You must realize by now that your conscious mind is the
“watchman at the gate,” and its chief function is to protect your
subconscious mind from false impressions. You are now aware
of one of the basic laws of mind: Your subconscious mind
is amenable to suggestion. As you know, your subconscious
mind does not make comparisons, or contrasts, neither does
it reason and think things out for itself. This latter function
belongs to your conscious mind. It simply reacts to the
impressions given to it by your conscious mind. It does not
show a preference for one course of action over another.
The following is a classic example of the tremendous
power of suggestion. Suppose you approach a timid-looking
passenger on board ship and say to him something like this:
“You look very ill. How pale you are! I feel certain you
are going to be seasick. Let me help you to your cabin.” The
passenger turns pale. Your suggestion of seasickness associates
itself with his own fears and forebodings. He accepts your aid
down to the berth, and there your negative suggestion, which
was accepted by him, is realized.