Recreating Yourself & Beating The Odds

It’s a well-known fact that you begin to believe what you constantly tell yourself. It doesn’t matter if what you’re telling yourself is true or false—repetition makes it real in your mind. My own life is a clear example of this. As a kid, I struggled with aggression and violent behavior. But because I kept telling myself I didn’t have a problem, I never sought help. This mindset ultimately led me to prison for the first time at age 33. I received exactly what I asked for by refusing to acknowledge the problem and seek help when I should have.

The act of repeatedly telling yourself something is called “self-suggestion.” When you use self-suggestion, your subconscious mind absorbs the words, images, and thoughts you feed it and eventually reflects them back to your conscious mind. This process is known as “auto-suggestion.” Napoleon Hill’s Think & Grow Rich (a must-read) has an entire chapter on auto-suggestion. Another book, Money, and The Law of Attraction by Esther and Jerry Hicks (also a must-read), refers to this practice as “telling yourself the story of your life.” Whatever name you give it, the process can either change your life or cause you to remain stuck. The thoughts that reach your subconscious and manifest into actions are the ones that shape the outcome of your life.

It’s natural to be skeptical of new ideas, especially ones you hear or read about for the first time. But let me remind you of my own experience with ignoring my behavior. Through self-suggestion and auto-suggestion, I unknowingly led myself to prison. At the time, I didn’t understand the process, but my subconscious mind was at work, attracting the outcomes I had subconsciously desired through my thoughts. Unfortunately, those thoughts led to prison, not only affecting me but also my family.

Remember, your subconscious mind doesn’t discriminate between positive or negative thoughts. It simply reacts to whatever thoughts you feed it. The good news is that we have the power to control what enters our subconscious through self-suggestion. By speaking to yourself with belief and conviction, your subconscious will absorb those words and return them to you, even while you sleep. This is the essence of many prosperity teachings, such as The Secret. It’s the law of attraction: what you constantly think about, you draw into your life.

Before we go deeper into the power of self-suggestion, consider this crucial fact about the subconscious mind: 75% of all your mental activities are handled by your subconscious. Think about how significant that is when you realize that your subconscious will work with either positive or negative thoughts. The first step in using self-suggestion is to write out the new story of your life—the life you want to live. Make it detailed and specific. For example, here’s the one I use. You don’t have to use one as long as mine, but feel free to borrow any part of it for your own.

Here’s my story:

1. I don’t wish for prosperity—I desire it. I don’t wish for success—I demand it. I may not know all the answers or recognize every opportunity, but my path will reveal itself. I know that the thoughts in my mind will shape my reality. I also know that I have the power to choose my thoughts. I will focus my mind on the person I want to become. I will be a man of wisdom and understanding. Fair dealing, justice, and integrity will guide my actions with others. I choose thoughts of health, happiness, prosperity, and love. Fear, hate, sickness, and poverty have no place in my mind. My old bad habits will make way for new, empowering ones. Daily, I will form habits that nurture positive emotions and channel them into productive action. My success will be found in these habits.

2. I know I have the ability to achieve my goals. I understand the need for sound plans and ideas to reach those goals. Therefore, I will create definite plans to accomplish them. I am greater than this prison cell because my dreams and imagination have no limits. I will develop my imagination daily, using it to help form my plans. Where others tear down, I will build. I demand continuous action toward my goals and promise to take that action. I will submit a clear picture of my goals and steps to achieve them to my subconscious. I will keep this goal alive in my mind by repeating it day and night. Thoughts and ideas that don’t help me reach my goal are unimportant. Only the things that move me toward my purpose matter. Once my plan is set, I will begin to act on it immediately, using whatever tools are available until better ones come along.

3. As an inmate, my greatest asset is time. I don’t need to worry about food, shelter, or medical care—those are provided. So, I won’t waste my time here. Every hour will be productive. While others sleep, I will create. Every setback carries a benefit. Every obstacle hides an opportunity. Failure only happens if I quit. If I’m knocked down, I will get back up. I won’t try—I will do. I am a winner, not a whiner. Mediocrity is not my destiny. This prison is a stepping stone. I will turn these bars into stars. My time in prison will be spent preparing myself. I will accomplish tasks that others only talk about. I will not end the day in defeat, but in success. I will not fall asleep angry, confused, or discouraged. I will not take “no” for an answer. I will share my ideas, products, and services until I hear as many “yeses” as possible. I will only look forward, not back. I will live in the present and refuse to let my past imprison me. I will not trust my memory alone to keep track of my ideas. I will write everything down so that my memory can focus on what’s most important.

4. Finally, I will carefully choose who I associate with. Only positive, uplifting people will be welcome in my life. Those with negative, toxic attitudes will be avoided. I will seek out mentors who can help me grow, so I can stand on their shoulders and reach new heights. Fortune favors the prepared and the bold. I am both. My desire and obsession are prosperity. I have faith and belief in these words. My legacy will be great. I am no longer a convict—I am the CEO of my destiny. I am who I choose to be, and from this moment on, I am the captain of my ship, steering toward the stars. See you at the top!

~ Written by @AskForCorey