When the Rational Mind Takes a Back Seat: The True Power of Your State of Consciousness
When the Rational Mind Takes a Back Seat: The True Power of Your State of Consciousness
Neville Goddard once said, “Man’s chief delusion is his conviction that there are causes other than his own state of consciousness.” This statement has stayed with me, not just as a philosophical idea, but as a key to understanding how life unfolds.
What is a state of consciousness, and why is it so pivotal? At first glance, it might seem like just another term for mood or mindset. But it’s far deeper than that. A state of consciousness is the foundation upon which all of our experiences are built. It’s the unseen force shaping our thoughts, feelings, actions, and ultimately, the reality we experience. In Neville’s framework, understanding and mastering your state is the key to creating the life you truly want.
Let’s explore what a state of consciousness is and why it holds more power than rational thought ever could.
Defining State of Consciousness
A state of consciousness is your inner condition of being. It encompasses your beliefs, feelings, assumptions, and perceptions about yourself and the world around you. While thoughts are fleeting and situational, your state of consciousness is more foundational—it’s the lens through which you interpret everything.
For example:
If you’re in a state of abundance, you naturally perceive opportunities, feel gratitude, and attract more of what you desire. Thoughts like, “I can” or “I have enough” arise effortlessly.
Conversely, if you’re in a state of lack, even the smallest challenges feel overwhelming. Thoughts like, “I’m not good enough” or “I’ll never get ahead” dominate.
Neville taught that states are the true drivers of our lives. Thoughts, feelings, and actions are merely reflections of the state we occupy.
How States Shape Thoughts
One of Neville’s most striking ideas is that we think from our states, not to them. This means that our thoughts don’t create our state; they arise from it. If you’ve ever tried to “think positive” while feeling deeply anxious, you know how ineffective it can be. That’s because your state—not your rational mind—is the true source of your thoughts.
This aligns with modern psychology as well. Daniel Kahneman’s dual-system theory in Thinking, Fast and Slow describes two modes of thinking:
System 1: Automatic, emotional, and reactive.
System 2: Rational, deliberate, and effortful.
When you’re in an elevated or peaceful state, System 1 generates positive, flowing thoughts. But in a stressed or chaotic state, the same system churns out worry and doubt. Your rational mind (System 2) often plays catch-up, trying to justify or counteract what your state has already set in motion.
Detaching from your thoughts and viewing them as indications of your current state, rather than absolute truths, can help you better understand and shift your inner condition. This perspective is powerful because we cannot truly control our thoughts in the way we might like to. Thoughts are automatic and often reactive to the state we are in. For example, the classic "pink elephant" phenomenon demonstrates this truth: if someone tells you not to think of a pink elephant, your mind immediately conjures that image. Thoughts arise reflexively, often beyond conscious control.
Instead of wrestling with thoughts, we can use them as signposts that reveal the deeper emotional and energetic state driving them. Shifting your state—through breathing, visualization, or movement—naturally alters the quality and direction of your thoughts. Recognizing this dynamic liberates you from the struggle of trying to control every thought and empowers you to focus on the broader and more influential foundation: your state of consciousness.
The Body’s Role in State
States aren’t purely mental; they’re embodied. When you’re in a state of fear, your heart races, your muscles tense, and your breathing becomes shallow. When you’re in a state of peace, your body relaxes, your breath deepens, and your movements flow effortlessly. The body reflects the state, just as thoughts do.
Neville’s teaching doesn’t delve into the physiology of states, but modern neuroscience provides fascinating insights. The amygdala—the brain’s fear center—can override rational thinking when activated, plunging you into survival mode. In this state, your rational mind takes a back seat, and your body’s impulses drive your actions.
From my own life, I’ve experienced how powerful this connection is. For instance, there was a day when I felt completely impulsive—a whirlwind of gaming, overeating, and overindulgence. I knew rationally that I needed to stop, but the state I was in made it nearly impossible. My rational mind was speaking to me, yet it felt distant, drowned out by the urgency of the moment. Looking back, it wasn’t about the individual actions but the underlying state of chaos that fueled them.
