The Principle of Belief

"What the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve."

—Napoleon Hill

As we begin the journey toward greater abundance, we will also begin a journey toward a greater understanding of the dynamic laws that govern the universe, as well as our relationship to the universe. The first principle is of greatest importance because it is the cornerstone or foundation upon which all other principles stand. This is the principle of belief. Your belief system is just as real as the nervous system or any other of the twelve systems in the body. Having a healthy vibrant belief system is the first principle of inner success.

The principle of belief is universal. All the great civilizations of the world had belief systems; whether monotheistic or polytheistic, they worshiped a power greater than themselves that was all encompassing and was the fiber that held those civilizations together. The great philosophers of the world also have acknowledged the existence of a universal intelligence. This power was responsible for creation and runs our universe; it is a part of everything and every living creature in it. Universal intelligence is an a priori principle. Plato, Aristotle, Sophocles, and many other worldly philosophers realized that there was a "divine design" to the universe, and they theorized that each and every thing, as well as every person, was part of a master plan. Every major philosophy and religion recognizes there is a power greater than oneself that is responsible for everything, including life itself. This power is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent. It has been called many names throughout time: nature, the Source, God, Yahweh, Allah, Jesus, Mohammad. For the purpose of this book, we will merely call this awe-inspiring, life sustaining power the universal intelligence.

Universal intelligence was first described by the Greek philosopher Anaxagoras in 450 BC as the eternal mind, or nous, which transforms chaos into order; through it, the material world comes into being. It is in all matter and gives that matter its properties. It is responsible for our very existence. Philosophers have called this universal, all-creating power the Source. The Chinese call it chi. The Greek civilization called it Physis. Universal intelligence was a term coined in 1910 by the founder of the chiropractic profession, D. D. Palmer. In his book The Chiropractor's Adjuster, he said, "A Universal Intelligence is in all matter and continually gives it all its properties and actions, thus maintaining it in existence."

Each of us being part of the universe has a part of this power called universal intelligence within us. We call the power within the inborn intelligence, or the innate intelligence. Universal intelligence communicates with our subconscious mind through innate intelligence and is responsible for five major functions in the body: reproduction, survival, adaptation, replication, and healing. Let's take a look at these functions individually.

When the ovum and sperm come together at conception, it is that amazing primary power of innate intelligence that gives the spark of life and governs the growth and development of the organism—as James William Parker describes it, "From birth to death, from the womb to the tomb, from the umbilicus to the undertaker." Innate intelligence regulates and controls every single organ, cell, and tissue in the body and coordinates all bodily functions. This amazing power allows us, as a species, to reproduce ourselves with near perfection.

The second function of innate intelligence is survival. We have been given an inborn survival instinct that takes the form of the "flight or fight" mechanism, which was first described by Nobel Prize winner Hans Selye. We have also been endowed with the godlike power to think rationally and make decisions in times of danger. The survival instinct allows us to thrive and continue the existence of our species.

The third function of innate intelligence is adaptation, to allow the body the ability to adapt instantly to changes in both its inner and outer environment. This gives us the ability to react and adapt physically, chemically, and emotionally to stressors by changing physiology and the body's reaction to both inside and outside stimuli.

The fourth function of innate intelligence is replication. Over the course of a lifetime, the human body replaces every single cell over and over, to maintain the health and well-being of the body. This allows the body its longevity.

The fifth function of innate intelligence is that of healing. Innate intelligence controls our immune system and the ability to be and stay well. The organs that houses this innate power, generated from the subconscious mind, are the brain stem and limbic system. Life and healing also comes from the same place: from above, down, and inside out. As you will see, your success, health, and happiness originate from the level of the subconscious mind.

When we intentionally train our innate intelligence to be in tune with universal intelligence at the level of the subconscious mind, we are able to harness a power that will attract the naturally right persons, places, things, and situations into our life, which will ultimately lead us to accomplish our mission, develop our god-given talents, and fulfill our destiny. All you need to begin this journey is a belief system.

No two people are alike; each and every one of us on planet earth is unique. We each have a unique mission, talent, and destiny that no other person can fulfill except us. I believe each of us is destined for something great. It is up to each individual to realize his or her own potential. Remember, our journey through life is about discovering what that mission is, developing our individual talents, and fulfilling that destiny. What it takes from you is to have a belief system.

The major reason so many people don't live the life of their dreams and feel truly successful or attain real happiness in life is because of their limited beliefs. Their belief system sabotages themselves and does not allow them to fulfill their mission, talent, or destiny. They hate their jobs and therefore a good portion of their lives. When you are not happy because you are not doing what you love, life is continually a struggle. I always tell young and old people alike to follow their dreams. What would you really, really like to do? What are you passionate about? What do you believe in? The ideal job or profession is to do what you love and love what you do. That means you should do what excites you—find what turns you on and...