What is *The Power of Your Subconscious Mind* about?

*The Power of Your Subconscious Mind* by Joseph Murphy explores how to harness subconscious mental power to achieve goals, heal emotionally and physically, and transform life outcomes. It emphasizes techniques like affirmations, visualization, and prayer to reprogram limiting beliefs, attract prosperity, and overcome challenges. The book blends spiritual principles with practical psychology, using real-life examples to illustrate its concepts.

Who should read *The Power of Your Subconscious Mind*?

This book is ideal for individuals seeking self-improvement, those struggling with anxiety or self-doubt, or anyone interested in manifestation and New Thought philosophy. Readers drawn to spirituality, positive psychology, or practical guides for career, relationships, and health will find actionable strategies.

Is *The Power of Your Subconscious Mind* worth reading?

Yes, it’s a seminal self-help work with enduring relevance. While some find its religious references and repetitive examples dated, most praise its transformative insights into mindset shifts. Reviews highlight improved confidence, resilience, and goal achievement when applying its principles.

What are the main concepts in *The Power of Your Subconscious Mind*?

Key ideas include: - Your subconscious beliefs shape reality. - Affirmations and visualization reprogram limiting patterns. - Prayer as a tool to align conscious desires with subconscious power. - Healing through mental focus and faith. Murphy argues that consistent positive thought can resolve conflicts, attract wealth, and improve health.

How does Joseph Murphy suggest using the subconscious mind for healing?

Murphy advocates replacing negative thoughts with healing affirmations like “I am whole and healthy.” He shares case studies of recovery from illnesses through faith in the subconscious’s restorative power, including his own experience overcoming a sarcoma.

What critiques exist about *The Power of Your Subconscious Mind*?

Critics note heavy religious undertones, outdated gender roles in examples, and oversimplification of complex issues. Some find the emphasis on “positive thinking alone” unrealistic for systemic challenges. However, its core principles remain influential in modern mindfulness practices.

How does this book compare to *Think and Grow Rich* or *The Secret*?

Unlike *The Secret*’s focus on material gains, Murphy prioritizes holistic well-being. Compared to *Think and Grow Rich*, he offers more spiritual guidance and fewer structured plans. All three share a belief in mindset’s power but differ in tone and application.

Can *The Power of Your Subconscious Mind* help with anxiety?

Yes. Murphy teaches techniques like calming affirmations (“I am at peace”) and visualizing desired emotional states to reduce anxiety. By training the subconscious to reject fear, readers report increased confidence and emotional resilience.

The Power of Your Subconscious Mind

Joseph Murphy

4.07(85708 Reviews)

Overview of The Power of Your Subconscious Mind

Unlock the infinite power within you. Since 1963, this million-copy bestseller has revolutionized self-help alongside classics like "Think and Grow Rich." Business leaders swear by Murphy's visualization techniques - what reality could your subconscious manifest tonight while you sleep?

Choose how it's told

One book. Many ways to hear it.

Same ideas from The Power of Your Subconscious Mind. Pick the voice, depth, and pace that fits you. Switch anytime.

Chapter 1

Unlocking the Extraordinary Power Within You

The Power of Your Subconscious Mind has transformed millions of lives since its publication in 1963. Joseph Murphy's masterpiece has sold over 20 million copies worldwide and remains a favorite of celebrities like Jim Carrey and Arnold Schwarzenegger, who credit its teachings for their success. What makes this book so enduring? It bridges ancient wisdom and modern psychology, offering practical techniques that anyone can apply immediately. Unlike many self-help books that merely inspire temporarily, Murphy's approach creates lasting change by addressing the root of human behavior: the subconscious mind. In a world increasingly recognizing the connection between thought patterns and life outcomes, this book's relevance has only grown stronger. Are you ready to discover how the hidden 90% of your mind has been secretly shaping your entire life-and how you can finally take control?

