Think and Grow...

Think Tank #23

How strong is the connection between our minds and the world around us?

Recently, I came across a graphic on Twitter that listed Napoleon Hill’s Think and Grow Rich among the best-selling books of all time. It was ranked ninth, or something close to that. Of course, number one was the Bible.

Now, I have no idea if this statistic is true (and I didn’t bother looking it up to see for sure). But the idea got me thinking about the similarities between the two books, and I realized that there were quite a few.

Think and Grow Rich centers around ‘manifestation’: the idea that we can make things happen in the physical world by thinking them into existence, and really, truly believing that they will happen.

It’s kind of an ‘out there’ concept, but I buy it (no pun intended). There’s so much out there that we’ll never come close to understanding. I have a completely unfounded theory that the idea of manifestation is where the tradition of prayer originally came from.

I also often find that when things are going right for me—when I’m making the right choices, delaying gratification—I experience a lot of ‘déjà vu,’ generally accompanied by the feeling that this is a ‘good sign.’ This suggests that the link works both ways. Outward action has as dramatic an effect on the mind as the mind has on the outside world.

It’s interesting to unpack this. The statement, “the outside world can have a profound effect on the human mind” is an utterly uncontroversial statement. In fact, steeling one’s mind against outside influence is one of the hardest things a person can do. But to suggest the opposite—that the outside world can be profoundly influenced by the mind—is a statement that requires a great deal of faith.

But why is it such a stretch to suggest that the connection might work both ways?

Well, probably because one is tangible and one isn’t. When the people around us can sense something, it’s a lot easier to accept that thing as true.

Of course, something interesting about Think and Grow Rich (shared by many a religious tradition) is that Hill asserts that it is not enough to simply think about the thing you want to will into existence. A proper disciple must say his wishes aloud, and he must do so repeatedly. Many traditions involve praying aloud, also.

This is a strange thing to think about. It suggests that the mind-world connection has its limits. The world is malleable and responds to our influence, yes, but in order to get real results, we need more than just thoughts—we need real, physical, action as well.

Now, Napoleon Hill is a famed shyster. I’m not saying you should love the guy. But he might have been onto something with the whole ‘speaking things into existence’ thing. You be the judge.