church which I formerly attended. Many around
the table laughed heartily at the suggestion. Not Napoleon! He drew his
mouth down at the corners and groaned so loudly that all turned and
looked at him with amazement. To him the church was but a pawn of the
State, not to be reformed, but to be used, as a convenient inciter to
mass activity by the people.
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14.30 On one occasion Burbank
was late. When he came, he was excited with enthusiasm, and explained
that he had been late, because of an experiment he was making, through
which he hoped to be able to grow apples on any sort of tree. Paine
chided him by reminding him that it was an apple which started all the
trouble between man and woman. Darwin chuckled heartily as he suggested
that Paine should watch out for little serpents, when he went into the
forest to gather apples, as they had the habit of growing into big
snakes. Emerson observed—"No serpents, no apples," and Napoleon
remarked, "No apples, no state!"
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14.31 Lincoln developed the
habit of always being the last one to leave the table after each
meeting. On one occasion, he leaned across the end of the table, his
arms folded, and remained in that position for many minutes. I made no
attempt to disturb him. Finally, he lifted his head slowly, got up and
walked to the door, then turned around, came back, and laid his hand on
my shoulder and said, "My boy, you will need much courage if you remain
steadfast in carrying out your purpose in life. But remember, when
difficulties overtake you, the common people have common sense.
Adversity will develop it."
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14.32 One evening Edison
arrived ahead of all the others. He walked over and seated himself at my
left, where Emerson was accustomed to sit, and said, "You are destined
to witness the discovery of the secret of life. When the time comes, you
will observe that life consists of great swarms of energy, or entities,
each as intelligent as human beings think themselves to be. These units of life group together like hives of bees, and remain together until they disintegrate, through lack of harmony.
These units have differences of opinion, the same as human beings, and
often fight among themselves. These meetings which you are conducting
will be very helpful to you. They will bring to your rescue some of the
same units of life which served the members of your Cabinet, during
their lives. These units are eternal. THEY NEVER DIE! Your own thoughts
and DESIRES serve as the magnet which attracts units of life, from the
great ocean of life out there. Only the friendly units are
attracted—the ones which harmonize with the nature of your DESIRES."
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14.33 The other members of the
Cabinet began to enter the room. Edison got up, and slowly walked around
to his own seat. Edison was still living when this happened. It
impressed me so greatly that I went to see him, and told him about the
experience. He smiled broadly, and said, "Your dream was more a reality
than you may imagine it to have been." He added no further explanation
to his statement.
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14.34 These meetings became so
realistic that I became fearful of their consequences, and discontinued
them for several months. The experiences were so uncanny, I was afraid
if I continued them I would lose sight of the fact that the meetings
were purely experiences of my imagination.
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14.35 Some six months after I
had discontinued the practice I was awakened one night, or thought I
was, when I saw Lincoln standing at my bedside. He said, "The world will
soon need your services. It is about to undergo a period of chaos which
will cause men and women to lose faith, and become panic stricken. Go
ahead with your work and complete your philosophy. That is your mission
in life. If you neglect it, for any cause whatsoever, you will be
reduced to a primal state, and be compelled to retrace the cycles
through which you have passed during thousands of years."
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14.36 I was unable to tell, the
following morning, whether I had dreamed this, or had actually been
awake, and I have never since found out which it was, but I do know that
the dream, if it were a dream, was so vivid in my mind the next day
that I resumed my meetings the following night.
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14.37 At our next meeting, the
members of my Cabinet all filed into the room together, and stood at
their accustomed places at the Council Table, while Lincoln raised a
glass and said, "Gentlemen, let us drink a toast to a friend who has
returned to the fold."
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14.38 After that, I began to
add new members to my Cabinet, until now it consists of more than fifty,
among them Christ, St. Paul, Galileo, Copernicus, Aristotle, Plato,
Socrates, Homer, Voltaire, Bruno, Spinoza, Drummond, Kant, Schopenhauer,
Newton, Confucius, Elbert Hubbard, Brann, Ingersoll, Wilson, and
William James.
