Why Changing Your Self-Concept Changes Everything Around You

“It is not what you want that you attract; you attract what you believe to be true.”

— Neville Goddard

It’s a comforting thought, isn’t it? That the Law of Attraction or the Universe is always working to bring our desires to us. That all we need to do is make a wish, and it will manifest.

But why, then, do so few of our desires actually come true?

The Hard Truth About Manifestation

Neville explains: “Man moves in a world that is nothing more or less than his consciousness objectified.”

This is a tough pill to swallow. The life we live, with all its triumphs and struggles, is a reflection of our inner state of being. For me, this realization was a turning point. Accepting that my hardships were self-created—not the fault of circumstances or others—was both empowering and daunting.

But it was also the key to change.

Neville continues:

“If you are dissatisfied with your present expression in life, the only way to change it is to take your attention away from that which seems so real to you and rise in consciousness to that which you desire to be.”

It’s simple in theory: stop focusing on problems and start imagining the solution. Many teachers emphasize practices like affirmations, gratitude, and letting go of resistance. And for years, I immersed myself in these teachings.

Yet, real change eluded me. Why?

The Missing Link: Changing the Feeling of ‘I’

“Change the feeling of ‘I’ and you change your world.”

It finally clicked: the essence of transformation lies in changing how you feel about yourself—your self-concept.

I realized that if I wanted my external world to change, I had to become a new version of myself. I had to embody the qualities, beliefs, and feelings of the person I aspired to be.

The old version of me—the one attached to lack, doubt, and fear—had to go. That “me” had to die.

The Foundation of Change

“Man must firmly come to believe that reality lies within him and not in external things.”

This is where it begins: with the unwavering belief that imagination is the only reality. If I couldn’t fully accept this, I would remain tethered to external circumstances, reacting to the world instead of creating it.

Practical Steps for Changing the Feeling of ‘I’

1. Connect with Your “I AM” State

Begin by acknowledging that your Imagination is the only reality. Recognize that you are the creator of your experience—God individualized as you. Meditate on the feeling of “I AM,” the pure awareness that precedes all thought and identity.

2. Affirm Your New Self-Concept

Create affirmations that resonate with your desired self-concept. For example: “I am confident, I am abundant, I am love.” Speak them with authority, allowing the feeling to saturate your being.

3. Persist in the Feeling of Your Wish Fulfilled

Consistently return to the state of your wish fulfilled. When doubts or fears arise, gently redirect your focus to the truth that the outer world is merely a reflection of your inner state. Trust the process and remain faithful to the vision of your new self.

A Question for You

What “I” are you currently identifying with? What would it feel like to step into the version of you who already has the life you desire?

Take a moment to reflect, and if you’re willing, share your thoughts. I’d love to hear how you’re rewriting your story.