top of page

Outwitting the Devil

Writer's picture: Dom BRIKIDom BRIKI

Source and inspirations based on the text by Napoleon Hill


Thoughts and beliefs act like seeds sown and cultivated in our minds. What we reap in our lives directly depends on them. Negative emotions and limiting beliefs hinder our growth if not confronted. It is entirely possible to view the challenges and problems encountered as the path leading to self-mastery. But first, we must undertake an inner investigation to understand our own mind.


Napoleon Hill's book "Outwitting the Devil" is a perfect introductory read for investigating thoughts and emotions. In various religious or spiritual traditions, "demons and spirits" always symbolize an internal struggle connected to a resistance present in each of us: a "force of opposition" - an "adversary" - that uses many tricks and seductions to hinder our progress towards inner clarity, harmony, and spiritual growth. "The Devil and his legion of evil spirits" represent certain thoughts that arise spontaneously and whisper counterproductive beliefs and destructive suggestions: thoughts that oppose any action aligned with "what is right."


The word "Satan" derives from the Hebrew root meaning "to turn away." As an inclination towards evil, Satan's function is to divert humans from the path of truth and justice. In the teachings of the Buddha, one opens an investigation and cultivates inner clarity to distinguish what is right from what is not, what is real from what is not, etc. This inner clarity allows recognizing the imposture of certain spontaneous thoughts that make us believe we are their creator and owner.


Various negative emotions, such as shame, fear, indignation, and anger, all those are aprt of the realm where Satan reigns, trying by all means to hinder spiritual elevation. It is the principle of separation, discord, temptation, and deception, seeking to convince us of the reality of a separate ego-self from the rest of the existential continuum and inviting us to engage in activities that inevitably lead to malaise and suffering. By ceasing to identify with the inner monologue while observing the transient nature of thoughts and emotions, one breaks the "satanic" spell. When one aligns with "what is right," signs become visible, and synchronicities abound, guiding and protecting us at every moment on our spiritual journey. This is when higher vibrational states such as courage, love, and a marvelled goodwill emerge.


Opposing forces, though negative in appearance, actually function to elevate our consciousness. They are an opportunity and a gateway to wisdom, allowing us to see beyond illusion, to see things as they are, and to choose our responses accordingly. "Satan," perceived here not as an entity but rather as a function, thus plays a crucial role in our spiritual growth, serving as a leverage that pushes us to reintegrate into the natural law ("God"). In Buddhist iconography, the Buddha faces Mara, lord of demons, before achieving enlightenment, just as Jesus is confronted by the Devil in the desert. The Kybalion, an esoteric manuscript, teaches that man is born with an inner companion, a spiritual coach guiding him towards his fulfillment. This brother-adversary, symbolized by Seth in ancient Egypt, confronts us psychologically so we can transform this part of ourselves.


True spiritual conquest is realized not through intellectual debates or philosophical theories, but through inner transformation and right action that lead to tangible changes in life.


7 PRINCIPLES

TO OUTWIT THE DEVIL'S TRICKS


Principle I

Clarity of Mind: Remedy Against Drifting


Without a clear goal and a defined life plan, one drifts through life like a ship at the mercy of the wind’s whims. A passive mind is then invaded by opposing forces filled with contradictory desires, resistances, and negative thoughts, deterring any endeavor for growth. The clearer your mind, the more deliberate each of your responses becomes, integrated into your life plan. The opposing forces, seeking to cloud the mind with negative thoughts, quickly dissolve in an awake and sharp mind.


To progress, you must be as clear and pure as spring water. Any uncertainty paves the way for shadowy forces. These manifest as resistance to what is right, either subtly or violently. You must be firm in your convictions and decisions. Know with certainty what you want to achieve and the steps to accomplish your mission. Nothing and no one can divert you from your path. Your decisions must align with your values and life plan. A clarified and integral mind is neither swayed nor distracted.


A determined and proactive person knows how to differentiate between a temporary failure and a definitive one. If one strategy fails, they try another without questioning their entire life plan. With flexibility and perseverance, they adjust their approach and eventually realize their dreams. The forces of evil can only spread in a troubled, passive mind filled with fear, doubt, and discouragement. Succumbing to hesitation, doubt, laziness, or procrastination clouds the mind, opening the door wide to the "devil."


