HOW TO OUTWIT THE SIX GHOSTS OF FEAR from Think & Grow Rich #TGR

SYMPTOMS OF THE FEAR OF DEATH

The general symptoms of this fear are:

• The habit of THINKING about dying instead of making the most of LIFE, due, generally, to lack of purpose or lack of a suitable occupation.

• This fear is more prevalent among the aged, but sometimes the more youthful are victims of it.

• The greatest of all remedies for the fear of death is a BURNING DESIRE FOR ACHIEVEMENT backed by useful service to others.

• A busy person seldom has time to think about dying.

• He finds life too thrilling to worry about death.

• Sometimes the fear of death is closely associated with the Fear of Poverty, where one’s death would leave loved ones poverty-stricken.

• In other cases, the fear of death is caused by illness and the consequent breaking down of physical body resistance.

• The most common causes of the fear of death are ill-health, poverty, lack of appropriate occupation, disappointment over love, insanity, religious fanaticism.

the text later goes on to say that decisiveness just as ardent desire is also a cure for this fear of death. In other words: “Relieve yourself forever of the fear of death by reaching a decision to accept death as an inescapable event.”

THE SEVEN MAJOR POSITIVE EMOTIONS (according to Napoleon Hill). #TGR

The emotion of DESIRE
The emotion of FAITH
The emotion of LOVE
The emotion of SEX
The emotion of ENTHUSIASM
The emotion of ROMANCE
The emotion of HOPE

Money is as shy and elusive as the “old time” maiden. It must be wooed and won by methods not unlike those used by a determined lover, in pursuit of the girl of his choice. And, coincidental as it is, the POWER used in the “wooing” of money is not greatly different from that used in wooing a maiden. That power, when successfully used in the pursuit of money must be mixed with FAITH. It must be mixed with DESIRE. It must be mixed with PERSISTENCE. It must be applied through a plan, and that plan must be set into ACTION. -Napoleon Hill #TGR

There are authors like Mark Manson who went from pick up artists to self-help gurus but this connection is kind of faint. Maybe it's the fact that pick-up artists tend to be non-spiritual (perhaps because they subconsciously view spiritualism as feminine), but the root of self-help thinking such as the "law of attraction" is always spiritual.

Sure you can explain away the law of attraction's spiritual roots by claiming that it only works because desiring something induces you to change your behaviour. However to me that feel like a crude post-hoc rationalisation.

"Every failure brings with it the seed of an equivalent advantage." - Napoleon Hill #TGR

Not automatically, of course, just as what doesn't kill you doesn't automatically make you stronger, but if you are creative enough it is possible to turn a disadvantage into an advantage.

"TWO FORMS OF IMAGINATION
The imaginative faculty functions in two forms. One is known as “synthetic imagination,” and the other as “creative imagination.”

SYNTHETIC IMAGINATION: Through this faculty, one may arrange old concepts, ideas, or plans into new combinations. This faculty creates nothing. It merely works with the material of experience, education, and observation with which it is fed. It is the faculty used most by the inventor, with the exception of the who draws upon the creative imagination, when he cannot solve his problem through synthetic imagination.

CREATIVE IMAGINATION: Through the faculty of creative imagination, the finite mind of man has direct communication with Infinite Intelligence. It is the faculty through which “hunches” and “inspirations” are received. It is by this faculty that all basic, or new ideas are handed over to man." - Napoleon Hill, #TGR

What Hill calls the creative imagination in my opinion is just forgetfulness. In other words when the mind cannot recall the connection between old concepts, it just makes up connections which are not necessarily true, and if you (i.e your mind) keeps on guessing enough times, then eventually you will come up with a new useful connection between concepts. This connection itself will be a new concept.

Another way to understand this view of creative imagination, is to look at how random mutations in our genes, which are mostly harmless and occasionally useful, have led to our evolution simply based on what works in that environment. I imagine that forgetfulness fills a similar niche. It is not that there aren't people who have near perfect memory of their pasts but if they can't forget past ideas and events, then that leaves less space for mistakes in thinking and therefore less potential for growth. This is probably why such health conditions are rare despite not being impossible.

I suppose you could also draw a similar parallel to the way that AI hallucinations work as well, although frankly I don't know enough about AI to make that connection with any certainty. Not that I know much more about how the human mind works. This is just a theory of mine based on my own personal experience as a very forgetful individual. I feel like because I am forgetful I am constantly forced to think on my feet, and so it helps me to make new connections which may not always be the most intuitive but which are creative. The main way that my thinking evolves is by asking questions upon questions, and the reason why I have so many questions is because I often forget what is obvious to others.

"There is something to the idea that hero worship is helpful, provided one worships a WINNER."

