"What you think about, you bring about" — The foundational principle that forms the basis of Hull's methodology for personal transformation.
"You will stop saying and thinking and doing the things that keep you depressed, lethargic, and frustrated; you will start, and continue, saying and thinking and doing the things that make you cheerful, dynamic, and successful."
The most fundamental principle in Hull's methodology is that your thoughts directly influence your reality. This isn't simply positive thinking—it's a systematic understanding of how your conscious and subconscious mind work together to shape your experience.
Every thought you entertain sends electrochemical signals through your brain, creating neural pathways. The more you repeat a thought, the stronger these pathways become. Eventually, these thoughts influence your perception, your decisions, and ultimately, your actions.
Direction
The content and focus of your thoughts determine where your mental energy flows. Think about problems, and you'll notice more problems. Think about opportunities, and you'll notice more opportunities.
Intensity
The emotional charge behind your thoughts amplifies their effect. Thoughts combined with strong emotion create more powerful imprints on your subconscious mind.
Persistence
Consistent thoughts, even with moderate intensity, create lasting neural pathways. This is why Hull emphasizes daily practice rather than occasional intense effort.
Many people misunderstand Hull's system as requiring iron-willed thought control. This is not the case. Hull recognized that fighting against unwanted thoughts often amplifies them. Instead, he advocated for thought direction—the process of gently but persistently redirecting your attention toward your desired outcomes.
Think of this as similar to training a puppy. You don't punish it for wandering off—you simply bring it back to where you want it to go, consistently and patiently. Over time, this redirection becomes automatic.
Hull described an experiment that demonstrates the mind-reality connection in a tangible way. This exercise helps you experience firsthand how focused thought influences perception and experience.
Choose your focus
Select something ordinary that you rarely notice (like blue cars, a certain bird, or people wearing hats).
Program your mind
Spend 5 minutes in the morning vividly imagining seeing many instances of your chosen object throughout the day.
Track your observations
Keep a small notepad with you and record each time you notice your chosen object.
Most people are surprised to discover how many instances of their chosen object they suddenly notice—objects that were always there but previously filtered out by their reticular activating system, the part of your brain that determines what you notice.
Understanding the mind-reality connection intellectually is just the beginning. The real power comes from applying this principle consistently in your daily life. In the upcoming sections, you'll learn specific techniques for:
Identifying and clearing limiting thought patterns
Establishing powerful new mental habits
Using writing, speech, and visualization to strengthen your mind-reality connection
Creating a daily routine that gradually transforms your experience
Unlike many spiritual or philosophical approaches to mind-reality connection, Hull's methodology offers:
Begin applying this principle today by trying the 3-Day Focus exercise described above. Choose something ordinary and set an intention to notice it.
In our app, you can track your observations in your scratchpad and see how your awareness shifts over the three days.