The "universe," in its unpredictability, does not always unfold events according to our plans, but this should not deter us. It is crucial to remain anchored in one’s life plan with determination and consistency. A life plan is more than a roadmap; it is an enlightened vision, defining our values and aspirations, thus illuminating the path. It is an inner commitment: nothing and no one can challenge this pact with yourself. The journey towards your ideal is the backbone of your existence. As you progress, fall, and rise again, your clarity of intention and actions protect you against the pitfalls set by the Devil.


If your mind is not clear, make it a priority:


  • Choose a practice of inner observation/introspection.

  • Define your life plan and values.

  • Plan the steps and create your navigation compass.

  • Act by organizing each day around this axis.

  • Reverse your tendency to drift and no longer yield to the opposing forces.


Principle II

Self-Mastery


Have you noticed how, when your mind is vague and passive, it inevitably drifts toward negative and defeatist thoughts? Opposing forces have a strange propensity to colonize the mind by eagerly occupying any unused space. When you remain complacent, they immediately plant seeds of negative thoughts.


Observe your own mind. Notice how, when left to its own devices, it tends to gravitate towards negative concerns, worrisome thoughts, rumors, and catastrophes. Also, notice how much you relish the negative emotional juice of indignation and other negative emotions. There is an almost magnetic attraction to problems, mundane trivialities, and alarming news. Or perhaps your mind finds refuge in innocuous audiovisual entertainments that anesthetize your frontal cortex, providing an excuse to "escape" - in other words, to avoid confronting your own mind and shirk responsibility for what happens within it.


A clarified mind does not drift. It meticulously plans where to channel its attention and where to invest its time-energy; it carefully chooses what routines to build daily; it selects the types of information, people, and foods it exposes itself to, and in which activities it engages.


A distracted and confused mind inevitably opens the door to negativity. Over time, these seeds germinate into a dark forest of bad thoughts that begin to degenerate into counterproductive actions.The devil invades people's minds by taking the form of thoughts that they believe to be their own.


The most "useful" feelings to opposing forces are: fear, superstition, greed, avarice, lust, revenge, anger, vanity, and... laziness. Laziness is not a deadly sin without reason. People think they are freely choosing their actions or following their intuition, when in fact they are surrendering their power to thoughts that insidiously invite them to drift. Our modern society, coupled with technology, has created generations of distracted people, lazy, poorly nourished, overweight, fond of instant gratification and superficial occupations that encourage neither integrity and honor, self-development, creativity, critical individual thinking, nor spiritual growth. Instead, our brains are constantly bombarded with stimuli, advertisements, propaganda, insipid and mediocre content that programs us to amplify certain insignificant desires, indulge in indignation, and consider reactions and emotions such as vanity, selfishness, laziness, greed, anger, and lust as "normal."


If you live in a modern Western culture, everything seems designed around you to foster collective inertia and non-accountability; it feels like everything has been meticulously organized so that people think as little as possible for themselves. We live hyper-comfortable lives of assistance where everything is served to us on a platter with a click of a mouse, literally; a life where we believe everything is owed to us, and we always want more while exerting the least effort possible.


But we also live in a time where opportunities abound, where knowledge and individual sovereignty have never been so accessible. If we look at the glass half empty, it is indeed scary, but if we look at the other side of things, we live in a fantastic era of democratization of knowledge, where a self-disciplined person can evolve and achieve more in a few years than in an entire lifetime before. An awakened adult has no choice but to get to work and observe the programs induced in their subconscious, thus taking back the reins of their life and inner sovereignty.


The Importance of Meditation


By proactively choosing to sit, observe one's own mind in deep meditation, we realize that we are not our thoughts and thus have the power to select which ones we wish to nurture and let grow, and which ones should be released and left in peace. Realizing through direct experience that we are not our thoughts is the key. All contemplative meditation practices lead to this undeniable reality.


We all know very well when we indulge in sterile and counterproductive laziness. Choosing to consciously relax in a forest or take a walk in a pleasant environment with friends is not laziness. That's not what I'm talking about. A good sleep or a consciously undertaken regenerating activity also serves the broader purpose of spiritual growth. On the other hand, any meditative practice, first in withdrawal from the world, is the necessary foundation for self-discovery and knowledge.


