The difference between successful and unsuccessful manifestation is this: can you “assume the feeling of the wish fulfilled?” This is a phrase often used by Neville Goddard, and it is the golden key to manifesting your desires.
In this article, I will explain what it means, why it’s important, how it works, and how I do it when I’m manifesting. Let’s dive in!
What Does “Assuming the Feeling of the Wish Fulfilled” Mean?
Assuming the feeling of the wish fulfilled means to let yourself feel the way you would feel had your particular desire been accomplished. For example, if you wanted a new car, ask yourself: what would it be like if I already had the car? When you adopt this feeling, you are moving yourself into that state of consciousness.
Try it now with a particular desire of yours. What would it be like had it already been accomplished? How would you feel? Don’t stress this! You have to do this as if it were the easiest thing in the world and without trying too hard.
Assuming this feeling is your key toward manifesting that desire. Later on, we will look at how to use this key.
The Role of Assuming the Wish Fulfilled in Manifestation
Neville explains it perfectly in this excerpt:
“You should awaken within you the feeling that you are and have that which heretofore you desired to be and possess. This is easily done by contemplating the joy that would be yours were your objective an accomplished fact, so that you live and move and have your being in the feeling that your wish is realized. The feeling of the wish fulfilled, if assumed and sustained, must objectify the state that would have created it.”
Prayer: The Art of Believing, Neville Goddard
it’s important to understand is that consciousness is the fundamental reality. Because of this, your inner subjective states create your outside world and all your experiences. This “subjective-ness” or pure consciousness is called the subconscious or subjective mind.
“The moment you accept the wish as an accomplished fact, the subconscious finds means for its realization. To pray successfully then, you must yield to the wish, that is, feel the wish fulfilled.”
Feeling Is the Secret, Neville Goddard
When you assume the feeling of the wish fulfilled, you are embodying and impressing a new state on your consciousness.
If you turn your desire to “own a car” into a state in the subjective mind, it will be externalized in physical form. This this can be done by assuming FEELING that would be yours had you gotten the car.
In my experience, FEELING the wish fulfilled, instead of thinking about it logically, is the key that opens the door to the subconscious/subjective mind.
Feeling is like a form of spiritual sensation. In the same way that you get a sensation in your hand when you move it across a table, you are able to feel thoughts and emotions. When you are assuming the feeling of the wish fulfilled it’s like you are mentally touching or unifying yourself with it.
How Do You Feel the Wish Fulfilled?
Let’s now look at how to most effectively assume the feeling of the wish fulfilled so that it will manifest externally.
Step 1: A “Passive State”
Sit or lie down and withdraw your attention from the outside world.
“To yield successfully to the wish as an accomplished fact, you must create a passive state, a kind of reverie or meditative reflection similar to the feeling which precedes sleep.”
Feeling Is the Secret, Neville Goddard
In the “passive state,” it becomes easier to assume the feeling of the wish fulfilled.
Step 2: Assuming the Feeling
This can be done in a number of ways. Neville often recommended that you imagine or visualize a scene that would take place after your desire had been accomplished and then immerse yourself into this scene as if it were real. I talk more about this particular technique in my article on the SATS technique.
You can also let yourself feel the wish fulfilled without any visualization. Simply just conjure up the feeling and let it permeate your mind. Often, “the feeling of the wish fulfilled” will be one of satisfaction and contentment.
You can combine this with affirmations. First, immerse yourself in the feeling of joy and satisfaction that would come had your desire been realized. Then affirm something like, “My dream is now a reality” or “I am thrilled to live my dream now.”
Successfully doing either one of these techniques will cause your wish to sink into the subjective mind from where it will be manifested.
Step 3: Let Go
Once you feel satisfied by this, awake from your meditative state. The seed has been planted in the ground!
In my experience, trying to constantly hold on to the wish fulfilled while in a waking state of consciousness is too hard and even counterproductive because it suggests the idea of struggle. I find that I only need to assume the feeling of the wish fulfilled when I’m in a passive state of consciousness. Once I’m in a normal waking state of consciousness, the idea is already deeply embedded and engraved in the subjective mind, and the desire will automatically begin to manifest itself if I don’t uproot it by giving the subjective mind contrary suggestions in the form of doubt and worry.
