PDF Summary:Assume the Best, by Louise Cowley

What if our perceived reality is not as solid as it appears? In Assume the Best, Louise Cowley explores the idea that the objective world we see is a projection from our inner realm of thoughts, beliefs, and imagination. She explains techniques for intentionally shaping our reality through the power of a focused mind.

The author emphasizes experiencing desired outcomes with vivid imagination and emotion until they feel authentic. She describes revision, the act of re-imagining past events to align with your goals. Cowley advocates for perseverance and trust that your visualizations will unfold naturally, even amidst setbacks.

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• Host a sensory dinner party where each course is designed to stimulate a different sense. Plan a menu where the appetizer focuses on scent, the main course on taste, the dessert on sight, and include a soundtrack that complements the meal to engage hearing. You could even incorporate tactile elements, like serving a dish that requires hands-on eating or providing textured tableware. This can be a fun way to explore sensory engagement with friends or family.
• Engage in role-play exercises to practice and experience future situations. Find a friend or family member willing to act out a scenario with you where you get to 'live' a moment related to your goal. For instance, if you're preparing for a job interview, have someone conduct a mock interview with you. Dress up, set up a formal space, and go through the questions as if it were the real thing. This practice can make the actual experience feel less daunting and more familiar when it happens.
• Engage in a weekly "Empathy Exercise" by volunteering at different local organizations to expose yourself to a variety of emotional experiences. This could involve spending time at an animal shelter, helping out at a food bank, or reading to children at a library. These experiences will not only broaden your emotional range but also provide real-life contexts to practice expressing and connecting with genuine emotions.
• Create a vision board with images that represent your desires as if they're already yours, and place it somewhere you'll see daily. This visual representation can serve as a constant reminder and reinforcement of your goals, making them feel more tangible and attainable. For example, if you aspire to own a home, include pictures of a similar house, decor, and even a mock-up 'welcome' mat with your name on it.

Dwelling In the Imaginal State Until It Feels Real

Simply visualizing your desired outcome once and moving on isn't sufficient. Cowley emphasizes that it's crucial to dwell in that imagined state until it feels as real as your current reality. The more time you spend inhabiting this state, the more your subconscious accepts it as true, opening up the pathways for it to materialize in your physical experience.

Context

• The practice of using imagination to influence reality has roots in various cultural and spiritual traditions, including meditation, prayer, and ritual. These practices often emphasize the power of focused intention and belief in shaping one's life.
• Visualization can be part of habit formation. By repeatedly imagining a desired outcome, you can create mental habits that support the behaviors needed to achieve that outcome, reinforcing the desired state.
• This concept is often linked to manifestation practices, where the belief is that focusing on positive outcomes can attract them into your life through the law of attraction.
• The subconscious mind does not differentiate between real and imagined experiences. When you vividly imagine a scenario repeatedly, the subconscious starts to form beliefs based on these imagined experiences, which can lead to changes in perception and behavior.
• Emotions are powerful motivators. When an imagined state feels real, the emotional response can drive you to take concrete steps toward achieving that state, bridging the gap between imagination and reality.

Reworking the Past to Align With Desired Outcomes

Cowley introduces the powerful practice of "revision," a technique for re-imagining past events to align with your desired outcomes.

Imagining Disappointing or Undesirable Occurrences As Positive

Revision involves imagining disappointing or undesirable events from your past as though they'd unfolded in a way that aligns with your desires. For example, if you got a discouraging email, mentally revisit that event and rewrite the email as a positive and encouraging message. By doing so, you shift the energy associated with that event, replacing negativity with a more desirable emotional response, thereby altering its imprint on your unconscious.

Other Perspectives

• There's a risk of creating false memories or distorted perceptions of past events, which could affect one's ability to accurately recall events or make informed decisions based on those memories.
• It could be argued that this practice is a form of self-deception, which might have ethical implications regarding authenticity and honesty with oneself.
• It may not address the root causes of the disappointment, potentially allowing underlying issues to persist unaddressed.
• The concept of shifting energy is metaphysical and lacks empirical evidence; therefore, its effectiveness and the mechanism by which it supposedly operates are not scientifically validated.
• This approach could encourage a form of escapism, where individuals avoid dealing with the reality of a situation by imagining it differently.
• Altering the memory of negative events could lead to a form of avoidance rather than confronting and processing difficult emotions, which is a crucial step in emotional healing.

Imagining Favorable Interactions and Responses From Others

Revision also extends to re-imagining interactions with people. If you experienced a strained conversation, envision it unfolding differently, with favorable and harmonious exchanges. By repeatedly visualizing interactions the way you wish they'd occurred, you clear the way for similar interactions to happen in the future.