Now, you know that if you give in to the temptation of identifying with certain thoughts, you open wide the door to negativity, allowing "demonic" forces to "possess" you. Self-knowledge is only possible by going inside with curiosity and courage to discover how one's own mind works.


Anatomy of a Drifting Mind


The most powerful trick used by the "devil" is to invite us to drift. A drifting mind floats through life in a waking sleep state, not exercising its free will, easily influenced by the "external world." It mechanically "reacts" as a victim of circumstances, following trends and opinions imposed by its environment. In our modern society, constantly bombarded with information and advertisements, it's easy to lose sight of one's center. A drifting mind is lazy, avoiding discomfort, which allows demonic forces to multiply, creating a spiral of apathy without long-term plans.


Taking back responsibility for one's inner realm requires "training." Those with a drifting mind are not "bad," but simply lost: a mind adrift in routines, manipulated by opposing forces and seduced by the ease and "security" of the familiar.


Anatomy of a Drifting Mind:


  • Lack of clarity of intention and specific goals.

  • Lack of self-confidence and boldness.

  • Avoidance of discomfort and effort.

  • Lack of emotional mastery, easily triggered.

  • Opinions on everything without precise knowledge, preferring lies over admitting ignorance.

  • Narrow-minded and intolerant, enjoying contradicting, arguing, and attacking.

  • Expects a lot from others but becomes indignant when asked the same.

  • Starts projects without finishing them.

  • Avoids decisions or withdraws at the slightest excuse.

  • Poor eating habits and lack of exercise.

  • Criticizes those who accomplish things.

  • Invests a lot of time in superficial activities to "escape".


These traits depict a person in mental and emotional drift, prey to the "devil's lies," but this situation is reversible.


How to Take Responsibility for Your Life?


  1. Think for yourself in all situations: Use your judgment and critical thinking.

  2. Define what you want to do with your life and create a specific plan: Make the necessary sacrifices to achieve your goals.

  3. Analyze your failures and learn from them: See them as opportunities for learning. Contribute positively to the world: Offer useful and quality services.

  4. Use your intuition: It's a powerful tool to guide you towards "what is right."

  5. Identify and overcome fears produced by the "devil's tricks": Cultivate inner clarity to spot its lies and no longer let them destabilize you.

  6. Choose to develop your power of concentration, contemplation, and introspection.

  7. Manage your time carefully: Your time is your most valuable asset.


By supervising your mind and managing your time judiciously, you can regain control of your life, despite opposing forces.


Procrastination


If you tend to procrastinate, it's because you allow your mind to be influenced by the "devil's lies". It's crucial to confront all the aspects of your life that you avoid by engaging instead in insignificant activities that drain your reserves of attention, time, and energy. An effective antidote is to choose a form of service that is useful to many people and fully invest in it. Regardless of your field of activity, develop a philosophy and entrepreneurial spirit. For example, an artist can use their art to have a positive impact on others. By channeling your energy in this way, you avoid drifting, aligned on a trajectory towards a motivating, proactive, and productive life.


To be able to engage it is essential to master the art of stoicism and self-mastery, especially emotionally. This involves understanding how your mind works, identifying your habits and beliefs, and knowing how to change them if they limit you.


Here are some steps to start this process:


  • Self-observation: Observe your thoughts, emotions, reactions, and habits without judgment. The goal is to develop deeper self-awareness. Choose meditation techniques that suit your needs.

  • Education: Study how your mind works by reading books, listening to podcasts, attending workshops, or working with a therapist or coach. Areas of study may include psychology, neuroscience, meditation, mindfulness, and NLP (neuro-linguistic programming). "Reprogramming" the subconscious: Once you better understand your mind and the habits that run on autopilot, begin to change limiting thoughts, beliefs, and behaviors. Mindfulness and the ability to let go are crucial. Use meditation, visualization, affirmations, cognitive-behavioral therapy, hypnosis, or whatever works for you.

  • Practice emotional mastery: Use stress management techniques such as meditation, conscious breathing, yoga, regular exercise, balanced nutrition, and sufficient sleep. Develop emotional resilience to better manage the discomfort of negative emotions when they arise.