Important Things to Remember
Here are some things I keep in mind when assuming the feeling of the wish fulfilled to get the best results possible.
Effortlessness:
A key principle Neville and many other teachers talked about is the “law of reversed effort.” Neville explains it in this way:
“If there is one reason in this whole vast world why people fail it is because they are unaware of a law known to psychologists today as the law of reverse effort […] When you assume the feeling of your wish fulfilled it is with a minimum of effort. You must control the direction of the movements of your attention. But you must do it with the least effort. If there is effort in the control, and you are compelling it in a certain way you are not going to get the results. You will get the opposite results, what ever they might be.”
Assumption Harden Into Fact, Neville Goddard
So, when you’re in the “passive state” assume the feeling of the wish fulfilled with the least amount of effort. Trying too hard is the biggest cause of failure. I talk more about all this in more detail in my article on the law of reversed effort.
A key thing I would like you to remember is not to stress this too hard. It should be easy. If it’s not, you’re doing it wrong. Don’t be so concerned with feeling the “right” feeling. Simply just feel whatever it is that you feel. You cannot assume the feeling of the wish fulfilled and, at the same time, question whether you are doing it right.
Emotion:
When you assume the feeling of the wish fulfilled, you will likely feel things such as joy, satisfaction, accomplishment, and gratitude.
In my experience, emotions have a catalyzing effect when impressing your desire on the subconscious. When you’re in the passive state, assume the feeling of owning a car (if that was your goal) and let yourself feel grateful that it is now done.
Letting yourself dwell in these emotions helps you crowd out other doubtful thoughts, making the impression even more potent. When you’re lost in the feeling of gratitude, you cannot at the same time worry that unit desire won’t manifest.
Attention:
“you must assume the feeling of the fulfillment of your desire until you are possessed by it, and this feeling crowds all other ideas out of your consciousness.” (Power of awareness)
When you are feeling the wish fulfilled, fixate your attention on it so completely that there’s no room for any other thoughts and distractions. You can only hold on to one thought at the same time. If you hold on to the feeling of the wish fulfilled, you cannot think thoughts of doubt at the same time.
If you can hold one thought to the exclusion of all others while in this passive state of consciousness, it’s very likely that it will impress on your subjective mind.
Repetition:
As you repeatedly go into this passive state of consciousness and assume the feeling of the wish fulfilled, you are strengthening the desire. Rarely will a single session produce any significant or observable results. You’ll need to do this consistently and repeatedly. This should not feel like a daunting chore you have to grit your teeth with but rather a relaxing and effortless meditation.
Recap
Here’s a quick recap/summary of what we’ve discussed in this article.
- The key to successful manifestation is to “assume the feeling of the wish fulfilled,” a concept popularized by Neville Goddard.
- To assume the feeling means to let yourself experience the emotions and sensations you would have if your desire were already fulfilled.
- Your consciousness creates your reality. By feeling the wish as already fulfilled, you’re impressing this onto your subconscious mind, setting the stage for it to materialize in the real world.
- How to Do It:
- Passive State: Enter a meditative, pre-sleep-like state to make it easier to assume the feeling.
- Assuming the Feeling: Imagine scenarios where your wish is fulfilled or simply conjure the feeling.
- Let Go: After you’ve assumed the feeling, don’t hold onto it tightly; let it naturally impress upon your subconscious.
- Key Points to Remember:
- Effortlessness: Trying too hard can backfire. Make it effortless.
- Emotion: Feelings like joy and gratitude amplify the process.
- Attention: Concentrate so deeply on the feeling that it pushes out all other thoughts.
- Repetition: Consistency is key; keep repeating the process.
Conclusion
In summary, the key to the manifestation of your desire is assuming the feeling of the wish fulfilled, as taught by Neville Goddard. When you assume the feeling of the wish fulfilled, the subjective mind/consciousness within you begins to manifest that particular state in your reality.
The understanding of this is all well and good; remember that real mastery comes from persistent practice. Reading this article is just the starting point. Now, it’s up to you to put these steps and key points into consistent action. If you’re serious about manifesting your desires, commit to daily practice. Only through focus and repetition will you learn to manifest.