Chapter 2

The Treasure House Within You: Understanding Your Mental Powers

Within you exists a gold mine of infinite riches-not metaphorically, but literally. Your subconscious mind contains everything needed for a gloriously abundant life. Throughout history, the greatest minds understood this power. It's not atomic energy or space travel that represents humanity's greatest discovery, but rather the miracle-working capacity of your own deeper mind. There are two distinct types of people in the world: those who are "magnetized" for success and those who are "demagnetized" by fear and doubt. The difference between them isn't intelligence or opportunity, but their understanding and use of the subconscious mind. Your mind operates on two levels-conscious and subconscious. Your conscious mind is your waking awareness: it reasons, chooses, and makes decisions. When you select a book to read or decide where to dine, that's your conscious mind at work. But beneath this lies your subconscious-the silent partner that accepts whatever your conscious mind believes as true and works tirelessly to bring it into reality. Think of your conscious mind as a garden's gatekeeper, determining which seeds (thoughts) to plant. Your subconscious is the soil, which doesn't discriminate between beneficial plants and weeds-it simply grows whatever is planted. Plant thoughts of peace, happiness, and prosperity, and you'll harvest exactly that. Plant worry, fear, and limitation, and those too will flourish. Most people focus exclusively on the external world while remaining ignorant of the inner world that creates their external reality. Your thoughts and feelings form the matrix through which the infinite energy of your subconscious flows. Whatever you impress upon your subconscious through belief and conviction must manifest in your experience. The relationship between these two minds explains why affirmations sometimes fail. When you say "I am wealthy" while feeling poor, your conscious statement contradicts your deeper feeling, and the subconscious always accepts the stronger impression. This is why simply repeating positive phrases without genuine feeling produces limited results. Your subconscious takes everything literally. If you repeatedly say, "I can't afford it," your subconscious ensures that remains your reality. A university student demonstrated this principle when, instead of thinking negatively about an expensive handbag she desired, she affirmed with conviction, "That bag is mine." Hours later, she received it as a gift. The power of this mental partnership becomes clear when we understand that the subconscious controls all vital bodily functions and possesses wisdom beyond our conscious awareness. It never sleeps, never rests, and faithfully reproduces whatever is impressed upon it. Great artists and scientists throughout history have tapped this power. Caruso, the famous tenor, overcame stage fright by commanding his "Little Me" (conscious fears) to make way for his "Big Me" (powerful subconscious). Remember: your subconscious is subject to your conscious mind. It's not a matter of willpower but of mental acceptance and conviction. The treasure house is within you-you need only learn the laws that govern its operation.

See every word as you hear it

Read along effortlessly as each word of The Power of Your Subconscious Mind lights up in real time.

Chapter 3

How Your Mind Works: The Science Behind Subconscious Power

Your subconscious mind operates like a recording device, faithfully reproducing whatever is impressed upon it. Unlike your conscious mind, which reasons and makes choices, your subconscious accepts everything without argument-it's completely non-selective. This fundamental difference explains why simply knowing something intellectually often doesn't change your life; the knowledge must sink deeper to create transformation. Psychologists have demonstrated this principle through hypnosis experiments. A hypnotized subject told they are Napoleon Bonaparte will act the part with remarkable accuracy. Similarly, subjects can be made to experience itching, nosebleeds, or extreme cold through suggestion alone. These experiments reveal that the subconscious cannot make the comparisons and judgments necessary for reasoning-it simply accepts what it's given. Your subconscious mind perceives by intuition, independent of your five physical senses. It's the seat of your emotions and storehouse of memory. It performs its highest functions when your conscious mind is temporarily suspended or drowsy-which is why insights often come during relaxation or sleep. This understanding explains why affirmations sometimes fail. When you say, "I am wealthy" while feeling poor, your conscious statement contradicts your deeper feeling, and the subconscious always accepts the stronger impression. For this reason, the most effective way to impress your subconscious is to enter a drowsy, relaxed state where resistance is minimized. Your subconscious mind also functions as a protective mechanism. A dramatic example occurred with a father who repeatedly said, "I would give my right arm to see my daughter cured." After about two years of this suggestion, the family was in a car accident where the father's right arm was torn off-and immediately the daughter's conditions vanished. This illustrates how the subconscious takes statements literally, making it crucial to monitor your language. The power of autosuggestion-suggesting something specific to yourself-can overcome fears and negative conditions. A talented young singer who had failed three auditions due to anxiety transformed her career through a simple technique: three times daily, she relaxed in a chair with eyes closed, quieting her mind and body. She repeated "I sing beautifully. I am poised, serene, confident, and calm" slowly and with feeling. After a week of this practice, she performed a remarkable audition with complete confidence. Similarly, a 75-year-old woman who habitually said "I am losing my memory" reversed this negative autosuggestion by affirming several times daily: "My memory from today on is improving in every department." After three weeks, her memory returned to normal. Your subconscious mind accepts whatever major premise your conscious mind gives it. A professor whose life was "topsy-turvy" established a new major premise: "Infinite intelligence leads and guides me in all my ways. Perfect health is mine. Beauty, love, peace, and abundance are mine." By repeating these statements several times daily, all departments of his life improved. Remember that your subconscious never argues-it simply accepts and acts upon your thoughts. When you say negative things like "I can't do this" or "I'm too old," you block your own good. To overcome frustration, affirm: "The infinite intelligence which gave me this desire leads, guides, and reveals the perfect plan for its unfolding."