  • Pro-action: Take concrete steps to change your habits and usual behaviors. Knowledge without action is useless. Apply what you've learned to your daily life to see real changes occur.


THE 3 DESTRUCTIVE APPETITES


1. Gluttony


Contemporary society is structured to encourage poor eating habits, that has led to an epidemic of obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular issues, autoimmune diseases, and cancers. Most people consume harmful foods rich in intoxicating flavors that hijack the brain's dopaminergic reward circuitry. These dietary habits eventually impact overall health, with toxins accumulating and hindering waste elimination. Over time, physiological disorders arise, leaving individuals physically and mentally irritable, restless, or lethargic. Excessive consumption of unhealthy food dulls the mind and jeopardizes bodily homeostasis. However, when inner clarity guides a change in nutrition, mental health and general well-being can quickly improve.


An awakened mind remains vigilant against gluttony and junk food temptations, recognizing them as threats to bodily balance and, by extension, mental equilibrium. It observes impulses without systematically succumbing, transforming gluttony into a quest for better health. Inner clarity plays again a crucial role here, empowering choices for improved nutrition and consequently better health.


2. Sexual Greed


Excessive sexual activity depletes vital energy and creative power essential for maintaining physical and mental health. A body drained of this energy lacks the magnetic force needed to keep a clear and strong mind. The epidemic of porn addiction amongs new generation has grave consequences. Those dominated by compulsive lust lose their spark, enthusiasm, and energy. Their minds become clouded, and they lack motivation, having lost their will.

indeed, contemporary society normalizes sexual promiscuity. The more people impulsively seek sexual pleasure, the more confused, influenceable and controllable they become. Taking responsibility for your sexual energy, managing it carefully, avoiding pitfalls, and channeling it into positive strength requires a rare self-discipline in today's world.


How to Master Sexual Energy:


  • Understand its Power: Sexual energy is a potent and potentially dangerous force if mismanaged.

  • Channel and Transmute: Use this energy to fulfill life plans and dreams.

  • Invest in your Life Missions: Reinvest energy dissipated previously in pursuit of sexual pleasure into productive activities.

  • Self-discipline: Consciously budget and master this powerful force to achieve abundance and prosperity.

Managing and transmuting sexual energy into a creative and positive force helps maintain optimal health and optimize motivation, thereby avoiding drifts of the mind and all the negative influence of promiscuity.


3. The Trap of Mental Laziness


One of the most destructive habits of our time is letting the mind speculate and argue rather than objectively investigating to assess facts. Oppositional forces in the mind seduce us into forming opinions, diagnosing, and condemning people, things, and situations based on assumptions and hypotheses, regurgitating what we have heard or read. Most people do not aspire to explore the complexity of a subject or to examine all parameters and context involved in analyzing a thing or situation. Without precisely delving into things and systematically contextualizing through study, analysis, and personal reflection, one cannot form an informed opinion. This often leads to approximate theories, often derived from second-hand information, lacking substance upon closer examination. then, like parrots, we participate in their propagation by trying to convince others.


A clear mind seeks to form opinions based on direct experience, thorough study of things, and personal critical reflection. It strives to articulate opinions in an organized manner, drawing upon direct understanding and knowledge of the subject in question. It ensures not to get dragged into fruitless debates where the mind risks being contaminated by hasty or dogmatic opinions (rumors, conjectures, blind beliefs, vague theories...).


This tendency towards mental laziness cultivates a superficially flitting mind that never delves deeply, never accomplishes anything substantial in the "real world." Thus, this is another way the devil seduces the mind into drifting by fostering mental laziness, leading others to do the same by expressing imprecise opinions. Many charismatic speakers impress others with their eloquence, memory, rhetorical power, and conviction. They manipulate and influence opinions with their theories. But more importantly, they incite others to drift rather than think for themselves. Most "preachers" are more concerned with gratifying their ego than authentically helping and serving others. For me, the way I evaluate information is twofold:


  1. Firstly, how do I feel after being exposed to certain content or information for a while?

  2. Secondly, what are the tangible returns in my daily life when I believe in it or focus on it? Do I feel motivated, inspired, and more aligned with my life plan, or do my thoughts and life experiences become negative, defeatist, or "catastrophizing"?


