Whatever The Mind Can Conceive And Believe, It Can Achieve

There is pure power in our thoughts. What we think, we most certainly become. But why is that? How is that the mere concept of something, held in the forefront of our minds, can be brought to fruition through persistent application over time? While very little is known about our brains, and subsequently our minds, one thing is very certain. Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve, no matter what the present circumstances or obstacles surrounding a situation.

Yet, many of us don’t believe in this. We focus on what’s wrong and what’s bad and we ultimately steer towards that. We don’t think that we can achieve anything that we conceive or believe in. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. Our negative thinking turns into dark, fear-based thoughts filled with ominous what-if scenarios. It’s easy to allow negative thinking to consume and frighten you into a state of inaction.

And when things are going bad, it seems to compound upon itself. We begin attracting negative situations, people and things into our lives. We start saying things like ‘bad things happen in threes’ or ‘when it rains it pours’ and things turn from bad to worse. When we focus on our problems, they just seem to compound and rise exponentially. But what happens when you do the opposite? What happens when you train your brain to think conversely?

You see, our minds are amongst the most complex organisms in existence. Something that baffles scientists, still to this very day. Yet, they’re also the most powerful computers in the known universe. In fact, they’re a portal to other worlds and dimensions. Sound strange? Ever experience virtual reality or lucid dreaming where the mind is tricked into thinking something is real when it’s “clearly not”? Well, what’s to say that it’s not?

Where is the line drawn in the sand between the material world and the ethereal? Think about this for a moment. Our mind doesn’t have eyes. It only sees thanks to an image processor in the brain that processes the light that comes in through the retina and conveys it to the optic nerve. But how can we be so sure that what we’re seeing is real? We can’t actually see. It’s just light that’s processed by the brain and mind.

What’s Real And What’s Not?

Who’s to say that what you’re experiencing right now is your actual reality? How can you be so sure? How can you be convinced that you’re not living in some multi-verse and that what you’re going through right now is just one variation of so-called reality? You can’t be. In fact, science is increasingly leaning towards our lives and our consciousness as being only one version of what’s in existence out there.

Just because we see something, that doesn’t make it reality. I know that might sound strange or very new-age to you. But it’s the truth .Nothing is real. Nothing. I’ll say that again. Nothing is real. You. Me. Your family. None of this is real. It’s all processed through our minds. If you look at the brain and the way that it works, you’ll understand that our realities are simply perceptions based on sensory input. It’s what we’re processing to be real. Not necessarily what’s real.

Furthermore, if you look at quantum mechanics, nothing makes sense. Matter doesn’t make sense. Our existence doesn’t make sense. When two things can theoretically be in the same place at the same time and will only actually be in that place when you observe or focus on it, quantum mechanics can certainly skew the perception of what’s real and what’s not. However, many of us don’t focus on the micro. We think about the macro. The big picture, if you will.

Well, that’s fine and all, but no matter what you think about, if you think about it fervently enough, you’ll bring it into fruition. That’s the power of focus. What the mind focuses on, the body moves towards. Ever hear about how professional race car drivers handle spin outs? They don’t focus on the wall. If they look at the wall, they’ll move towards it. Instead, they focus on the road ahead. That’s precisely where you need to focus on. In other words, your goals.

What The Mind Conceives And Believes, It Achieves

It was Napoleon Hill who said, “Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, the mind can achieve.” Hill is most famously known for a book called, Think and Grow Rich. But he’s also the author of the Science of Success, a homage to Andrew Carnegie’s legacy. In fact, it was Carnegie who said to Hill when Hill said that he might not be fit for the job of creating this practical application of success principles because he was broke, that “All success begins with definiteness of purpose, with a clear picture in your mind of precisely what you want from life.”

That left a great impact on Hill. But it was what Carnegie said straight after that completely altered the shape of his thinking forever, and allowed him to impact millions upon millions of people with his work. Carnegie, who was arguably one of the richest men in the history of our time, still to this very day, said:

“Everyone comes to the earth plane blessed with the privilege of controlling his mind power and directing it to whatever ends he may choose. But, everyone brings over with him at birth, the equivalent of two sealed envelopes, one of which is clearly labeled, ‘the riches you may enjoy if you take possession of your own mind and direct it to ends of your own choice.’ And the other is labeled, ‘the penalties you must pay if you neglect to take possession of your mind and direct it.

And now let me reveal to you the contents of those two sealed envelopes. In the one labeled ‘riches’ is this list of blessings: 1) sound health, 2) peace of mind, 3) a labor of love of your own choice, 4) freedom from fear and worry, 5) a positive mental attitude, 6) material riches of your own choice and quantity. In the sealed envelope labeled penalties is this list of the prices one must pay for neglecting to take possession of his own mind. 