Chapter 4

The Miracle-Working Power of Your Subconscious

Your subconscious mind possesses extraordinary power-it controls all vital bodily functions, inspires creativity, and solves complex problems. This power connects you with infinite intelligence itself. Throughout history, the subconscious has inspired humanity's greatest works-Shakespeare's profound insights, Beethoven's magnificent symphonies, and countless scientific breakthroughs. Whatever thoughts, beliefs, or opinions you consistently impress upon your subconscious mind will eventually manifest as objective reality in your life. This explains why some people seem blessed with good fortune while others face constant struggle-they've programmed their subconscious differently. As Emerson wisely noted, "Man is what he thinks all day long." The interaction between conscious and subconscious mind is mirrored in your body's nervous systems. Your cerebrospinal system (organ of the conscious mind) controls voluntary actions, while your sympathetic system (organ of the subconscious) governs involuntary functions from its center in the solar plexus. When your conscious mind grasps an idea, it creates vibrations in the voluntary system that generate similar currents in the involuntary system, transferring the idea to your subconscious which then creates it as reality. This explains why negative thoughts generate destructive emotions that manifest as physical ailments. Your entire being-your vitality, body, finances, and relationships-perfectly reflects your self-concept. Feed your subconscious life-giving thoughts, and you'll erase negative patterns lodged within. The healing power of your subconscious is particularly remarkable. In France, a woman named Madame Bire regained sight at Lourdes despite having medically "dead" optic nerves. A month later, examinations showed her seeing mechanism had been completely restored. The shrine's waters didn't heal her-her subconscious mind responded to her belief. She went with expectancy and faith, knowing she would receive healing. Her subconscious, which created her eyes originally, brought the dead nerves back to life. You can activate this same healing power through disciplined imagination. A man with functional paralysis was instructed to vividly picture himself moving normally-touching his desk, answering the phone, walking freely. After weeks of mental conditioning, when the telephone rang while he was alone, he managed to answer it and was healed in that moment. His mental imagery activated his subconscious healing power, overcoming the mental block that had prevented nerve impulses from reaching his legs. A South African minister with lung cancer shared his healing technique: several times daily, he would completely relax his body and enter a drowsy state before affirming: "The perfection of God is now being expressed through me. The idea of perfect health is filling my subconscious mind." Within months, his cancer disappeared. To tap into this power yourself, give your subconscious specific requests before sleep. The law of action and reaction means your thought triggers automatic subconscious responses. When worry and fear disrupt bodily functions, feed your subconscious thoughts of harmony and health to restore normalcy. Keep your conscious mind expecting the best, and your subconscious will reproduce your habitual thinking.

Get more out of The Power of Your Subconscious Mind

Get daily insights from 100K+ lessons
Words light up in sync with the audio
Your library saved on every device

Chapter 5

The Universal Healing Principle: Ancient and Modern Approaches

Throughout history, people across all cultures have instinctively believed in a healing power that could restore normal bodily functions. In ancient temples, priests administered drugs and used hypnotic suggestions before patients slept, telling them gods would visit and heal them during sleep. These were actually powerful suggestions to the subconscious mind. Despite different healing schools and methods, all effective healing shares one common principle: faith activating the subconscious mind. Whether healing comes through osteopathy, chiropractic, medicine, or religious practices, the subconscious mind is the true healer. It's the same force that automatically heals a cut on your face, guided by the instinct of self-preservation. The Bible reveals how faith activates the subconscious mind. Mark 11:24 instructs us to "believe that ye receive" what we pray for-using present tense for a future manifestation. This technique requires eliminating all doubt and planting the seed-concept in mind with absolute conviction. Jesus repeatedly emphasized faith as the essential condition for healing, saying "According to your faith be it unto you." Healings occur at shrines worldwide through the power of imagination and blind belief. At Japan's Diabutsu shrine, a young girl's voice was restored through her simple faith in Buddha. Similarly, a man with tuberculosis was healed when his son convinced him a sidewalk splinter was a piece of the "true cross." The father's imagination and expectancy were so aroused that he placed the "relic" over his chest, prayed, and was completely cured. It wasn't the wood that healed him but his imagination joined with faith. Professor Hippolyte Bernheim demonstrated how suggestion works through the subconscious mind. He "cured" a man's tongue paralysis by using a pocket thermometer the patient believed was a healing instrument. Similarly, he restored a girl's speech after four weeks of silence by pretending to use electricity while simply placing his hand over her larynx and commanding her to speak. In more dramatic experiments, doctors have produced bleeding through suggestion alone. In one case, a hypnotized subject's name appeared in blood on his arms along lines previously traced with a dull instrument. These phenomena remained visible for three months, dramatically demonstrating both the subconscious mind's responsiveness to suggestion and its complete control over bodily functions. Prayer therapy is the synchronized, harmonious function of conscious and subconscious mind directed toward a specific purpose. In scientific prayer, you consciously choose an idea or mental picture you desire to experience, then convey it to your subconscious by feeling its reality. As you remain faithful in this mental attitude, your prayer is answered. When healing a difficulty, you recognize it's caused by negative thoughts lodged in your subconscious, and by dwelling on the truth of your subconscious mind's healing power, your fear dissolves and erroneous beliefs are corrected. This explains why absent treatment works-there is no time or space in mind principle. When praying for someone distant, your treatment induces an inner realization of health that operates through the one universal subjective mind connecting you both.