The Deception of Flattery: A Double-Edged Weapon


Flattery targets the most common human weaknesses: vanity, pride, and egocentrism. For those imbued with these traits, flattery acts like a chain, linking them to those who manipulate them. However, those with clarity of mind and intention do not fall into the trap, not easily deceived. Those who succumb open themselves wide to opposing forces, becoming slaves to the desire for external approval and validation. But genuine self-affirmation always arises from within, and from the fruit of the value one brings to the world by following their own life path. For those who understand this, flattery rings hollow because they know their self-esteem rests on their own achievements, not on the approval of others.


By relinquishing dependence on external approval, one gains freedom and inner strength.


 Principle III

 Embracing Adversity with Joy

The primary strategy employed by the "devil" is fear. Once the seeds of fear have germinated and grown, they occupy mental space, thereby controlling the mind. The six most effective fears for "freezing" a mind and inviting it to drift are:


  • Fear of insecurity

  • Fear of lacking

  • Fear of disapproval or criticism from others

  • Fear of not be loved

  • Fear of illness

  • Fear of aging

  • Fear of death


Behind all these fears, the fear of life is the main obstacle, insidiously immobilizing the mind. However, the notion of failure is never real until a man has subjectively accepted it as permanent. In other words, failure is not a fact or an event, but a state of mind, a mentality.


The true meaning of adversity, defeat, and failure lies in the function they serve: disrupting our habits so that we evolve and improve, creating new, more effective, and productive habits. For example, nature uses illness to disrupt the current rhythm of the body, indicating that the cells and organs, etc., are no longer in homeostasis. It is an incentive to change, regulate, and rebalance what disrupts the body's natural harmony. Similarly, nature uses a psychological crisis to disrupt the current rhythm (habits) of the mind, indicating to an individual that he is not in the right relationship with himself, with his own mind, and with his surroundings. Whether physiologically or emotionally, a state of crisis always corresponds to an incentive to break away from a habitual (subconscious) tension that has become counterproductive for the organism as a whole. The fear of failure must be studied and understood because failure is always a turning point inviting us to optimize the situation, reassess and change our attitude, recognize our lack of clarity, understanding, consistency, and other variables.


THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS THE MEANING WE ATTRIBUTE

TO THE NOTION OF FAILURE OR ILLNESS.


In the whirlwind of a crisis, the attitude one adopts is crucial. If you see this period as a chance to evolve, you embrace the situation. But if it becomes an excuse to succumb to apathy or denial, it can become a harmful habit, contaminating other aspects of your life, leading you insidiously to total resignation, absolute defeat, and a feeling of powerless victimization. At this stage, the drift of the mind is complete. It is therefore vital to redefine—reframe subjectively—the meaning we attribute to adversity and failure. We can consider them as opportunities to regain control, rather than seeing them as proof of our powerlessness.


Adversity and failure act as barometers, showing us where we stand in our lives after making certain decisions, directions, and attitudes in the past. They are nothing more than signals inviting us to optimize and transform what is not working. Failure is a lesson because it pushes us to question ourselves, improve, and optimize our lives. Few understand this. Many prefer to give up after a few setbacks, letting their minds drift and giving up their power. Only those who see each failure as an opportunity to grow, without being seduced by the temptations of defeat, move forward. The key to thwarting these temptations is consistency and perseverance. We can embrace adversity, failure, and setbacks as opportunities to know ourselves better, to get closer to our ideal life. Change is the only constant, and rather than fearing it, we must welcome it with enthusiasm. Adversity signals that it is time to act, to transform the situation. Each temporary defeat heralds the change to come to a greater life.


The most substantial advantage of adversity is that it forces a person to change his habits and mental routines by disrupting their rhythm, thereby creating a break from an established hypnotic rhythm.


  • Building a Hypnotic Rhythm: Repeated behaviors, beliefs, and mental processes form a hypnotic rhythm, difficult to break because it operates on autopilot, guided by the subconscious.

  • Breaking Harmful Habits: To break a harmful habit, one must accept discomfort as an integral part of the spiritual growth process. Adversity and defeat offer opportunities for optimization and transformation.