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14.39 This is the first time
that I have had the courage to mention this. Heretofore, I have remained
quiet on the subject, because I knew, from my own attitude in
connection with such matters, that I would be misunderstood if I
described my unusual experience. I have been emboldened now to reduce my
experience to the printed page, because I am now less concerned about
what "they say" than I was in the years that have passed. One of the
blessings of maturity is that it sometimes brings one greater courage to
be truthful, regardless of what those who do not understand, may think
or say.
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14.40 Lest I be misunderstood, I
wish here to state most emphatically, that I still regard my Cabinet
meetings as being purely imaginary, but I feel entitled to suggest that,
while the members of my Cabinet may be purely fictional, and the
meetings existent only in my own imagination, they have led me into
glorious paths of adventure, rekindled an appreciation of true
greatness, encouraged creative endeavor, and emboldened the expression
of honest thought.
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14.41 Somewhere in the
cell-structure of the brain, is located an organ which receives
vibrations of thought ordinarily called "hunches." So far, science has
not discovered where this organ of the sixth sense is located, but this
is not important. The fact remains that human beings do receive accurate
knowledge, through sources other than the physical senses. Such
knowledge, generally, is received when the mind is under the influence
of extraordinary stimulation. Any emergency which arouses the emotions,
and causes the heart to beat more rapidly than normal may, and generally
does, bring the sixth sense into action. Anyone who has experienced a
near accident while driving, knows that on such occasions, the sixth
sense often comes to one's rescue, and aids, by split seconds, in
avoiding the accident.
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14.42 These facts are mentioned
preliminary to a statement of fact which I shall now make, namely, that
during my meetings with the "Invisible Counselors" I find my mind most
receptive to ideas, thoughts, and knowledge which reach me through the
sixth sense. I can truthfully say that I owe entirely to my "Invisible
Counselors" full credit for such ideas, facts, or knowledge as I
received through "inspiration."
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14.43 On scores of occasions,
when I have faced emergencies, some of them so grave that my life was in
jeopardy, I have been miraculously guided past these difficulties
through the influence of my "Invisible Counselors."
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14.44 My original purpose in
conducting Council meetings with imaginary beings, was solely that of
impressing my own subconscious mind, through the principle of
auto-suggestion, with certain characteristics which I desired to
acquire. In more recent years, my experimentation has taken on an
entirely different trend. I now go to my imaginary counselors with every
difficult problem which confronts me and my clients. The results are
often astonishing, although I do not depend entirely on this form of
Counsel.
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14.45 You, of course, have
recognized that this chapter covers a subject with which a majority of
people are not familiar. The Sixth Sense is a subject that will be of
great interest and benefit to the person whose aim is to accumulate vast
wealth, but it need not claim the attention of those whose desires are
more modest.
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14.46 Henry Ford, undoubtedly
understands and makes practical use of the sixth sense. His vast
business and financial operations make it necessary for him to
understand and use this principle. The late Thomas A. Edison understood
and used the sixth sense in connection with the development of
inventions, especially those involving basic patents, in connection with
which he had no human experience and no accumulated knowledge to guide
him, as was the case while he was working on the talking machine, and
the moving picture machine.
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14.47 Nearly all great leaders,
such as Napoleon, Bismarck, Joan of Arc, Christ, Buddha, Confucius, and
Mohammed, understood, and probably made use of the sixth sense almost
continuously. The major portion of their greatness consisted of their
knowledge of this principle.
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14.48 The sixth sense is not
something that one can take off and put on at will. Ability to use this
great power comes slowly, through application of the other principles
outlined in this book. Seldom does any individual come into workable
knowledge of the sixth sense before the age of forty. More often the
knowledge is not available until one is well past fifty, and this, for
the reason that the spiritual forces, with which the sixth sense is so
closely related, do not mature and become usable except through years of
meditation, self-examination, and serious thought.
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14.49 No matter who you are, or
what may have been your purpose in reading this book, you can profit by
it without understanding the principle described in this chapter. This
is especially true if your major purpose is that of accumulation of
money or other material things.
