This week is where ‘the rubber meets the road’ and we dive deep into controlling our thoughts, through exercises of the Mental Diet, where we don’t allow negative thoughts to creep into our conscious minds, and by employing the Law of Substitution, where we shift to positive thoughts, or fond memories.
Have I lost you yet?
Seriously, this can be pretty deep stuff, and when you consider that it was published in 1916 by Charles Haanel, you have to wonder where this information has been hiding all these years.
To clarify some of the content here in Part Eight, Haanel says, “Let me illustrate. Thought results in action, if your thought is constructive and harmonious, the result will be good; if the thought is destructive or inharmonious, the result will be evil”.
Some might consider that somewhat common sense right?
But this is where, because of our negative environment, we ‘must stand vigilant at the gate of our mind’ and use the Law of Substitution to have only right thoughts (i.e. positive and productive thoughts).
Haanel continues, “The Imagination gathers up the material by which the Mind weaves the fabric in which your future is to be clothed. The Imagination is the light by which we can penetrate new worlds of thought and experience“.

Are you still with me? I hope that you are, because we are just getting to the good stuff…this is where Haanel suggests how to use the imagination to manifest anything you want.
Haanel says, “Constructive imagination means mental labor, by some considered to be the hardest kind of labor, but, if so, it yields the greatest returns, for all good things in life have come to men and women who had the capacity to THINK, to imagine, and to make their dreams come true”.
And then a word of caution, similar to the idea of ‘thinking and growing rich’ there is some work involved here, which again, requires you to use the Mental Diet and The Law of Substitution, through repetition and practice.
Haanel goes on to say, “You can not entertain weak, harmful, negative thoughts ten hours a day and expect to bring about beautiful, strong and harmonious conditions by ten minutes of strong, positive, creative thought”
“Successful men and women make it their business to hold ideals of the conditions which they wish to realize. They constantly hold in mind the next step necessary to the ideal which they are striving. Thoughts are the materials with which they build, and the imagination is their mental workshop…Imagination is the matrix in which all great things are fashioned”
I can honestly say, after reading this part every day for a week, I have a new found appreciation for applying my imagination to solve my everyday problems and challenges. I know now that I have ‘the power within’ to manifest the results that I desire.
So, because this is heavy stuff, I want to close-out this Post with this Sanskrit Poem from the book:
Look to this day for it is Life, the very Life of Life. In its brief course lie all the Verities and Realities of your existence. The Bliss of Growth, The Glory of Action, The Splendor of Beauty; For Yesterday is but a Dream, and tomorrow is only a Vision, But Today well lived makes every yesterday a Dream of Happiness, and every Tomorrow a Vision of Hope. Look well, therefore, to This Day!
To Your Success,
Scott W. McAvoy
… ‘you have to wonder where this information has been hiding all these years.’
I have wondered that myself Scott, often wishing I could have understood these things as a much younger man. Thanks for sharing a great blog!
Thanks Randy, I appreciate you dropping a comment. No Regrets, everything happens for a reason and in perfect timing.
Scott, your power within is growing every day. From your blog rover friend.