  • Power of Focus and Mindfulness: By cultivating focus and mindfulness, it is possible to act despite discomfort in the present moment, thereby establishing new habits and a new hypnotic rhythm.

  • Embracing Adversity as a Blessing in Disguise: Adversity, far from being an obstacle, is a catalyst for change, allowing the mind to reset towards new possibilities and perspectives.


Principe IV

Choosing Your Environmental Influences


Every physical movement, impulse, or thought that the mind repeats long enough to create a "habit" forms an organized rhythm that acquires mechanical autonomy. If we are not careful, these habits can take on the proportions of hypnotic rhythms, functioning on autopilot. Once the momentum of a hypnotic rhythm is strong enough, the waking consciousness—the willpower—struggles to compete against the immense power of the programmed subconscious mind.


Our character, convictions, and beliefs are manifestations of this law of hypnotic rhythm. Therefore, understanding that we are not our thoughts, beliefs, habits, or past "story" is essential for reclaiming personal power.


To recreate a more positive and productive hypnotic rhythm, start by inventorying everything in your immediate environment—lifestyle, activities, relationships, ideologies—that is not aligned with your deep aspirations. Renounce maintaining these in your everyday life and let them go peacefully. If some elements are unavoidable, learn to focus your mind only on aspects aligned with your life plan and manage the others without investing excessive attention, time, or energy in them. This requires making clear decisions and taking concrete actions, not just philosophizing or talking about it.


Remember, your personal associations are the most crucial aspect of your environment. We absorb the mental habits of those with whom we spend the most time. Choose your close friends carefully. Avoid defeatist, negative, aimless, destructive, or self-destructive people.

The subconscious records everything it comes into contact with. By being aware of this rule, choose your environmental influences more carefully. Associate with people aligned with your values and life plan. And when facing drifting people, remain vigilant and aware of their potential influence.


Opposing forces try to seduce humans with:


  • Selfish attachment disguised as "romantic relationship"

  • Insatiable desire for sexual expression

  • Lust for money

  • Desire for unearned gains, like gambling

  • Desire for intoxicants

  • Desire to dominate others

  • Desire to imitate others

  • Wish to survive after death

  • Desire for notoriety

  • Gluttony and greed

  • Pride, narcissism, and egocentrism


These factors can lead an individual far from their initial path. It is essential to stay aware of these temptations and implement strategies to supervise your own mind. This may require changing your habits, thoughts, and beliefs, reassessing your relationships, and focusing primarily on what aligns with your personal values. "Willpower" is essentially the power to focus and act proactively with clear intention and trajectory. This allows you to choose your activities with a long-term view, despite the desires for instant gratification. True freedom is internal: it is the freedom to choose your responses to what manifests in real-time here and now, to supervise your mind, to master your emotions, and to take full responsibility for them. The power of concentration and intention can be trained like a muscle. This should be your priority. Engage daily in activities that strengthen your clarity and power of intention. Every time you step out of your comfort zone, your power of intention strengthens, whether in nutrition, physical exercise, or any other discipline.


Thriving is an art that requires courage, work, consistency, and perseverance. The more you invest your attention-energy in improving yourself, the less space opposition forces will have to lead you astray.


MONEY


Those who thrive at a high level in the long term have generally achieved a very high level of clarity of intention, ethics, self-discipline, and work, and are therefore less likely to drift. However, those who suddenly acquire large sums of money without a mindset aligned with this abundance are immediately possessed by the "devil," who uses various temptations such as pride, sex, food, drugs, gambling, etc., to mislead their mind. Money acts as an amplifier : They drift at an accelerated pace. This is why most big lottery winners return to their starting point after a few years (often without a penny left). Limiting subconscious programs cause the person to self-sabotage so that "reality" matches the (unconscious) image they have of themselves. The change must first occur "inside." The external "reality" then becomes the externalization of this change.


Sustainable material wealth is achieved based on value created and offered to others and the world, requiring commitment, work, focus, determination, patience, discipline, and the willingness to study, acquire specialized skills, and continuously improve. A person aligned with their life mission and offering value to the world inevitably receives a "karmic payment" for their service and contribution to the world.


All those who abandon their personal power by drifting and do not consciously regulate environmental influences or what enters their mind then become "victims" of the negative influences of their environment.


