It's so amazing to discover the power of our minds! It's probably the most fabulous, wonderful, liberating discovery that any human being can make! And why is that so? Because when we understand the mechanism of mind, we have the key to freedom. We have the key to living the life we dream of living. We have the key to self-empowerment.
Here's a bit about my personal journey to self-empowerment from my book "The Road to Power / Fast Food for the Soul". When I first wrote this book (in 1994) no one would publish it here in Denmark where I live – so I published it myself together with Tim Ray, who translated the book into Danish.
Today this book has become a bestseller and is published in 30 languages around the world. And why is the book so popular? Quite simply because the techniques I describe in the book have helped so many people all over the world find and use their own inner power.
In the following extract from “The Road to Power / Fast Food for the Soul” I share a bit of my personal story about how I learned to use the power of mind:
How Napoleon Hill Helped Me
When I found myself alone (in 1986), a single parent with three small children to support, Napoleon Hill helped me. At the time, I had no money and no obvious way to make money. Still, I had a strong feeling that it didn't have to be that way.
I felt I had the talent and ability to make money. My big problem was I didn't quite know how to proceed. I needed a concrete tool or plan to show me what practical steps to take to gain control of my life and financial affairs. I found them in one of the original, classic self-help books: "Think and Grow Rich" by Napoleon Hill.
Inspired by the rags-to-riches story of the great American multimillionaire Andrew Carnegie, Hill devoted his life to studying successful people in order to uncover the secrets behind their amazing achievements. How did these people move from often extremely humble origins and/or difficult circumstances to demonstrate such enormous success and wealth?
The Role Of Desire, Faith, Persistence, Planning, Organizing, And More
Think and Grow Rich presents many of their secrets and techniques, including the role of desire, faith, persistence, planning, organizing, and such mind techniques as auto-suggestion or visualization, Master Mind groups and more.
Hill says in his book:
"Every human being who reaches the age of understanding of the purpose of money wishes for it. Wishing will not bring riches. But desiring riches with a state of mind that becomes an obsession, then planning definite ways and means to acquire riches, and backing those plans with persistence which does not recognize failure, will bring riches."
Here I quote in full the Napoleon Hill exercise that got me started:
Six Ways to Turn Desires into Gold
The method by which desire for riches can be transmuted into its financial equivalent, consists of six definite, practical steps:
First: fix in your mind the exact amount of money you desire. It is not sufficient merely to say "I want plenty of money." Be definite as to the amount.
Second: determine exactly what you intend to give in return for the money you desire. (There is no such reality as "something for nothing.")
Third: establish a definite date when you intend to possess the money you desire.
Fourth: create a definite plan for carrying out your desire, and begin at once, whether you are ready or not, to put this plan into action.
Fifth: write out a clear, concise statement of the amount of money you intend to acquire, name the time limit for its acquisition, state what you intend to give in return for the money, and describe clearly the plan through which you intend to accumulate it.
Sixth: read your written statement aloud, twice daily, once just before retiring at night, and once after arising in the morning. As you read—see and feel and believe yourself already in possession of the money."
Putting The Steps In Action
I used Hill's exercise with great success for many years. From my humble starting point, I sat down and decided each year exactly how much money I wanted to make. Then I decided exactly what I was going to give in exchange for that amount of money.
I then made a written statement as described above, mounted it on a piece of cardboard, and placed it by my bed. I read my statement aloud first thing every morning and last thing every evening before I went to sleep.
I then closed my eyes, relaxed, and visualized my desired results in as much detail as possible. I saw myself doing the work I planned to do and receiving the fair payment I described for myself. I imagined having the money in my hands and putting it into my bank account.
Interestingly enough, every year I made exactly the amount of money I said I was going to make. Then every year I rewrote my statement, raised my goal, reevaluated what I was going to give in exchange for the money, and continued. And every year I reached my goal.
Or as Napoleon Hill says in the book:
"Whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe it can achieve."
©2016 Barbara Berger. All Rights Reserved.
Book by this Author
Fast Food for the Soul
by Barbara Berger.
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About the Author
Barbara Berger has written over 15 self-empowerment books, including her international bestsellers "The Road to Power / Fast Food for the Soul" (published in 30 languages) and "Are You Happy Now? 10 Ways to Live a Happy Life" (published in 21 languages). She is also the author of “The Awakening Human Being – A Guide to the Power of Mind” and “Find and Follow Your Inner Compass”. Barbara's latest books are “Healthy Models for Relationships – The Basic Principles Behind Good Relationships” and her autobiography “My Road to Power – Sex, Trauma & Higher Consciousness”..
American-born, Barbara now lives and works in Copenhagen, Denmark. In addition to her books, she offers private sessions to individuals who wish to work intensely with her (in her office in Copenhagen or on Zoom, Skype and telephone for people who live far away from Copenhagen).
For more about Barbara Berger, see her website: www.beamteam.com
