Life is an intricate dance between what we perceive through our senses and what we envision in our minds. Many of us live as captives of our external circumstances, reacting to what our eyes see, our ears hear, and our emotions feel. Yet, great thinkers like Neville Goddard and Maxwell Maltz teach us that true mastery of life lies in being governed by our desires, not by our senses.
The Illusion of the Senses
Our senses are powerful tools, but they are also deceptive. They report reality as it is, not as it could be. Relying solely on them can trap you in a loop of reactive living, where you are constantly responding to the external world rather than shaping it. Maxwell Maltz, in his groundbreaking work Psycho-Cybernetics, explains that the subconscious mind does not distinguish between what is real and what is vividly imagined. It reacts to the input it receives. This principle underscores the importance of focusing on your desires rather than the current state of your circumstances.
Neville Goddard takes this idea even further by emphasizing the creative power of imagination. He argues that your inner world—the desires you vividly imagine and feel to be true—is the source of your external reality. According to Neville, "The outer world is a reflection of the inner world." This means that clinging to the evidence provided by your senses only reinforces the existing state of affairs, blocking your ability to create change.
Shift Your Governing Principle
To live by your desires instead of your senses, you must shift your governing principle from reaction to creation. Here are practical steps inspired by Neville Goddard and Maxwell Maltz:
Clarify Your Desire: Define what you truly want. Be specific and vivid in your imagination. Maltz’s work suggests creating a clear mental image of the desired outcome, as this serves as a blueprint for your subconscious mind.
Enter the State of the Wish Fulfilled: Neville teaches the importance of "living in the end." This means mentally and emotionally placing yourself in the state where your desire is already realized. Imagine it with all your senses, and feel the satisfaction as though it is happening now.
Detach from Current Circumstances: Recognize that your current reality is a result of past thinking and beliefs. It is merely a shadow of your previous inner state. Do not let it dictate your future. Instead, focus on the invisible, the desired state that exists within your consciousness.
Use the Power of Repetition: Both Neville and Maltz emphasize the importance of repeated mental rehearsal. Just as Maltz’s psycho-cybernetic principles suggest "reprogramming" your self-image, Neville’s method involves continuously returning to the feeling of the wish fulfilled, especially before sleep when the mind is most impressionable.
Persist Despite Appearances: Circumstances may initially contradict your desires. Do not waver. Neville’s teachings remind us that these moments are part of the "bridge of incidents," a sequence of events necessary to manifest your vision. Trust that what appears as resistance is actually reorganization.
The Role of Faith and Imagination
Faith is the cornerstone of living by your desires. It is not blind optimism but a deliberate act of imagination and conviction. Neville often said, "Faith is loyalty to the unseen reality." This loyalty means prioritizing your inner vision over external evidence.
Maltz’s psycho-cybernetic model supports this by highlighting how the brain’s "success mechanism" works best when you visualize goals as already achieved. By focusing your imagination on the desired outcome, you activate your brain’s ability to solve problems, find opportunities, and take actions aligned with your vision.
Benefits of Being Governed by Desires
When you allow your desires to govern your life instead of your senses, several transformative benefits arise:
Empowerment: You take control of your life by aligning with your inner vision rather than external conditions.
Creativity: Your imagination becomes a tool for innovation and manifestation, enabling you to shape your reality.
Resilience: By focusing on your desires, you develop the mental fortitude to navigate challenges without losing sight of your goals.
Fulfillment: Living from your desires ensures that your actions and thoughts align with your highest aspirations, leading to a more satisfying life.
Final Thoughts
To live a life governed by your desires is to embrace your creative power. Neville Goddard and Maxwell Maltz provide complementary frameworks for understanding and harnessing this power. While your senses may tempt you to react to external circumstances, your desires offer a higher calling—a vision of what can be. By steadfastly focusing on this vision and nurturing it with faith and imagination, you step into the role of creator in your life. Remember, the reality you experience tomorrow is being shaped by the thoughts and feelings you entertain today. Choose wisely.
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