Principle V

Taking the Time


Time converts mental habits (belief systems + repetitive inner dialogue) into a general mental attitude that gives the impression of permanence. But this is an optical illusion: like a plant filmed in time-lapse, it continuously moves and transforms. By using time wisely, we can create new neural pathways and "reprogram" the subconscious. It is a decision: to promote positive and inspiring thoughts or to indulge in negative ones.


Time fertilizes actions stemming from thoughts. The more positive actions we initiate, the more they become a habit, and the less temptation there is to drift. If we succumb to excuses, we expose ourselves to even more negativity in exchange of immediate gratification.


Time transforms human experience into wisdom. The brain is plastic and malleable, capable of learning and changing throughout life. Wisdom corresponds to a penetrating vision of things, allowing us to align with the right action harmonized with the intelligence of nature. Theoretical knowledge without action is not wisdom but a form of conceptual masturbation. Wisdom emerges from conscious actions based on clear intentions, with integrity and determination. It cannot be transmitted or inherited but is acquired through experience, time, and a clear intention to progress and learn.


The perception of the external world is a reflection of your inner world. The power of the mind is immense. Wisdom appears in those who choose positive mental habits as the dominant forces in their lives. Drifting minds resist wisdom, maintaining emotional distress and a victim mindset by their own actions. But they could choose to stop feeding opposing forces by taking responsibility for their mind and life. Wisdom is the power to navigate the world without drifting. The repetition of right actions and the discipline to choose daily routines gradually transform the mind from within, reflecting a different external reality.


It is never too late to reinvent yourself. Modern science shows that it takes about 60 days to establish a new durable neural pathway in the brain and make it a "second nature." Even after years of drifting, one can transform their mind and life in just 60 days of discomfort, entering a new paradigm. It is not advanced age that makes one wiser, but the time invested in spiritual growth: the art of not letting oneself drift.


Principle VI

Harmony


All these questions are essential because they represent the building blocks of your broader environment. They determine your experiences and, consequently, the quality of your life. Your environment nourishes your mind and shapes the person you become and the "reality" you seem to live in. Consciously choosing your environment is thus a powerful means of reprogramming your subconscious, influencing your mental habits, and aligning yourself with "what is right."


Everything in the universe is connected. Every action, thought, and emotion affects the whole. To align yourself, it is crucial to recognize this interconnection and ensure that our thoughts and actions are in harmony with natural laws and universal principles. For example, a harmonious alliance of people with common goals. Working collaboratively with others in a harmonious manner allows the combination of talents, skills, and resources, creating a synergy that can amplify results. Respecting the laws of harmony also implies being adaptable and flexible. The universe is in constant evolution, and the ability to adapt to changes and remain flexible helps maintain harmony with the environment and changing circumstances.


  • What do you give most of your attention-energy to? Energy follows attention. What you focus your attention on most regularly and intensely will have the most significant impact on your life. Focusing your attention on productive and constructive aspects positively influences your mind and your experience of reality. Conversely, giving much attention to negative or destabilizing things has a negative impact. This is an inescapable law.

  • What kind of information do you expose your mind to daily? Information is the food of the mind. Quality information elevates your mind and inspires you, while poor-quality information drags you down. Consciously choose what you read, watch, and listen to, so as to nourish your mind with positive, inspiring, and constructive information.

  • What is the quality of your nutrition and physical fitness? The health and vitality of the body are closely linked to the quality of your mind. A balanced diet, regular physical activity, and quality sleep are fundamental to maintaining a healthy mind in a healthy body.

  • Is the place where you live and sleep clean and orderly or messy and chaotic? The immediate physical environment in which you live has a direct impact on your mental and emotional well-being. A clean and orderly space promotes clarity of mind, tranquility, and well-being.

  • Who do you regularly associate with? The people you spend the most time with significantly influence your mindset, attitudes, behaviors, and beliefs. Surround yourself with people who inspire, support, motivate, and uplift you.

  • What activities do you choose to engage in daily, and what are your routines? Your daily activities and routines form your habits, which shape your character and destiny. Choose activities and routines that help you progress towards your goals, that bring you pleasure, satisfaction, and fulfillment.

