Chapter 16 - The Subconscious Mind And Your Future

Can you imagine life without a future?

Of course not, because if there were no future, there would be no present!

Think about that for a moment. Much of the tone of the present, and the way you feel about the present, is related to the fact that you anticipate a future. If you anticipate the future with enthusiasm, this present moment is a satisfying one. If you anticipate the future with fear, this present moment has a dark cloud hanging over it. But regardless of how you regard the future, you want to have a future.

You can see the future clearly

But suppose you could control your future and forecast it as "clear and sunny." Would that make a difference in the way you feel and act at this present moment? I know you would answer "Yes!" So let me show you that you can anticipate the future in just that way, with the result that the present moment will be a good one!

Face forward, now, and look into the future!

Looking into the future now, since you have begun this experience with self-influence, provides a much clearer preview than has been possible in the past. Your future has not yet been entirely plotted, but parts of it have, and those parts are clear and distinct. Let's get them into distinct focus. I see four predetermined elements in your future. Perhaps you can see more!

You will control your future

First I see the knowledge that you have acquired through the progress you have made in your book. This knowledge is centered on the development of your skill in the use of subconscious self-influence. It has defined your future as something you will control. Certainly the fact that you will apply this control is clear and distinct, as you look into the future, now.

The other three clear and distinct elements are the items listed on your plan that is "in storage" in Chapter 4. Together, these four elements related to your future permit you to say, "These things I will do. I know what the outcome will be, and to that extent I know what my future has in store." But these four are only the beginning. In a few minutes you will see much more of the future, clearly and distinctly.

Since knowing "why" things happen improves the development of a skill, let's look at "why" these four elements allow you to see parts of the future so clearly. On the surface, it would seem that you can see this predetermined action in the future simply because you have planned to do something specific. This is a major share of the reason, but it is not the "whole truth." Recalling those two "keys" to self-control that were given in Chapter 10, we know that there is another significant part to the reason. Those two "keys," as you remember, are the deliberate control of your conscious actions, keeping them on the positive side so that they make a "noteworthy" impression in your subconscious, and the change of negative habit influences by cultivating offsetting positive ones.

The future will be different

Certainly the four elements we have spotlighted here meet the requirements of the first "key." But what about the second "key"? Are they affecting this clearer picture of the future that you see? They are affecting it, and you can see how by referring to the "history" that you first put together when we discussed your past.

In the last chapter, we projected that "history" and its great influence, into the present. In that intended concept, we realistically pictured the fact that all of the subconscious influences from the past are converging on that one spot marked "the present." We demonstrated that the future is predicted by the combination of the influences of the past and the present. This led us to agree that "you are today what you have done in the past."

The pattern of your future is in your hands

Now, as though you are holding those facts in one hand, "pick up" the next fact and hold it in the other hand. This fact is that the lines that connected the past with the present, also extend out into the future, indefinitely. Now add this fact. Besides the lines of influence that are extending from your past, you have added some new lines. You have added the four new lines represented by your knowledge of subconscious influence and specific plans.

Now take a look at what you are holding in each hand. In one is the fact that the past predicts the future in your life. In the other is the fact that you have added some new influences today. And remember, tomorrow, today will be "the past." Therefore, instead of the future taking the same old pattern in accordance with the influence of the same old past, it will now be different, in several respects. This means that several negative influences that would have extended the same old way into your future, are being overpowered by some new positive influences. There has been a change in the prediction for the future. This meets the requirement of that second "key." Thus, what you are holding in both hands is evidence the future is predictable.

Not the same old way of life

Back to that paper that represents the history of the past. Mentally we pictured the lines from each item on your lists converging on the present. Now imagine another spot six inches beyond that spot marking the present. Or imagine it a foot away, or ten feet away. The spot represents the future, the near future, or the future for as long a time ahead as you choose. Before today, before you could look into the future as you are now able to do, you would have had to imagine those lines of influence extending on an unswerving, tedious line, from the present to any spot in the future you imagined. There would be no notable deviation, from present, to near future, to far future. And you, living your life under that influence, would follow that same old path. Probably it is just as well you were not able to see too clearly into the future before today, with that uninspiring prospect ahead of you.