"Knute Rockne's spirit of "All the world loves a  winner and has no time for a loser." - Napoleon Hill

This is not a nice sentiment but it's basically true. Nobody really cares if you are a loser, unless they can use you as some kind of tool for their own aggrandizement. Beware of that. As for hero worship, I am aware of survival bias but I don't think there is an alternative, or at least what would emulating failure lead you to? Other than failure? #TGR

Four Instructions for the Organisation of Your Master Mind Group from Think & Grow Rich Chapter 7: Organised Planning  #TGR

(a) Ally yourself with a group of as many people as you may need for the creation, and carrying out of your plan, or plans for the accumulation of money-making use of the “Master Mind” principle described in a later chapter. (Compliance
with this instruction is absolutely essential. Do not neglect it.)
(b) Before forming your “Master Mind” alliance, decide what advantages, and benefits, you may offer the individual embers of your group, in return for their cooperation. No one will work indefinitely without some form of compensation.
No intelligent person will either request or expect another to work without adequate compensation, although this may not always be in the form of money.
(c) Arrange to meet with the members of your “Master Mind” group at least twice a week, and more often if possible, until you have jointly perfected the necessary plan, or plans for the accumulation of money.
(d) Maintain PERFECT HARMONY between yourself and every member of your “Master Mind” group. If you fail to carry out this instruction to the letter, you may expect to meet with failure. The “Master Mind” principle cannot obtain where PERFECT HARMONY does not prevail.

Even if your goal is not necessarily to make money, I feel like this list is true.

Template for Building Character Through Auto-Suggestion

In Chapter 14: The Sixth Sense, of Think & Grow Rich, Napoleon Hill talks about he pretends to talk to people he admired (dead or alive). I took out the names and accomplishments of the people NP used in his version to make a reusable template:

[Name], I desire to acquire from you the [specific quality, skill, or understanding] which distinguished your life. I ask that you make an impression upon my subconscious mind of whatever qualities you possessed that enabled you to [specific achievement or capability]. I ask that you assist me in reaching and drawing upon whatever sources of knowledge are available to this end.

[Name], I request that you pass on to me the knowledge which enabled you to [specific accomplishment or transformation]. Grant me access to the understanding that allowed you to [expand on achievement or impact].

[Name], I desire to acquire from you, by emulation, the ability to [key strength or trait]. Help me develop the spirit of [faith, persistence, courage, etc.] which enabled you to [overcome challenge or achieve success]. [Optional: Title or symbolic description], I acknowledge and learn from your example.

[Name], I desire to acquire from you the [mental trait, philosophy, or approach] which defined your work. Grant me the [freedom, courage, clarity, patience, etc.] to think, act, and express myself as you did.

[Name], I wish to acquire from you the ability to [core method or discipline], especially your capacity to [study, create, lead, or endure] without [bias, fear, hesitation, etc.].

[Name], I desire to build into my own character the qualities you exemplified: [list of traits, e.g., justice, patience, humor, understanding, tolerance]. Help me embody these in my actions and decisions.

[Name], I am grateful for the influence you have had on my path. I wish to acquire a deeper understanding of the principles you used, particularly [organized effort, creativity, leadership, etc.], so I may apply them in my own life.

[Name], I wish to acquire your spirit of [persistence, determination, confidence, etc.], which enabled you to overcome [obstacle or limitation]. Guide me in using these qualities to achieve my goals and help others.

[Name], I place you among those I learn from most closely because of your [specific contribution or influence]. I wish to acquire your spirit of [faith, innovation, resilience, etc.], and your dedication to [effort, discovery, mastery], so that I may turn challenges into success.

Here is the original passage btw:

“Mr. Emerson, I desire to acquire from you the marvelous understanding of Nature which distinguished your life. I ask that you make an impress upon my subconscious mind, of whatever qualities you possessed, which enabled you to understand and adapt yourself to the laws of Nature. I ask that you assist me in reaching and drawing upon whatever sources of knowledge are available to this end.

“Mr. Burbank, I request that you pass on to me the knowledge which enabled you to so harmonize the laws of Nature that you caused the cactus to shed its thorns, and become an edible food. Give me access to the knowledge which enabled you to make two blades of grass grow where but one grew before, and helped you to blend the coloring of the flowers with more splendor and harmony, for you, alone, have successfully gilded the lily.

“Napoleon, I desire to acquire from you, by emulation, the marvelous ability you possessed to inspire men, and to arouse them to greater and more determined spirit of action. Also to acquire the spirit of enduring FAITH, which enabled you to turn defeat into victory, and to surmount staggering obstacles. Emperor of Fate, King of Chance, Man of Destiny, I salute you!

“Mr. Paine, I desire to acquire from you the freedom of thought and the courage and clarity with which to express convictions, which so distinguished you!

“Mr. Darwin, I wish to acquire from you the marvelous patience, and ability to study cause and effect, without bias or prejudice, so exemplified by you in the field of natural science. “Mr. Lincoln, I desire to build into my own character the keen sense of justice, the untiring spirit of patience, the sense of humor, the human understanding, and the tolerance, which were your distinguishing characteristics.