Chapter 6

Practical Techniques for Harnessing Subconscious Power

Like an engineer building a bridge, your mind has specific techniques for governing your life. Prayer follows scientific principles-nothing happens by chance in this world of law and order. To effectively direct your subconscious mind, you need practical methods that yield consistent results. The "passing-over" technique involves inducing your subconscious to take over your request from your conscious mind, best accomplished in a reverie-like state. By calmly thinking about what you want while acknowledging the Infinite Intelligence within, you can see your desire coming into fruition. A little girl demonstrated this by repeatedly declaring her cough was "passing away now" until it disappeared within an hour. Visualization is perhaps the easiest way to formulate an idea-seeing it vividly in your mind's eye. What you can visualize already exists in your mind's invisible realms and will manifest in your objective world if you remain faithful to it. Like an architect whose mental imagery becomes blueprints and eventually buildings, your thought impressions become manifested as experiences. The "mental movie method" involves acting as though your desire is already fulfilled. A man who wanted a permanent location in the Midwest used this technique by relaxing completely and imagining himself addressing an audience there. He felt the reality of it, played the role fully, and soon received a telegram offering him exactly what he wanted. Many people successfully use this technique for selling property by picturing the check in their hands and feeling gratitude for it before sleeping. Charles Baudoin taught that the best way to impress the subconscious is to enter a drowsy state where effort is minimized. In this receptive state, condense your desire into a brief phrase and repeat it like a lullaby. A woman used this technique during a bitter lawsuit over her husband's will by repeating "It is finished in Divine Order" for ten nights while falling asleep. On the eleventh day, she awakened with certainty it was resolved, and that same day the opposing parties offered to settle. The "thank-you" technique follows Paul's biblical recommendation to make requests with thanksgiving. Like a boy grateful for a promised car before receiving it, Mr. Broke used this technique when facing unemployment and mounting bills. By repeating "Thank you, Father, for my wealth" for three weeks until thankfulness dominated his mind, he reconditioned his thinking. Soon after, he met a former employer who offered him a lucrative position and advanced him $500. The affirmative method requires understanding the truth behind the words, not vain repetition. Affirming health, harmony, and peace while recognizing these as universal principles rearranges negative subconscious patterns. The author used this method to help his sister who needed gallstone surgery. Despite being 6,500 miles away, he affirmed her perfect healing several times daily, focusing on the healing intelligence of her subconscious transforming her body. After two weeks, her examination showed remarkable healing with negative X-rays. The "decree method" involves confidently declaring what you desire, without mental striving or force, knowing that infinite mind backs your words. A young woman successfully used this technique to free herself from an unwanted suitor by decreeing: "I release him unto God. He is in his true place at all times. I am free, and he is free." After declaring her words would manifest through infinite mind, the man disappeared completely from her life.

See every word as you hear it

Read along effortlessly as each word of The Power of Your Subconscious Mind lights up in real time.