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14.50 The chapter on the sixth
sense was included, because the book is designed for the purpose of
presenting a complete philosophy by which individuals may unerringly
guide themselves in attaining whatever they ask of life. The starting
point of all achievement is DESIRE. The finishing point is that brand of
KNOWLEDGE which leads to understanding—understanding of self,
understanding of others, understanding of the laws of Nature,
recognition and understanding of HAPPINESS.
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14.51 This sort of
understanding comes in its fullness only through familiarity with, and
use of the principle of the sixth sense, hence that principle had to be
included as a part of this philosophy, for the benefit of those who
demand more than money.
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14.52 PRACTICAL: Having read the
chapter, you must have observed that while reading it, you were lifted
to a high level of mental stimulation. Splendid! Come back to this again
a month from now, read it once more, and observe that your mind will
soar to a still higher level of stimulation. Repeat this experience from
time to time, giving no concern as to how much or how little you learn
at the time, and eventually you will find yourself in possession of a
power that will enable you to throw off discouragement, master fear,
overcome procrastination, and draw freely upon your imagination. Then
you will have felt the touch of that unknown "something" which has been
the moving spirit of every truly great thinker leader, artist, musician,
writer, statesman. Then you will be in position to transmute your
DESIRES into their physical or financial counterpart as easily as you
may lie down and quit at the first sign of opposition.
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14.52.1 OPTIONAL PRACTICAL: If you are
in full agreement with this idea, then emulate Hill's creation of an
"Invisible Council", for the purpose of building your own character so
it will represent a composite of the characters of your imaginary
counselors. Research their lives in detail, then add them one by one to
your council. Hold nightly meetings just before going to sleep. Act
as chairman of your council. Address the members aloud in spoken words
in the same manner as Hill. Do this for as long as you find it
successful, but note how long Hill persisted with it.
Practical started ….
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FAITH VS. FEAR!
14.53 Previous chapters have
described how to develop FAITH, through Auto-suggestion, Desire and the
Subconscious. The next chapter presents detailed instructions for the
mastery of FEAR.
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14.54 Here will be. found a
full description of the six fears which are the cause of all
discouragement, timidity, procrastination, indifference, indecision, and
the lack of ambition, self-reliance, initiative, self-control, and
enthusiasm.
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14.55 Search yourself carefully
as you study these six enemies, as they may exist only in your
subconscious mind, where their presence will be hard to detect.
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14.56 Remember, too, as you analyze the "Six Ghosts of Fear," that they are nothing but ghosts because they exist only in one's mind.
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14.57 Remember, also, that
ghosts—creations of uncontrolled imagination—have caused most of the
damage people have done to their own minds, therefore, ghosts can be as
dangerous as if they lived and walked on the earth in physical bodies.
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14.58 The Ghost of the Fear of
Poverty, which seized the minds of millions of people in 1929, was so
real that it caused the worst business depression this country has ever
known. Moreover, this particular ghost still frightens some of us out of
our wits.
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14.FDS PRACTICAL: Skim over the chapter again to refamiliarize yourself with the main ideas, then check over the False Data Stripping questions with regard to it, using the PaulsRobot3 FDSing module. Remember the idea is to FIND and deal with False Data, not to confirm that of course you don't have any. :). Once you have found and dealt with any false data, study this chapter once more before going on to the next one. You can decide which demos and practicals you should do again.
14.LEC FINAL PRACTICAL: Deliver a 3-5 minute
lecture (by the clock) on the main points of this chapter, without using
any notes at all. You don't have to use people for an audience; use
the dog or the wall if you prefer. If you don't know the subject well
enough to do this, do the entire section again, paragraphs 14.1 to
14.FDS, including all demos. This is a test of your understanding, not
your ability to remember a collection of words or phrases. Working out
how to explain the main points to someone else—IN SPOKEN WORDS,
ALOUD—is usually a very valuable aid to your own understanding.
CONGRATULATIONS! END OF SECTION 14