“Mr. Carnegie, I am already indebted to you for my choice of a life-work, which has brought me great happiness and peace of mind. I wish to acquire a thorough understanding of the principles of organized effort, which you used so effectively in the building of a great industrial enterprise.

“Mr. Ford, you have been among the most helpful of the men who have supplied much of the material essential to my work. I wish to acquire your spirit of persistence, the determination, poise, and self-confidence which have enabled you to master poverty, organize, unify, and simplify human effort, so I may help others to follow in your footsteps.

“Mr. Edison, I have seated you nearest to me, at my right, because of the personal cooperation you have given me, during my research into the causes of success and failure. I wish to acquire from you the marvelous spirit of FAITH, with which you have uncovered so many of Nature’s secrets, the spirit of unremitting toil with which you have so often wrested victory from defeat.”

Here is a version based on people I admire:

Osamu Tezuka, I desire to acquire from you the boundless creativity and storytelling mastery which allowed you to create a new world for yourself and a new universe for those after you. I ask that you make an impression upon my subconscious mind of the organisational qualities that enabled you to pioneer manga and anime as a narrative art form. Assist me in drawing upon the imagination and discipline required to create stories that resonate with my generation.

Christopher Hitchens, I request that you pass on to me the eloquence in speech and the fearlessly masculine commitment to your truth which defined your voice. Grant me access to the intellectual rigor and rhetorical precision that allowed you to challenge ideas and people boldly and to articulate convictions with confidence and wit.

George Orwell, I desire to acquire from you, the ability to write clearly and with power. Help me develop the courage and moral clarity which enabled you to confront injustice with almost no partisanship, and to warn against tyranny and slavish obeyance to authority through your writing.

Khatzumoto, I desire to acquire from you the lackadaisical discipline, immersion mindset, love of true learning as opposed to the torture which passes for higher learning, the humour, salesmanship and prolificacy of your blogs. Grant me the persistence achieved through changing my environment rather "motivation," to master first the Japanese language, and then everything else I wish for, through consistent exposure.

Napoleon Hill, I wish to acquire from you the ability to understand and apply the principles of success, particularly your mastery of desire, belief, definiteness of purpose, and organized effort. Help me develop unwavering faith through auto-suggestion, and grant me the mindset necessary to turn my optimistic thoughts into reality.

Hideaki Anno, I desire to build into my own fictional characters the introspection, emotional depth, and the cuteness plus sex appeal  which your bishoujo characters exemplified to the point where thirty years later your viewers are still mesmerised and infatuated. Help me gain your artistic and organisation skills to create my creative work with honesty and courage.

Friedrich Nietzsche, I am grateful for the influence you have had on my philosophy for having allowed me to bring back an appreciation of masculinity into my thought. I wish to acquire your skill at writing to achieve self-overcoming, rebuff my enemies, achieve individual masculine strength, and the courage to question established values even if I may have to stand alone, so I may think independently and shape my own path.

Naotaka Hayashi, I wish to acquire your skill in crafting intricate narratives and scenarios, which enabled you to create deeply engaging visual novels and one of the greatest heroines, romances, and main character at the same time. Guide me in weaving complex plots and meaningful character arcs that leave a lasting impression.

Gosho Aoyama, I place you among those I learn from most closely because of your mastery in constructing long-form mysteries,  memorable characters, and a wide ranging image of Japan which moved my heart and those of millions. You created hopeful characters with heart, with a genuine sense of right and wrong unbound by convention, and some very cute heroines and cool characters along the way, I wish to acquire your creativity, consistency, and ingenuity in storytelling which allowed you to craft one of the greatest and longest continuous adventures in manga and television history.

#TGR

"A mind dominated by positive emotions becomes a favourable abode for the state of mind known as faith. A mind so dominated may, at will give the subconscious mind instructions, which it will accept and act upon immediately."- Think & Grow Rich, Napoleon Hill

Our actions are driven by our emotions which are driven by our thoughts, which in turn are driven by our environment. And our 'environment' often consists of what people around us say, and what kind of words go into our mind. So, honestly, I have been curating the content I read and watch a lot more carefully. I have stopped reading news, even if that makes me less informed, because it's just depressing, and there is nothing I feel like can do about it. I have set up redirects from websites like the bbc to other sites in Japanese. The same goes for discussion forums and youtube comments. The problem with these is that they are like gambling, you might come across a good thread once in a while, which is what keeps you coming back, but there's just too much demoralising content.

I have always worried about being delusionally positive like cult members are, but the opposite problem is far more common, becoming unable to take action due to pessimism. It's just much easier to do things if you fill your mind with positive thoughts, and that's what matters. Just like nobody has tears for a coward, no one cares for someone who just complains about their life. #TGR