Other Perspectives

• The technique might not be effective for everyone, as individual differences in cognitive styles, mental health, and personal circumstances can influence the efficacy of such mental practices.
• Relying solely on mental rehearsal could result in neglecting the development of actual communication skills, which are crucial for effective interactions.
• Positive visualization might lead to unrealistic expectations, resulting in greater disappointment if interactions do not go as imagined.

The Importance Of Assuming the Wish Fulfilled

A core aspect of Cowley's approach involves the concept of "assuming the desired outcome has been achieved." This goes beyond wishful thinking or mere positive affirmations; it involves embodying the emotion of already possessing your desire, as if the wish were already realized.

Believe the Desired Outcome Is Real, Not Just Hopeful

Assuming what you want has been met requires shifting from hoping and wishing to knowing and believing. This involves cultivating an unshakeable faith that what you desire is already yours, even if it hasn't yet manifested in your physical reality.

Affirm a New Self-Concept With "I Am" Statements

Cowley suggests using the powerful phrase "I am" to affirm your revised view of yourself. Instead of saying, "My goal is to be healthy," declare, "I am healthy," imbuing the statement with the feeling of its reality. This declaration is not a magical incantation but a powerful tool for aligning your inner state with your desired outcome.

Practical Tips

• Create a personalized "I am" affirmation deck by writing unique affirmations on index cards and shuffling them daily for a random empowering message. This can help reinforce a positive self-concept by providing a tangible and interactive way to engage with affirmations. For example, if you're working on becoming more assertive, one card might read "I am confident in expressing my needs."

Celebrating as if Your Vision Came True

Another powerful technique is to celebrate as if your wish has already come true. Feel the joy, gratitude, and sense of accomplishment that comes with realizing your goal. Allow yourself to savor the emotions of success, even if external circumstances haven't matched up yet. These positive emotions reinforce the belief in your subconscious mind, paving the way for your wishes to physically come true.

Practical Tips

• Host a themed visualization party with friends where you collectively celebrate each other's future successes. This social approach to reinforcing belief can provide mutual support and accountability. You might choose a theme related to your vision, such as a "bestseller book launch" or "grand opening" event, where everyone acts out scenes related to their visions, thus reinforcing the belief in a fun and interactive way.
• Start a "Future Gratitude Journal" to practice feeling thankful for successes that haven't happened yet. Each night, write down three things you're grateful for as if you've already achieved them. This can help solidify the emotions associated with success in your mind.

Trust That Your Visualized Act Will Materialize, Despite Appearances

Remaining confident in the face of seemingly contradictory external circumstances is key to manifesting your desires.

Imagining the State Is Already Present

Cowley emphasizes that your desired state already inhabits the realm of imagination; it is simply waiting for you to give it life in the physical world. Focus your mind on the invisible reality you're building instead of the limitations of your current circumstances.

Practical Tips

• Partner with a friend to co-create a "Life Lab" where you both commit to bringing one new idea to life each month. Share your experiences, provide feedback, and hold each other accountable. This could involve starting a small garden, learning a new language together, or even building a simple app with no prior coding experience using user-friendly app development tools.
• Implement a "cause and effect" reflection at the end of each day. Take 10 minutes before bed to reflect on how your actions throughout the day may ripple into the future. Think about the invisible threads connecting your behavior to potential outcomes. If you had a positive interaction with a stranger, consider how that might propagate kindness in your community.
• Implement a "Limitation Flip" exercise where, for every limitation you identify, you immediately reframe it as a challenge to overcome or a skill to develop. If you think you can't network because you're introverted, flip it by setting a small, achievable goal like initiating conversation with one new person per week to gradually build your networking skills.

Maintain the Emotion Until the Goal Comes True

Throughout the process of manifestation, it's crucial to maintain the sensation of having your desire realized. Don't allow doubt or impatience to creep in. When you catch yourself slipping into a state of longing or questioning, gently refocus on the feeling of having already achieved your desires.

Practical Tips

• Create a "Doubt Postponement" journal where you write down doubts as they arise and set a future date to revisit them. This strategy allows you to acknowledge your doubts without letting them interfere with your current tasks. For example, if you're working on a project and start doubting its success, jot down the specific doubt and set a reminder for two weeks later to assess its validity. This can help you maintain focus and momentum.

Need For Persistence and Faith in Imagination's Power

Cowley emphasizes the necessity of persistence and unwavering faith in the face of challenges. Manifestation is not always instantaneous; it often requires patience and unwavering belief in the invisible forces you are setting in motion.

Assuming the New Reality Despite Setbacks or Doubts

Life inevitably throws curveballs. Challenges, setbacks, and moments of doubt are integral to the journey. The key is not to allow these experiences to derail you from your path. When you encounter obstacles, acknowledge them without judgment and gently redirect your focus back to the feeling of already having your desires.

