Problems come in all shapes and forms. Some are big, some small. Some appear only once, like a divorce, while others seem never-ending, like that stubborn muffin top that just won’t go away. Certain problems can be so profound that they completely change the course of our lives, becoming the catalyst for a total transformation.
Whatever we say about problems, one truth remains: for every problem, there is a solution. For every unwanted state we find ourselves in, there exists a desirable opposite.
More and more people are beginning to wake up from the illusion of the human rat race. They are starting to question the false belief that they are powerless over the circumstances of their lives. Gradually, people are awakening from this conditioned mindset and discovering the infinite, dormant power that lies within.
Once, there was a woodcutter in a far-off land. One day, he was commissioned by the king to cut down all the trees in the forest to build a new fleet of ships. The woodcutter immediately set to work, cutting tree after tree with his trusted steel axe. For weeks, he worked tirelessly, stopping only to eat a few bites of food and wipe the sweat from his brow.
One day, a wise old woman appeared and watched him silently.
“What do you want, old crone?” the woodcutter asked.
She replied, “Why are you working so hard? Wouldn’t it be faster and easier if you took a little time to sharpen your axe?”
“Can’t you see how many trees I have to cut down today?” he snapped. “I don’t have time to sharpen my axe!”
How often do we behave like the woodcutter in this story? We become so consumed by our problems that our entire life seems to revolve around fixing them. Like the woodcutter, we end up trapped and exhausted, trying harder and harder while our tools – our energy, clarity, and focus – become dull.
We run endlessly on the hamster wheel of life, believing that working harder will eventually solve everything. But is it always wise to push harder? Or is it sometimes better to pause, reflect, and sharpen our axe?
To truly face life’s challenges, it’s time to take a new approach – to learn how to sharpen your “axe.”
Today, I’d like to share a different perspective on problem-solving and goal achievement. It may sound unconventional, but once you understand it, you’ll see that you already possess everything you need to overcome adversity.
There is indeed a formula for successfully navigating life’s challenges. It may seem radical, yet it has been known to humanity for thousands of years. You can face your problems confidently without constant stress, endless to-do lists, or a 24/7 struggle. This method still requires effort, but not the kind of effort you’re used to.
This approach can help you overcome financial difficulties, health issues, relationship challenges – any unwanted situation, in fact. The solution has always been within you, closer than your hands and feet. The answer lies in your consciousness, your imagination, and the untapped power within your “I AM-ness.” This is how you sharpen your axe.
“If there is a problem in your life that you would solve, do not set your will to work on it. You will conquer this problem in the end, not by fighting it, but by understanding it. The reason it exists in the first place is because of a lack of understanding.”
– U. S. Andersen
To solve a problem, you must first understand it. If all things originate in consciousness, then a problem is ultimately psychological. It exists in the mind of the one who perceives it. Problems are mental blocks – manifestations of our own consciousness. You don’t overcome them by opposing them; you dissolve them through understanding.
Once we recognize that problems exist within our consciousness, we can also see that stress and anxiety arise from that same source. Most people, when faced with challenges, constantly think and talk about the “what ifs.” The mind exaggerates, turning small worries into overwhelming fears. Like a snowball rolling downhill, a small thought gathers emotional weight until it threatens to bury us.
And what if the problem starts out large? The same principle applies. The more we feed it with attention and fear, the more powerful it becomes. We become prisoners of our own imagination, constantly creating the very situations we fear most.
“Although you cannot see your objective with the limited focus of your three-dimensional mind, you are now that which you have assumed you are. Walk in that assumption and remain faithful to it.”
– Neville Goddard, 1948 Classroom Series
Worrying about problems is also detrimental to our physical well-being. You see, worry is like sitting in a rocking chair; it’s always in motion and keeps you busy, but it never actually gets you anywhere. In fact, if you do it too long, it wears you out and eventually makes you unwell.
Most people wake up in the morning and think about their problems, which are essentially memories etched in their brains. Unconsciously, as they continue to ruminate on their issues, they are mentally living in the past, and this unhealthy mental exercise brings with it the emotions of stress, fear, and anxiety. This is how we can become trapped in a self-perpetuating cycle of negative thinking that leads to anxiety and depression.
“My blood indicated one thing in a certain test and the opposite in another. The tests only confirmed what I already knew: that the cause of my discomfort lay in the depth of my soul and not in any secondary cause such as a thyroid, heart, liver, kidney, or anything outside of myself.”