Chapter 7

The Lifeward Tendency: Your Natural Path to Health and Success

Your subconscious mind comprises over 90 percent of your mental life yet remains underutilized by most people. It functions continuously in a lifeward, constructive manner-building your body, maintaining vital functions, and working 24 hours daily to preserve you from harm. Connected to infinite wisdom, it generates your greatest aspirations and deepest convictions. The average child is born perfectly healthy with all organs functioning properly. This is the normal state, and we should remain healthy, vital, and strong throughout life. The instinct of self-preservation is our strongest natural instinct and operates most effectively when our thoughts align with the innate life-principle seeking to preserve us. Sickness is abnormal-it means going against the stream of life through negative thinking. Frederick Elias Andrews, who suffered from tuberculosis of the spine (Pott's disease) and was pronounced incurable, achieved remarkable healing through affirmation. Going from a twisted cripple moving on hands and knees to a strong, well-formed man, he persistently affirmed: "I am whole, perfect, strong, powerful, loving, harmonious, and happy." He made this his first thought in the morning and last at night, while also sending thoughts of love and health to others. When negative thoughts arose, he immediately countered with his affirmation. His subconscious responded to his habitual thinking, demonstrating the biblical truth that faith makes one whole. Similarly, a young man with severe eye trouble requiring surgery decided: "My subconscious made my eyes, and it can heal me." Each night before sleep, he entered a drowsy state and imagined his eye doctor standing before him saying, "A miracle has happened!" After three weeks of this visualization, when he returned to his ophthalmologist, the doctor exclaimed those exact words. Through repetition, faith, and expectancy, he had activated his subconscious mind's healing power. To get the results you want, understand that your subconscious mind is the master mechanic who knows how to heal any organ of your body and solve your problems. Decree health, and your subconscious will establish it-but relaxation is key. Don't concern yourself with details and means; focus on the end result. Feel the happy solution to your problem as happening now, not in the future. Psychologist Coue defined the law of reversed effort: "When your desires and imagination are in conflict, your imagination invariably gains the day." Mental force often defeats itself by reinforcing the opposite of what's desired. Your subconscious accepts the stronger of two contradictory propositions. Statements like "I want healing but can't get it" create failure because the error lies in the effort itself. Never try to force your subconscious with willpower-you'll get the opposite result. The conflict between desire and imagination must be reconciled. Matthew 18:19 says when two agree, it shall be done-these "two" represent the harmony between your conscious and subconscious minds. When they no longer quarrel, your prayer is answered. Avoid conflict by entering a drowsy state that minimizes effort, especially before sleep when the subconscious is most receptive. When you imagine the fulfilled desire and feel its accomplishment, your subconscious brings it to reality.

Chapter 8

Creating Wealth and Abundance Through Subconscious Programming

Financial difficulties indicate you haven't convinced your subconscious mind that you'll always have plenty with some to spare. Some people work minimal hours yet earn enormous sums because they've developed a wealth consciousness. True wealth is fundamentally a subconscious conviction, not created by merely repeating "I am a millionaire." It comes from building the idea of abundance into your mentality. Most people lack invisible means of support. When business fails or investments drop, they feel helpless because they don't know how to tap the subconscious mind's inexhaustible storehouse. A poverty-minded person finds himself in poverty conditions, while one with wealth-filled thoughts attracts everything needed. The ideal method for building wealth consciousness is repeating "Wealth-Success" to yourself several times daily. These words represent your subconscious mind's inner power. By anchoring on this substantial power, corresponding conditions will manifest in your life. The feeling of wealth produces wealth. Your subconscious mind functions like a bank, magnifying whatever you deposit-whether wealth or poverty ideas. Many people affirm "I am wealthy" for months without results because they feel they're lying to themselves. When affirmations contradict your conscious beliefs, they're rejected. Your subconscious accepts what you truly feel, not just words. To overcome mental conflict about money, use this statement frequently, especially before sleep: "By day and by night I am being prospered in all of my interests." This doesn't contradict your subconscious impression of financial lack. You sign blank checks with statements like "There is not enough to go around" or "I will lose the house because of the mortgage." Fear about the future attracts negative conditions. Your subconscious takes fear and negative statements as requests, bringing obstacles, delays, and limitations into your life. To those feeling wealth, more wealth shall be added; to those feeling lack, more lack comes. Your subconscious multiplies whatever you deposit. Each morning, deposit thoughts of prosperity, success, wealth, and peace. When affirmations don't work, it's often because you indulged in fear thoughts shortly after, neutralizing the good you affirmed. If negative thoughts arise, immediately replace them with constructive statements. Your subconscious mind contains infinite ideas ready to manifest as cash in countless ways. This process continues regardless of stock market fluctuations or currency values. Your wealth never truly depends on bonds, stocks, or bank money-these are merely symbols. If you convince your subconscious that wealth is yours and constantly circulating in your life, you'll inevitably have it, regardless of form. A young Australian boy who wanted to become a doctor but lacked funds learned to use his subconscious mind like a seed attracting everything needed for growth. While working odd jobs cleaning doctors' offices, he visualized nightly a medical diploma with his name on it in bold letters. After four months, one doctor took a liking to him, trained him as a technical assistant, and eventually sent him to medical school at his own expense. By using the law of attraction, his imagination penetrated his subconscious mind until it became a conviction that attracted everything necessary for his dream's fulfillment. Before sleep, quietly and feelingly repeat the word "Wealth" like a lullaby until you drift off. This simple practice can bring astonishing results, with wealth flowing to you in avalanches of abundance-another example of your subconscious mind's magic power.

