Page 191 - Napoleon Hill Think and Grow Rich Full Book | Success Learned

that the next best thing to being truly great, is to emulate the great, by feeling and
action, as nearly as possible.

Long before I had ever written a line for publication, or endeavored to deliver a
speech in public, I followed the habit of reshaping my own character, by trying
to imitate the nine men whose lives and life-works had been most impressive to
me. These nine men were, Emerson, Paine, Edison, Darwin, Lincoln, Burbank,
Napoleon, Ford, and Carnegie.

194

NAPOLEON HILL THINK AND GROW RICH

Every night, over a long period of years, I held an imaginary Council meeting with
this group whom I called my "Invisible Counselors."

The procedure was this. Just before going to sleep at night, I would shut my eyes,
and see, in my imagination, this group of men seated with me around my Council
Table. Here I had not only an opportunity to sit among those whom I considered
to be great, but I actually dominated the group, by serving as the Chairman.

I had a very DEFINITE PURPOSE in indulging my imagination through these
nightly meetings. My purpose was to rebuild my own character so it would rep-
resent a composite of the characters of my imaginary counselors. Realizing, as I
did, early in life, that I had to overcome the handicap of birth in an environment
of ignorance and superstition, I deliberately assigned myself the task of voluntary
rebirth through the method here described.

BUILDING CHARACTER THROUGH AUTO-SUGGESTION

Being an earnest student of psychology, I knew, of course, that all men have
become what they are, because of their DOMINATING THOUGHTS AND DE-
SIRES. I knew that every deeply seated desire has the effect of causing one to seek
outward expression through which that desire may be transmuted into reality. I
knew that self-suggestion is a powerful factor in building character, that it is, in
fact, the sole principle through which character is builded.

With this knowledge of the principles of mind operation, I was fairly well armed
with the equipment needed in rebuilding my character. In these imaginary Coun-
cil meetings I called on my Cabinet members for the knowledge I wished each to
contribute, addressing myself to each member in audible words, as follows:

"Mr. Emerson, I desire to acquire from you the marvelous understanding of
Nature which distinguished your life. I ask that you make an impress upon my