– Neville Goddard, Imagination Fulfils Itself
Some medical experts claim that we have anywhere between 70,000 and 90,000 thoughts per day. That means there is an immense capacity to think incessantly about something we don’t actually want to happen. Stress alone may not directly cause heart and circulatory disease, but it is linked to habits that can increase your risk.
When it comes to stress, everything depends on your coping mechanisms. Some people try to cope by smoking, drinking too much, or overeating. When done in excess, all of these habits can increase the risk of heart and circulatory disease. Even prescription drugs such as antidepressants come with their own hazards. In fact, in the USA, a ten-year research survey revealed that iatrogenic illness is actually the leading cause of death, and adverse reactions to prescription drugs are responsible for 300,000 deaths a year.
Despite this, the pharmaceutical industry remains a multi-billion-dollar juggernaut that continues to dismiss holistic alternatives such as conscious imaging for stress management.
Okay, “so I get it – stress and worry don’t work,” you might be saying. But what other choices do you have? Well, let’s explore another common approach.
Taking assertive action to solve problems has been ingrained in the psyche of society for centuries. Faced with a problem, we are encouraged to “roll up our sleeves” and get stuck in. But what if we are faced with a problem that no amount of action can resolve? What if we’re faced with a potentially insurmountable obstacle, a situation that just seems hopeless, maybe a terminal diagnosis, bankruptcy, or the breakdown of a relationship?
Problems come in all shapes and guises, and not all of them can be chopped down with our metaphorical axe. Yet, if we truly understand the nature of any great challenge in life, and that its solution lies in consciousness, then, despite its perceived enormity, we suddenly become empowered to overcome it. Regardless of its magnitude, one who truly understands problems will realize that the battle is won and lost psychologically.
“To change circumstances before I change the imaginal activity is to struggle against the very nature of things. I can’t do it, because my imaginal activity is producing the objective reality” Neville Goddard
Like the woodcutter in the earlier parable, most of us have spent our lives trying to solve problems through constant action. I am not suggesting that physical effort is never required, but we must first create a change in consciousness before taking any external action. When we understand the lesson behind a challenge, the right-aligned action naturally follows.
Intentional imagining is essential to manifest any desired outcome. We have been doing it unconsciously all along. However, it takes time, and in some cases, a lot of it, to develop trust in a process that seems so illogical. The only way to truly adopt this new approach is by consistently exposing ourselves to it.
If we aim to overcome our problems through a transformation in consciousness and by intentional imagining, yet still feel anxious, we must recognize the true source of that stress. The reason is simple: the union between our awareness and the desired state has not yet been achieved. We still carry doubt in our minds. The belief that controlling our mental activity can resolve the unwanted situations in our lives has not yet become firmly established within us.
“Every problem automatically produces its solution in the form of a desire to be free from the problem. Therefore, turn your back upon the problem and focus your attention upon the desired solution by already feeling yourself to be that which you desire.”
Neville Goddard, Your Faith is Your Fortune
Now, assuming I’ve managed to convince you to at least consider that your consciousness is the true savior to your problems, you’re probably asking: What should I do next? How do I get out of the situation that keeps me up at night?
The answer is simple – imagine a solution. It’s a straightforward process. We must create the inner feeling of already achieving our desired outcome through the act of imagining and, to the best of our ability, faithfully maintain that inner state.
If you haven’t read Neville Goddard’s The 1948 Classroom Series, I highly recommend it. Here’s an excerpt outlining the process of successful problem-solving through conscious prayer:
“Let me again lay the foundation of prayer, which is nothing more than a controlled dream:”
Define your objective. Know clearly what you want.
Construct an event that you believe you will experience after the fulfillment of your desire – something in which you are the main actor, an event that implies your wish has been realized.
Immobilize your physical body and induce a state of consciousness akin to sleep. Then mentally feel yourself fully involved in the imagined action until the sensation of fulfillment dominates your mind. Imagine that you are performing this act right now, so you experience in imagination what you would experience in the flesh if your goal were already realized.
“Experience has convinced me that this is the easiest way to achieve your goal.”
Neville Goddard, 1948 Classroom Series
Each time you sit in silence, exercise your imagination to resolve a crisis, you are your mediating “Christ”, to overcome dilemmas, your awareness must expand. The law is simple; continue to act in faith in this imaginal activity, and the solution will become objectified. All experiences in our lives follow the tracks laid down by our imaginal activity, good or bad, wanted or unwanted. Now, by practicing this process, you are learning to intentionally lay down new desired tracks.
