and
confidently to ourselves: "I am now going to rid myself of this pain."
When the desired result has been obtained, we should suggest that the
state of ease and painlessness now re-established will be permanent,
that the affected part will rapidly be toned up into a condition of
normal health, and will remain always in that desirable state. Should
we have obtained only a lessening of the trouble without its complete
removal our suggestion should take this form: "I have obtained a
considerable degree of relief, and in the next few minutes it will
become complete. I shall be restored to my normal condition of health
and shall continue so for the future." Thus our assault upon the pain
is made under the best conditions, and should in every case prove
successful.

We should employ particular suggestions also for overcoming the
difficulties which confront us from time to time in our daily lives,
and for securing the full success of any task we take in hand. The use
of the general suggestion will gradually strengthen our
self-confidence, until we shall expect success in any enterprise of
which the reason approves. But until this consummation is reached,
until our balance of self-confidence is adequate for all our needs, we
can obtain an overdraft for immediate use by means of particular
suggestion.

We have already seen that the dimensions of any obstacle depend at
least as much upon our mental attitude towards it as upon its intrinsic
difficulty. The neurasthenic, who imagines he cannot rise from his
bed, cannot do so because this simple operation is endowed by his mind
with immense difficulty. The great mass of normal people commit the
same fault in a less degree. Their energy is expended partly in doing
their daily work, and partly in overcoming the resistance in their own
minds. By the action of the law of reversed effort the negative idea
they foster frequently brings their efforts to naught, and the very
exertions they make condemn their activities to failure.

For this reason it is necessary, before undertaking any task which
seems to us difficult, to suggest that it is in fact easy. We close
our eyes and say quietly to ourselves, "The work I have to do is easy,
quite easy. Since it is easy I can do it, and I shall do it
efficiently and successfully. Moreover, I shall enjoy doing it; it
will give me pleasure, my whole personality will apply itself
harmoniously to the task, and the results will be eve