What is Suggestion, Law of? — meaning & definition

Understanding Suggestion, Law of in New Thought

One of Troward's two foundational laws governing the relationship between the objective and subjective minds. The Law of Suggestion states that the subjective mind is entirely amenable to suggestion by the objective mind. Whatever the conscious, reasoning mind impresses upon the subconscious through repeated thought, feeling, or conviction, the subconscious accepts without question and proceeds to work out in physical form. Troward writes: "The subjective mind is amenable to any suggestion, and is thus liable to be led into any course of action by the uncontrolled imaginings of the objective mind." This law is the basis of all mental treatment, affirmation, and visualization practices in the New Thought tradition. It explains both the creative power and the danger of habitual thought: the subjective mind does not evaluate whether a suggestion is beneficial or harmful; it simply acts upon whatever is impressed upon it.

What the Teachers Say

Thomas Troward

The Edinburgh Lectures on Mental Science

Troward establishes the Law of Suggestion as one of his two fundamental laws governing the dual mind. He emphasizes that the subjective mind is completely amenable to suggestion from the objective mind, accepting whatever is impressed upon it without question. This law explains both the power and responsibility of conscious thought: since the subjective mind cannot discriminate between beneficial and harmful suggestions, the quality of our mental impressions determines the nature of our external experiences. Troward warns that uncontrolled imagination can lead the subjective mind into destructive patterns just as easily as constructive ones.

Emma Curtis Hopkins

Scientific Christian Mental Practice

Hopkins applies the Law of Suggestion through her system of mental treatment, demonstrating how conscious direction of thought can heal and transform conditions. She teaches that the subjective mind responds to the authority and conviction behind suggestions, not merely their content. Hopkins emphasizes that practitioners must speak to the subjective mind with absolute certainty and persist until the suggestion takes hold. Her work shows how this law operates in healing practice, where the practitioner's conscious conviction impresses healing truth upon the patient's receptive subjective mind.

Christian D. Larson

Your Forces and How to Use Them

Larson systematically explores how the Law of Suggestion operates through different types of mental impressions: thoughts, emotions, mental images, and spoken words. He demonstrates that the subjective mind responds most powerfully to suggestions accompanied by strong feeling and clear mental pictures. Larson teaches practical methods for controlling the suggestion process, emphasizing that consistent, emotionally-charged mental impressions create lasting changes in the subjective mind. His work reveals how this law operates continuously, whether we direct it consciously or allow it to work through habitual, unconscious patterns.

Suggestion, Law of vs. Law of Dual Mind

While the Law of Suggestion governs how the objective mind influences the subjective mind, the Law of Dual Mind establishes the fundamental nature and functions of these two aspects of consciousness. These laws work together as Troward's complete framework for understanding mental operation.

Aspect	Suggestion, Law of	Law of Dual Mind
Primary Focus	How objective mind impresses the subjective mind	The distinct nature and functions of both minds
Operational Scope	Governs the transmission of mental impressions	Defines the capacities and limitations of each mind
Practical Application	Guides how to effectively influence subconscious patterns	Explains which mental functions belong to which mind
Key Principle	Subjective mind accepts all suggestions without evaluation	Objective mind reasons while subjective mind creates
Therapeutic Relevance	Basis for affirmation, visualization, and mental treatment	Framework for understanding consciousness in healing work

Etymology

The term "suggestion" originates from the Latin "suggestio," meaning "a bringing to mind, an intimation, a hint." It derives from "sub-gerere," to carry beneath or to furnish. In the context of New Thought, the "Law of Suggestion" evolved to describe the principle by which conscious thoughts and beliefs are impressed upon the subconscious mind, influencing subsequent experience and reality.

How to Practice This

Practitioners apply the Law of Suggestion through affirmations, visualization, and focused meditation. By consciously and repeatedly affirming desired states or outcomes, individuals impress these ideas upon their subjective mind. Visualization techniques, where one vividly imagines the successful attainment of goals, further reinforce these suggestions. Consistent practice of these methods aims to reprogram the subconscious, aligning it with conscious intentions to manifest desired results in the objective world.

Connection to Manifestation

The Law of Suggestion is fundamental to all manifestation work in New Thought, as it explains the precise mechanism by which conscious intention becomes physical reality. When practitioners use affirmations, visualizations, or mental treatments, they are applying this law by deliberately impressing desired outcomes upon the subjective mind. The law reveals why consistency and conviction are essential in manifestation: the subjective mind responds to the authority and persistence of suggestions, not their occasional repetition. Understanding this law empowers conscious creators to take responsibility for their mental impressions, knowing that whatever they consistently impress upon the subconscious will be faithfully reproduced in their external experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the Law of Suggestion actually work in practice?

The Law of Suggestion works through the conscious mind repeatedly impressing thoughts, feelings, or images upon the subconscious mind. The subconscious accepts these impressions without question and begins working to manifest them in physical reality. The key is consistency and conviction: the more authority and persistence behind the suggestion, the more powerfully the subconscious responds.

What makes a suggestion effective according to New Thought principles?

Effective suggestions combine clear mental imagery with strong emotional conviction and persistent repetition. The subjective mind responds most powerfully to suggestions that feel real and authoritative to the conscious mind. Doubt, contradiction, or half-hearted delivery weakens the suggestion's impact, while confidence and consistency strengthen it.

Can negative thoughts affect me through the Law of Suggestion?

Yes, the Law of Suggestion works with any mental impression, whether positive or negative. The subjective mind cannot discriminate between beneficial and harmful suggestions; it simply acts upon whatever is consistently impressed upon it. This is why New Thought emphasizes the importance of monitoring and directing our habitual thought patterns.

How is the Law of Suggestion different from regular positive thinking?

The Law of Suggestion involves a specific understanding of how the conscious mind impresses the subconscious mind, rather than mere optimism. It requires deliberately directing mental impressions with authority and persistence, understanding that the subconscious will faithfully reproduce whatever is consistently suggested to it. This is more systematic and intentional than casual positive thinking.

Why does Troward call this a 'law' rather than just a technique?

Troward designates this as a law because it operates consistently and universally, regardless of whether we understand or consciously apply it. Like natural laws, the Law of Suggestion functions continuously: the subjective mind is always receiving and acting upon suggestions from the objective mind. Understanding it as a law helps practitioners work with its principles rather than against them.

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