When you begin interpreting biblical scriptures as they’re truly meant to be, psychologically, you’ll come to this understanding. You’ll realise that by exercising your imagination to solve your problems, you are actually calling upon the creative power and wisdom of God, Jesus Christ. For those conditioned to view Christ as a historical figure, they’ll fail to see all the wonderful practical instructions contained throughout this ancient text. Some find this notion quite disturbing, and often it proves to be a bridge too far for them to cross. Is it radical? Yes. Empowering? Absolutely. One thing I can assure you from my own experience, if you are able to embrace these concepts, then real transformation is assured.
How does one eventually come to the conclusion that Christ and imagination are synonymous terms? Well, Christ has been called amongst many things “the saviour”. Now, if your imagination proves to be “the saviour” from your dilemma, then aren’t the two the same? The scriptures instructs us to call upon “Christ ” to save us from the perils in life’s and this Christ who resides within, we are told is the door to all we seek If imagination is irrefutably the creative source of everything real in our world, and our imagination is something personal and within, you can see why it’s such a compelling argument to believe they are one and the same.
Much of what is contained in the books by Neville Goddard makes this inference. A lot written in his books does make a convincing explanation, which I won’t go into here; the lectures and books referenced below are certainly worth investigating.
Now maybe you’re thinking,” but it can’t be that easy. I just close my eyes, imagine a solution, and then remain faithful”. I was certainly sceptical when I initially discovered this concept. And I first had to overcome my preconception of Christ as a historical character who lived 2000 years ago. This limiting belief, I really struggled with, and I had to really interrogate this concept before I was able to go and continue to investigate further. However, after many months of research and study, despite all the knowledge I had acquired, I came to the conclusion that I couldn’t prove or disprove this concept. Only by putting it to the test would I verify its validity. And in the wise old words of my old mentor: “Don’t knock it, and until you try it, and don’t stop trying it until you master it.”
So I ask you are you open to new concepts that on the surface might seem crazy? What if this approach could not only intrigue you but also empower you to experience life in a whole new dimension? This isn’t just daydreaming. It’s about actively cultivating your imagination to objectify the life you wish to lead. If I told you that this is the true way to call upon Christ, would you dare to try?
A far more empowering future awaits once you recognize the true identity of Christ in your imagination. From there, it becomes a matter of discipline, letting go, and entrusting your problems to this divine aspect of yourself. Throughout scripture, we are encouraged to give our burdens to “Him.” Now we understand that this means surrendering them to the higher power within – our own imagination.
Relying on ego-based solutions has likely left you frustrated and anxious. Its limitations may be exactly what led you to today’s blog. Perhaps you’re intrigued by the idea that your imagination can resolve the issues in your life. Or maybe, deep down, you already sense that there is a better way to overcome life’s challenges.
If you are new to the concept that your imagination is Christ, the following audio will provide deeper insight and inspiration.
If you’re already familiar with these concepts, then my cosmic sibling, I encourage you to continue nurturing this gift in every part of your life, including your work, relationships, goals, aspirations, and problem-solving. Through regular practice, what lives in your heart and imagination will become more real to you than what you can see, hear, or touch. This elevated state of awareness will free you from any challenges you face now or in the future. That is the moment when Christ has truly awakened within you.
If you continue to dwell on the difficulty of your situation, you will eventually fall into despair. In other words, you will feel trapped. When that happens, it becomes easy to panic and take irrational actions that only make the problem worse. Logic and reason may say, “It’s not possible,” but let me remind you: Trust in the Lord (I AM) with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding (Proverbs 3:5).
Now remember, the Lord, God, I AM, Jesus Christ, and imagination are all synonymous terms. When understood psychologically, this scripture is encouraging us to trust in our imagination, even if we do not yet understand how it will be done.
“Now look into your mind’s eye and define carefully the solution to a problem. When you define the solution to a problem, do you know what you are actually seeing? You are seeing Jesus, for Jesus means ‘to save.’ So the state that would save that man from what he is… that is his saviour.”
– Neville Goddard, Easter Lecture
By exploring the nature of consciousness and understanding how it shapes our circumstances, we come to realize that consciousness is the source of all creation and the only true creative power. As unbelievable as it may seem, each of us is capable of becoming or achieving anything we can imagine – including the solution to our problems.
There is no goal too large or too small that imagination cannot solve. Yet, few people take the time to sit quietly and cultivate this inner power to resolve their challenges. If only they would dedicate even a small portion of their day to doing so, they would begin to experience the true creative potential within themselves.
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