  • In which neighborhood, city, or country do you live? The place where you live influences your states of mind, opportunities, lifestyle, and social interactions. If possible, choose a living place that aligns with your aspirations, values, and lifestyle, where you feel good.


To accelerate your spiritual growth and realize the best of yourself, it is crucial to consciously and proactively choose your environment in all its aspects, so as to harmonize it with your highest intentions and aspirations.


Principle VII

Being aware , Prudent,

& Knowing How to Anticipate

It is crucial to adopt a balanced approach to life, using both your critical and rational thinking while nurturing your faith, optimism, and enthusiasm. Avoid being too extreme or too lax. This is known as the middle way


The average person often operates mechanically, acting and thinking without much prior reflection. This choice leads to drifting, resulting in various hazardous situations because such a person does not practice mindfulness, caution, or anticipation. They do not plan their life in detail and do not take the time to evaluate the implications of their daily choices on their quality of life. A drifting mind acts first and thinks later. It does not actively and consciously choose the people it associates with. It does not plan its days or activities carefully. It may be reluctant to work hard, educate itself, read, or improve. By neglecting to know and respect the conditions necessary for good health, it invites illness into its life. It invites poverty by leaving its mind open to a scarcity mindset and not adapting to negative influences. It invites failure by neglecting to study what makes some successful and others fail. It invites fear in all its forms by not taking the time to examine the causes of its fears. It fails in romantic relationships by not exercising caution in choosing partners. It loses friends or makes enemies due to a lack of prudence in communication and interaction.


For me, the forces of opposition, discord, resistance, separation, division, dispersion, fragmentation, and dissipation of energy (the "devil") are all intrinsic aspects of what happens inside the mind. They cannot be destroyed, denied, or avoided: as mentioned earlier, they are the very lever of growth and spiritual development.


By recognizing "evil," one can then choose something else.


Conclusion


The seven principles are guides for a successful and balanced life, according to Napoleon Hill's perspective. They involve conscious reflection, a commitment to self-improvement, and a willingness to adapt and learn from our mistakes.


  1. Have a clear intention for your life plan and values, a specific vision of what you want to create and experience in ALL dimensions of your life. This means understanding what you truly want in life, what is important to you, and what will make you genuinely happy and satisfied. It involves reflecting on and focusing on your true aspirations, rather than just drifting along or doing what others expect of you.

  2. Learn to master your inner realm: supervise your mental activity and emotions. This involves becoming aware of your thoughts and emotions, understanding how they influence your behavior and decisions, and learning to manage them effectively. It also includes developing skills in stress management, stoicism, emotional resilience, and self-control.

  3. Embrace adversity and temporary failures as opportunities. This is the ability to see challenges, failures, and setbacks not as insurmountable obstacles but as opportunities to learn, grow, and improve. It involves developing a growth mindset, seeing difficulties as chances to enhance skills and knowledge.

  4. Choose your environmental influences. As discussed earlier, the environment in which you live has a significant impact on your mindset, behaviors, and therefore your results. It is essential to consciously choose an environment aligned with your aspirations and goals.

  5. Take the time to cultivate the first three principles with perseverance and patience. Personal and spiritual growth is a process that takes time. It is important to engage in this process with patience, determination, and perseverance, keeping in mind that every small step counts in the development of wisdom.

  6. Respect the laws of harmony to achieve results. The laws of harmony refer to the idea that everything in the universe is interconnected and interdependent, functioning in harmony. To achieve the results you want, you must work in harmony with these universal laws.

  7. Continuously develop your critical thinking and plan your activities before acting. Critical thinking allows you to evaluate information and ideas objectively, make informed decisions, and solve problems effectively. Planning your activities enables you to organize your time and resources efficiently, avoid unnecessary problems and mistakes, and reach your goals more quickly and easily.


In summary, to live a fulfilling and successful life, it is essential to understand what you truly want, manage your thoughts and emotions effectively, see challenges as opportunities to learn, choose an environment that supports your aspirations, cultivate patience and perseverance, work in harmony with universal laws, and develop critical thinking and planning.


Napoleon Hill (Outwitting the Devil)


22 views0 comments

Recent Posts

See All

Comentários

Avaliado com 0 de 5 estrelas.
Ainda sem avaliações

Adicione uma avaliação
bottom of page