Similarly, during moments of calm and clarity, I’ve found that everything flows effortlessly. Decisions come naturally, and I don’t have to force myself to do what aligns with my goals—it just happens. These contrasting experiences remind me that my state, not my rational effort, dictates the quality of my day.
Beyond Rationality
Neville’s emphasis on state challenges the modern obsession with rational thought. In his view, reason is limited by the external world—facts, conditions, and past experiences. States, on the other hand, tap into the infinite. They connect us to possibilities beyond what the rational mind can conceive.
Take his famous quote from The Power of Awareness:
“Change your conception of yourself and you will automatically change the world in which you live.”
This isn’t about intellectually deciding to be different. It’s about stepping into a new state of consciousness where the desired change already feels natural. Rational thought might struggle with this idea because it’s tied to what’s tangible and provable. States operate on a deeper, intuitive level.
The Mirror Only Smiles When You Smile
A quote that often resonates deeply is this: "The mirror doesn’t smile unless you smile first." It’s a simple analogy, but it captures a profound truth about the nature of reality and our state of consciousness. Just as a mirror reflects your outward expression, the world reflects your inner state.
When you smile at the mirror, it doesn’t hesitate or decide whether to reflect your smile—it simply mirrors what it sees. In the same way, life reflects the state you carry within. If you approach the world with frustration or fear, those emotions are echoed back to you through circumstances and interactions. But if you radiate love, confidence, or gratitude, the world has no choice but to reflect that energy back.
This analogy has been a powerful reminder for me during challenging times. There were days when I felt stuck in negativity, convinced that external circumstances were the cause of my dissatisfaction. But as soon as I shifted my state—even slightly—the "reflection" of my reality began to change. Opportunities opened up, relationships felt lighter, and solutions to problems appeared more naturally.
The mirror analogy reminds us that life doesn’t "give" us joy, peace, or success. It reflects the state we project. The world, like the mirror, is a neutral surface. It responds only to the energy and assumptions we bring to it.
States as Lenses
To understand how states shape our lives, think of them as lenses:
A person in a state of love sees beauty and connection everywhere.
A person in a state of resentment finds reasons to feel slighted in every interaction.
The external world hasn’t changed—the lens has. This is why Neville argued that there are no causes outside your state of consciousness. The world is a mirror reflecting your inner condition.
I’ve noticed this in my interactions with others. On days when I’m feeling open and connected, even strangers seem friendlier. Conversations flow, and opportunities seem to appear effortlessly. But when I’m in a closed-off state, the same environment feels hostile or indifferent. The difference isn’t in the world; it’s in the state I’m bringing to it.
The Illusion of Effort
One of the most liberating aspects of Neville’s teaching is the idea that you don’t have to force change. Rational effort often feels like swimming upstream because it’s working against the current of your state. When you align with the desired state, thoughts, feelings, and actions flow naturally.
For example:
In a state of confidence, you don’t need to "psych yourself up" to take risks. The actions arise effortlessly.
In a state of doubt, even the smallest tasks feel monumental, no matter how much you rationally try to "talk yourself into it."
In my life, this became clear when I was trying to overcome a period of procrastination. I spent hours reading productivity hacks and planning my day meticulously. But nothing changed until I shifted my inner state from one of overwhelm to one of calm focus. Once that happened, I didn’t need the hacks—I simply started doing the work without resistance.
Why This Matters
Understanding the power of states shifts how we approach life. Instead of trying to manage every thought or fix every external problem, we can turn inward to the source: our state of consciousness. When the state shifts, everything else follows.
Neville’s teachings don’t dismiss the rational mind but put it in its rightful place—as a tool that serves the deeper reality of our states. Rationality is the servant; the state is the master. The question is, which master are you serving?