Get more out of The Power of Your Subconscious Mind

Get daily insights from 100K+ lessons
Words light up in sync with the audio
Your library saved on every device

Chapter 9

Building Success, Happiness, and Harmonious Relationships

Success means successful living-peace, joy, and happiness. These intangible qualities come from your Deep Self. To achieve true success, follow three steps: First, find what you love and do it-success is in loving your work. Second, specialize in a particular field and know more about it than anyone else, becoming enthusiastically dedicated to serving others. Third and most important, ensure your desire benefits humanity, not just yourself. A pharmacist earning forty dollars weekly planned to work twenty-five years for a pension. When encouraged to dream bigger and own his store, he claimed poverty. After learning about his subconscious mind's power, he began imagining himself in his own pharmacy, mentally arranging bottles, dispensing prescriptions, and visualizing clerks and a large bank balance. Living this role fully led to a management position at a chain store, savings for a down payment, and eventually his own "Dream Pharmacy"-exactly as he had imagined. A high school boy complained of poor grades and failing memory. The issue was discovered to be his attitude of indifference and resentment toward teachers and fellow students. He began affirming positive statements several times daily: "I realize my subconscious mind is a storehouse of memory. It retains everything I read and hear from my teachers. I have a perfect memory, and infinite intelligence reveals everything I need for exams." This transformation in mental attitude led to him receiving all A's. Scientists have harnessed their subconscious minds to achieve breakthroughs. Nikola Tesla mentally constructed and improved his devices before building them. This method proved so reliable that he claimed, "Invariably, my device works as I imagined it should. In twenty years there has not been a single exception." Professor Agassiz, a distinguished American naturalist, solved the puzzle of an obscure fossil fish through dreams that revealed features he believed impossible for the fossil to show. Sleep plays a crucial role in accessing subconscious wisdom. Dr. John Bigelow's research showed that during sleep, we connect with "our higher nature and become a participant in the wisdom and foreknowledge of the gods." Regular withdrawal from sense evidence through prayer or meditation is a form of sleep-becoming "asleep" to the sensory world while becoming alive to your subconscious wisdom. The master key to harmonious relationships is found in Jesus's teaching: "Judge not, that ye be not judged." Your thoughts about others are creative and shape your own experience. What you think and feel about another person returns to you because your mind is the creative medium. The good you do returns to you in like measure, and so does the evil. If someone cheats another, they're actually cheating themselves-their sense of guilt will inevitably attract loss. A salesman who felt unjustly treated by his manager discovered that his own inner speech was creating his reality. His mental condemnation of his boss entered his subconscious and brought negative responses. He learned to pray positively for his boss and to practice mental imagery before sleep, visualizing his manager congratulating him. Through this "mental and spiritual osmosis," his subconscious absorbed the new impression, and eventually his manager called him to offer a promotion with a significant salary increase. Emotional maturity means understanding that others can only annoy you if you permit it. Anger requires four mental stages: thinking about what was said, deciding to get angry, generating emotion, and acting on it. When emotionally mature, you don't respond negatively to criticism, as doing so means descending to a lower mental vibration. Instead, identify with your aims in life without letting others deflect you from inner peace and tranquility.