Refusing to Let Contradictory "Facts" Change Your Mind

Often, the most challenging obstacles come from within ourselves. Your rational mind might try to convince you that your aspirations are impossible or unrealistic, using "facts" and "logic" to support its case. During these moments, remember you’re deliberately choosing to prioritize your creative mind—the force within you—over the limitations of the physical world.

Practical Tips

• Set up a monthly "Challenge the Impossible" meetup with friends or like-minded individuals. During these sessions, each person presents an aspiration they've been told is unrealistic and together, brainstorm ways to break it down into actionable steps. For instance, if someone aspires to write a novel but believes they can't, the group could discuss setting small writing goals, attending writing workshops, or creating a writing schedule.
• Create a "Rational Debate" game to play with friends or family. Choose a topic, and each person must present their argument using only facts and logic, without emotional language or persuasion. This will train you to focus on rational thinking and improve your ability to communicate your ideas based on facts.
• Transform your living space into an idea incubator by dedicating a wall or a large board to visual brainstorming. Use sticky notes, images, and drawings to map out your creative thoughts, allowing you to see the connections between ideas that might not be immediately obvious. This physical representation of your creative process can help you break free from the constraints of linear thinking and encourage a more dynamic flow of ideas.

Committing to Imagining Without Time Attachment

Detach yourself from needing to control the "how" and "when" of manifestation. Release the need for instant gratification and trust that the timing will unfold in its own way.

Other Perspectives

• Detachment from the process can sometimes lead to a lack of responsibility or accountability for the results.
• This approach may not account for the importance of setting deadlines and goals, which are often necessary for progress and motivation.

Trust the Outcome to Emerge Via "Bridge of Incidents"

Cowley introduces the concept of the "pathway of occurrences," suggesting that sometimes our desired outcomes manifest through seemingly unrelated events that might not always make sense right away.

Allowing the Imagination to Unfold Its Mysterious Way

Trust the process, even when there are unexpected detours. Instead of trying to force a particular outcome or control every detail, surrender to the wisdom of your mind and let it unfold in its own time and in its own unique way.

Practical Tips

• Engage in improvisational activities, like joining an improv theater group or playing improvisational music with friends. Improv requires you to adapt to unexpected situations and trust in the collaborative process, which can translate into a greater comfort with detours in other areas of your life.
• Partner with a friend or family member for a 'control swap' challenge where you each plan an activity for the other without disclosing the details. By participating in an event organized by someone else and refraining from influencing it, you'll practice surrendering control and enjoy the experience of unpredictability.
• Engage in a weekly "Solo Nature Walk" without any digital devices, using the time to connect with your surroundings and observe the natural flow of life. This activity can help you practice surrendering control and aligning with the rhythm of nature, which can in turn foster a deeper trust in the wisdom of your own mind.
• Engage in a new form of art or craft that you've never tried before, like painting with watercolors, sculpting with clay, or writing poetry. The unfamiliarity of the medium can encourage your imagination to unfold in unexpected ways as you're not bound by past experiences or expertise in the field.

Maintaining Patient Expectation Over Anxious Striving

Cultivate patience and maintain a sense of calm expectation. Don't allow yourself to become entangled in anxiety or doubt. Trust that by staying true to imagining and embodying the sensation of your desire being realized, you are creating the necessary conditions for your desires to materialize in your reality.

Practical Tips

• Incorporate a "Patience Challenge" into your routine by setting aside a time each week to engage in an activity known for requiring patience, such as puzzles, gardening, or knitting. The regular practice of these activities can help you naturally cultivate patience as you experience the incremental progress and satisfaction that comes from these slow-paced hobbies.
• Practice mindful waiting by turning idle time into a moment of relaxation and visualization. Whenever you find yourself waiting, like in line at the grocery store or for a meeting to start, use deep breathing techniques and visualize a positive outcome for your upcoming task or event. This turns potentially stressful waiting time into an opportunity to reinforce a calm and expectant mindset.
• Create a "worry postponement" schedule where you designate a specific 15-minute period each day to focus on your anxieties, allowing you to set them aside at other times. This technique helps compartmentalize your worries and prevents them from consuming your entire day. For example, if you find yourself anxious about an upcoming meeting, jot down the concern and promise yourself to address it during your worry period, not before.
• Develop a routine of "Desire Meditation" where you focus solely on the feeling of your desires for a set time each day. Find a quiet space, set a timer for 10 minutes, and concentrate on the emotions and sensations associated with your desires. This can help you connect more deeply with your desires and integrate the sensation of wanting into your daily life.