New paths lead into the future

But today you look into the future and see at least four new and stimulating paths that have been laid out for you. You know that for a part of the time, at least, you are not going to be under the influence of those restrictive negative influences that have been supplied by your subconscious. You know that you have laid the proper groundwork for positive subconscious influences that are stronger than the ragged, time-worn negative ones.

Now, what about time and the pattern of your future? Can goals, objectives or accomplishments be pinned down to specific "times"? Time is a great co-worker with your subconscious. As we have pointed out, your subconscious is always alert, always ready and willing to handle any number of assignments. The passing of time simply means, therefore, that more and more subconscious action is taking place, provided you are stimulating that action, which you are doing.

On the other hand, most of your objectives require that you take progressive steps toward their accomplishment. Some of these steps require physical and intellectual preparation on your part. Most of them require physical and intellectual action, in a step-by-step progressive manner. In other words, little of what you do in the future will happen overnight. You have to use time, physically and mechanically, to reach your objectives.

Objectives are important

Your subconscious mind is geared to go along with these time requirements. But more than that, you can let your subconscious set the pace by which you will use time. While your subconscious is reminding you of your objectives, and encouraging you to keep moving toward them, it will also recognize deadlines, provided you consciously set them up along with your plans.

Consider the items that are in your Chapter 4 plans. Let's say that you added deadlines to the plans. (Deadlines are highly recommended! More about them later.) Suppose you said that you would accomplish one of them in two days, one within a week and the other in ten days. This is assuming that each is physically and mechanically possible within those periods. You add these deadlines to your plans so that they, too, make a "noteworthy" impression on your subconscious. There won't be the slightest conflict in your subconscious because of these three different time factors. The result? As each of those deadlines appear on the calendar, you will find yourself checking off the predicted item as "mission accomplished!" In this way you can peg down at least three specific times in your future when a predetermined accomplishment will be met.

Your dreams can come true

I never recommend that people go in for daydreaming. I don't think that anyone can afford it. But I do recommend that people, at times, let themselves deliberately "dream" a bit, especially when such "dreaming" will permit a stimulating panorama of the future to appear before them. Such dreaming is good for you because it lets you take a big look at things, and taking a big look often whets the appetite for doing more to make more dreams come true. I suggest that you "dream" a bit right now.

Remember those fifteen items in Chapter 4, the fifteen from which you chose three for your initial plans? Perhaps you should turn back to that chapter for a minute and glance over those fifteen items, to get a picture of the scope of life they represent.

Now, "dreaming" a bit, picture what your life would be like today if all fifteen were planned as actions in your life for the future! Picture what the future would be like! Picture having a long succession of "accomplishment days" appear on the calendar!

A pleasant "dream"? Yes, for the moment. But not for long! What you are "dreaming" about now represents a lot of things you will have to do something about, if you want them to come true. But they are all things that you can do, so now stop dreaming. Read Chapter 17: the title there is, "You and Your Subconscious Mind as Partners in Action." Here is your future!

In Sum

Your future is predictable.

You, and only you, can make it so.

You can help yourself by setting "deadlines" for the completion of your plans for the future.
 
Summary Of Part Two Your Practice

You have been objective in evaluating yourself.

You now know, therefore, what changes in your life you want to make.

In this task, you have a powerful partner your subconscious.
 
This partner has recorded your life's experiences, your past. Accept responsibility for the past and make it a tool.

You now know the keys of self-influence: one the controlling of conscious actions to make them noteworthy and the other the substituting of positive habits for negative ones.

You also know that the secret of subconscious power lies in deliberate preparation and a conscious predetermination of the outcome.

You must want the best results from your activity.

Your future is predictable, but only by you, and through your actions.

Set deadlines for the successful completion of your actions. They are all practice steps in acquiring self-influence.

Meet those deadlines.

When you have done this, you are ready for the next step perfecting your new power.

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