Chapter 10

Overcoming Limitations: Fear, Aging, and Mental Blocks

Fear is considered man's greatest enemy, causing failure, sickness, and poor relationships. Millions fear the past, future, aging, insanity, and death. Fear is simply a thought in your mind-you're afraid of your own thoughts. Like a child terrified of an imaginary boogeyman under the bed until his father turns on the light, most fears have no reality. They're merely shadows without substance. Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "Do the thing you are afraid to do, and the death of fear is certain." When you positively affirm you'll master your fears and make a definite decision in your conscious mind, you release the power of the subconscious, which responds according to your thoughts. To overcome specific fears, sit quietly for 5-10 minutes several times daily and vividly imagine yourself successfully doing what you fear. If afraid of swimming, imagine the sensation of water, the movement of your arms and legs-making it real and joyful. This isn't idle daydreaming but programming your subconscious, which will then compel you to express what you've impressed upon it. Abnormal fear occurs when imagination runs wild. One woman, invited on a round-world plane trip, began collecting newspaper stories about plane crashes, picturing herself drowning. A New York businessman ran mental movies of failure and bankruptcy until he sank into depression. Eventually, his fears manifested-the things he feared didn't exist, but he brought them to pass through constant fear and negative expectation. As Job said, "The thing I feared has come upon me." The answer to abnormal fear is to move mentally to the opposite. When fear arises, focus on what you desire instead. Get absorbed in your desire, knowing your subconscious always overturns the objective. The infinite power of your subconscious mind is working for you and cannot fail, bringing peace and assurance. Regarding aging, your subconscious mind never grows old-it's timeless, ageless, and endless. Spiritual qualities like patience, kindness, and love never age. If you generate these qualities, you'll remain young in spirit. Medical experts report that fear of time, not time itself, causes premature aging. Age isn't the flight of years but the dawn of wisdom-awareness of your subconscious powers and how to apply them. Reaching 65, 75, or 85 can begin a glorious, productive life better than ever before. Believe this, expect it, and your subconscious will make it happen. The author describes an 84-year-old surgeon who operates every morning, visits patients afternoons, and writes for medical journals evenings. His attitude: he's as useful and young as he believes himself to be. He hasn't surrendered to advancing years, knowing he's immortal. To break bad habits, understand that you are a creature of habit, which functions through your subconscious mind. Skills like swimming or driving become automatic through repetition until they establish tracks in your subconscious. You're free to choose good or bad habits, but if you repeat negative thoughts or actions over time, you'll fall under the compulsion of habit. A man with an uncontrollable urge to drink overcame his addiction by relaxing his body into a meditative state, then filling his mind with images of his desired outcome. He visualized his daughter congratulating him on his sobriety and saying "Daddy, it's wonderful to have you home!" Through regular, systematic meditation, he gradually established a new habit pattern and succeeded in overcoming his addiction. Today he's president of a multimillion-dollar company and radiantly happy. When you have a greater desire to give up a bad habit than to continue it, you're already fifty-one percent healed. By focusing your mind on freedom and peace rather than the habit, you generate emotions that gradually emotionalize this concept of freedom. Whatever idea you emotionalize is accepted by your subconscious and manifested.

★★★★★

You made it to the end of The Power of Your Subconscious Mind

Loved by 1M+ learners

“23 days in and I have used it every single day. It is part of my daily habit now.”

jayallen

Key Themes in The Power of Your Subconscious Mind

mental programming
creative visualization
autosuggestion techniques
belief manifestation
subjective mind

Quotes from The Power of Your Subconscious Mind

The only path by which another person can upset you is through your own thought.
Your subconscious mind does not argue controversially.
As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.
The law of your mind is this: You will get a reaction or response from your subconscious mind according to the nature of the thought or idea you hold in your conscious mind.

Characters in The Power of Your Subconscious Mind

Joseph MurphyAuthor and teacher of mental transformation
CarusoFamous tenor who used mental commands for singing
Napoleon BonaparteHistorical figure used in hypnosis case studies

About the Author

Joseph Denis Murphy (1898–1981) was a pioneering New Thought minister and bestselling author of The Power of Your Subconscious Mind, a foundational work in self-help and metaphysical literature.

Born in Ireland and trained as a pharmacist, Murphy blended scientific rigor with spiritual insights from his studies in Divine Science and Religious Science. His expertise in affirmative thinking and subconscious reprogramming stems from decades of ministerial work, including influential sermons at New York’s Church of the Healing Christ alongside Emmet Fox.

Murphy’s international lectures across Europe, Asia, and South Africa cemented his reputation as a leading voice in personal transformation. His other notable works, such as How to Attract Money, expand on principles of mental empowerment and abundance. The Power of Your Subconscious Mind has sold millions of copies worldwide, translated into dozens of languages, and remains a cornerstone of motivational philosophy nearly six decades after its 1963 debut.

Download Summary of The Power of Your Subconscious Mind

Get the The Power of Your Subconscious Mind summary as a free PDF or EPUB. Print it or read offline anytime.

Users also liked

How to Attract Money

Joseph Murphy

The Master Secret: Mastering Your Subconscious Mind book cover

24 sources

The Master Secret: Mastering Your Subconscious Mind

The Power

Rhonda Byrne

Subliminal

Leonard Mlodinow

Change Your Thinking, Change Your Life

Brian Tracy

Power of Self-Confidence

Brian Tracy

Unlock Your Subconscious: The Science of Manifestation book cover

How to Reprogram Your Subconscious Mind in 5 Simple Steps

6 sources

Unlock Your Subconscious: The Science of Manifestation

The Power of Intention

Wayne W. Dyer

FAQs About This Book

Discover more

LEARNING PLAN

Power of the subconscious mind

This plan is essential for anyone feeling stuck in self-sabotaging patterns or seeking to unlock their full potential. It bridges the gap between cognitive science and personal mastery, making it ideal for high-performers and individuals focused on deep psychological growth.

5 h 38 m•4 Sections

LEARNING PLAN

The Neuropsychology of Self-Mastery

This plan bridges the gap between brain science and personal agency, offering a biological blueprint for self-regulation. It is essential for high-performers and leaders looking to overcome subconscious barriers and master their internal landscape.