1) Ill health, 2) fear and worry, 3) indecision and doubt, 4) frustration and discouragement throughout life, 5) poverty and want, 6) and a whole flock of evils consisting of endless greed, jealousy, anger, hatred and superstition. Now my mission in life is to help you and everyone who needs my help, to open up and use the contents of the sealed envelope labeled ‘riches’ and the starting point from which you may take off for if you wish to right your own ticket from here on out from the remainder of your life. 

Procure a pocket-sized notebook, or something on the order of this one here, looseleaf. And on page one, write down a clear description of your major desire in life. The one circumstance or position or thing that you’d be willing to accept as your idea of success. And remember before you begin writing that your only limitations are those which you setup in your own mind or allow others to setup for you. And two, on page 2 of your notebook, write down a clear statement of what you precisely intend to give in return for what you desire from life. And then start in right where you start now to begin living. 

And three, memorize both of your statements, what you desire and what you intend to give in return for it. And repeat them at least a dozen times daily. And always end your statements with this expression of gratitude for the blessings for which you were gifted at birth. I ask not for divine providence or more riches, but more wisdom with which to accept or use wisely the riches I received at birth in the form of the power and control to direct my mind to whatever ends I desire.”

How To Make Your Perception Your Reality

If you’re constantly focusing on what you don’t want in life, you’ll never move towards what you want. If you take any semblance of time studying successful people and how they brought their dreams into reality, you’ll realize that they focused on one thing obbsessively. Similar to what Carnegie has said, you have to write it down and focus your mind’s eye on it. If you want to move towards that thing, it’s precisely what you have to do .

However, we all know that it’s easy to get caught up. It’s easy to allow things to get the best of you and chalk it up to circumstance. But that’s only one perception of your reality. Instead, take those circumstances as stepping stones. If you fail, get up and start anew. In fact, it was Henry Ford who once said that “Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligibly.” So if you failed, it’s okay. Learn lessons from those failures and don’t repeat them. Instead, harness them to fuel you forward.

So, here’s the question for you. How do you make your perception your reality? How do you go from broke, destitute or desperate to completely winning in business, life, relationships, health and happiness? Well, the answer is not as complicated as we make it out to seem. As you saw in that video of Napoleon Hill speaking about his interaction with Andrew Carnegie, he stated that if you want to unseal that enveloped entitled, ‘riches’, you have to do the following.

He said you needed to write down two important things in that small notebook. Of course, by notebook, today, it can mean a notepad on your smartphone or some other digital medium. But actually writing something down in the traditional sense, transports those words into your mind because they’re more tactile and hand written, slowly as opposed to typed out quickly. So, give it a try in the traditional sense. Write it out by hand.

So in order for the mind to conceive and believe something, and ultimately achieve it, there are two things that need to be written down and repeated a dozen times every single day. The first is your ultimate desire of success. That statement is your big goal. Maybe your 5 or 10-year goal. Something that scares you. And rightfully so. But write that down. Then, write what you’re willing to trade in exchange for it and start giving.

Repeat those statements with passionate conviction a dozen times every single day. Don’t ignore this. What you focus on, you’ll move towards. Remember that. As simple as this very concept sounds, there is real power in this exercise. Keep in mind that this is coming from the richest man who ever lived. Carnegie knew a thing or two about success. And that should be listened to and followed vehemently.

How To Ignore The Naysayers

The truth is that you’re going to have people who discount your dreams. And that’s okay. Ignore them. Their opinion is merely opinion. It can only become fact if you believe it to be. The only thing that separates the super successful people of this world from those who fail to attain their dreams is simply the belief that they can do it. It all starts with belief. Again, you have to be able to believe and conceive it if you want to achieve it.

If you’re serious about ignoring the naysayers, read about some of the most successful people in the world who’ve failed. I’ve written about them here and here. Read those. And remember that failure is not a roadblock. It’s a stepping stone. Ignore what they all say because people will say what they choose to say. You can’t control that. The only thing that you can control is your reaction and your emotions. Control your mind and you will control your life. You will be the captain of this ship. No one else.

And remember, never, ever, ever give up. Never. It doesn’t matter if you walk slowly in the direction of your goals, as long as you keep walking. When you stop, that’s when true failure sets in. So don’t stop. Time is going to pass by quickly anyhow. You might as well take advantage of the time as it passes by. There is real power in the mind. It’s the power to change your life, and to potentially change the world. You just have to be willing to put in the effort and the work. But if you can’t imagine it first and foremost, you can’t achieve it. Period.