30 m•3 Sections

LEARNING PLAN

The Neuroscience of Manifestation

This plan bridges the gap between self-help and science, offering a biological perspective on achieving goals. It is ideal for high-performers and skeptics alike who want to leverage brain science to increase their personal agency and effectiveness.

1 h 30 m•3 Sections

LEARNING PLAN

Master your mind, lucid dream & inner self.

This plan is essential for individuals seeking to bridge the gap between psychological theory and spiritual experience. It is ideal for those interested in self-mastery, consciousness exploration, and using the dream state as a tool for profound life changes.

5 h 7 m•4 Sections

LEARNING PLAN

The Hidden Laws of Human Behavior

This plan is essential for anyone seeking to bridge the gap between subconscious impulses and intentional action. It is ideal for leaders, educators, and individuals looking to master self-regulation and influence through a scientific lens.

2 h•5 Sections

LEARNING PLAN

The Will to Power and Self-Mastery

This plan is essential for individuals seeking to break free from societal conditioning and reclaim their personal narrative. It is designed for those who want to master their internal impulses and transform their lives through the lens of existential philosophy and self-determination.

1 h 12 m•3 Sections

LEARNING PLAN

Master Mind, Habits & Behavioral Science

This plan bridges the gap between neurological theory and practical application for anyone seeking total self-mastery. It is ideal for professionals, leaders, and individuals looking to optimize their performance by understanding the science of how they think and act.

4 h 21 m•4 Sections

LEARNING PLAN

Master Power, Charisma & Wealth Mindset

This curriculum is designed for ambitious professionals and aspiring leaders who want to bridge the gap between technical skill and social influence. It provides a holistic framework for personal mastery by combining behavioral psychology with practical wealth strategies.

5 h 4 m•4 Sections

From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco

LOVED BY

1,000,000+ curious minds.

4.7

avg rating

1M+ learners

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA

117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum

108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC

254

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful

4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon

201

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn

483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu

See more on how BeFreed is discussed

From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco

LOVED BY

1,000,000+ curious minds.

4.7

avg rating

1M+ learners

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA

117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum

108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC

254

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful

4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon

201

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn

483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA

117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum

108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC

254

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful

4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon

201

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn

483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA

117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum

108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC

254

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful

4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon

201

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn

483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu

See more on how BeFreed is discussed

Start your learning journey, now

Chapter 10

The Power of Your Subconscious Mind

OverviewOverview of The Power of Your Subconscious Mind

One book. Many ways to hear it.

Unlocking the Extraordinary Power Within You

The Treasure House Within You: Understanding Your Mental Powers

See every word as you hear it

How Your Mind Works: The Science Behind Subconscious Power

The Miracle-Working Power of Your Subconscious

Get more out of The Power of Your Subconscious Mind

The Universal Healing Principle: Ancient and Modern Approaches

Practical Techniques for Harnessing Subconscious Power

See every word as you hear it

The Lifeward Tendency: Your Natural Path to Health and Success

Creating Wealth and Abundance Through Subconscious Programming

Get more out of The Power of Your Subconscious Mind

Building Success, Happiness, and Harmonious Relationships

Overcoming Limitations: Fear, Aging, and Mental Blocks

You made it to the end of The Power of Your Subconscious Mind

Key Themes in The Power of Your Subconscious Mind

Quotes from The Power of Your Subconscious Mind

Characters in The Power of Your Subconscious Mind

About the Author

Download Summary of The Power of Your Subconscious Mind

Users also liked

FAQs About This Book

What is The Power of Your Subconscious Mind about?

Who should read The Power of Your Subconscious Mind?

Is The Power of Your Subconscious Mind worth reading?

What are the main concepts in The Power of Your Subconscious Mind?

Discover more

1,000,000+ curious minds.

1,000,000+ curious minds.

One book. Many ways to hear it.

Unlocking the Extraordinary Power Within You

The Treasure House Within You: Understanding Your Mental Powers

See every word as you hear it

How Your Mind Works: The Science Behind Subconscious Power

The Miracle-Working Power of Your Subconscious

Get more out of The Power of Your Subconscious Mind

The Universal Healing Principle: Ancient and Modern Approaches

Practical Techniques for Harnessing Subconscious Power

See every word as you hear it

The Lifeward Tendency: Your Natural Path to Health and Success

Creating Wealth and Abundance Through Subconscious Programming

Get more out of The Power of Your Subconscious Mind

Building Success, Happiness, and Harmonious Relationships

Overcoming Limitations: Fear, Aging, and Mental Blocks

You made it to the end of The Power of Your Subconscious Mind

Users also liked

Discover more

Overview of The Power of Your Subconscious Mind