Thoughts are shadows of our feelings
The philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche once wrote:
“Thoughts are the shadows of our feelings — always darker, emptier, and simpler.”
It’s a very thought-provoking quote, especially when we consider how much emphasis is placed on thinking and intellect everywhere we look.
It’s also interesting to see an intellectual giant like Nietzsche ditching on thoughts.
But let’s go further and – most importantly – understand the implications for our own lives.
Thoughts often serve as shadows of our feelings, meaning we feel first and think later. Initially, we experience a feeling, then we rationalize it.
If our body is craving candy, we find rational reasons to justify buying it: “I need it for studying,” “It’s my reward,” “I’m feeling down, so I need a pick-me-up,” and so on.
But the true reason was the body craving – an energy that surged within us and drove us toward sugar. Therefore, we should examine that energy to uncover the genuine motive, rather than relying solely on intellectual justifications. Notice how we’ve crafted a “shadow” of the feeling with our intellect.
Similarly, when we dislike someone, our body and energy revolt against them, leading us to seek intellectual reasons to distance ourselves from them.
You might ask: “What’s the harm in that? What’s wrong with rationalizing something?”
Well, the harm lies mainly in our tendency to identify with those thoughts and construct elaborate narratives in our minds based on them.
Yet, this narrative is merely a “shadow” of the real reason, leaving us in the dark about what truly influences us. Thoughts don’t faithfully reflect our feelings and energy; in fact, they often constrain them. By probing deeply within ourselves—not just into our thoughts but, crucially, into our bodies and energy, which lie at the essence of our being—we can access far greater wisdom.
That’s what we work on in the course:
>>> Advanced Energy Science
Enter into the state, don’t think of it
Here’s an interesting quote by Neville Goddard:
“To enter into the state and not simply think of the state.
Thinking from it differs from thinking of it. I must learn to think from it.
A man who this night came into a million dollars, from that moment that man is made aware that he has a million, when prior to that he had nothing.
He is thinking from the consciousness of having a million dollars.
He is not thinking of it; he is walking in the consciousness of having a million dollars.
He is not hoping for it, wishing for it; he is actually in it.
That is what the vision revealed to me. Even though at the end of my journey I will leave my things behind me and they will all be as though they were made of clay – all cheaply made, at that, every man, not knowing this? In fact, how many know it or care to know it?
They still want to realize their earthly dreams, and I am all for it; I teach it. But I cannot change the Promise. The Promise is fixed. That is something that will come to every being in this world, for it has been predetermined. But when we are here in this world of Caesar, I can cushion the blows, the inevitable blows, by learning the technique of Law and how to apply it, how to use it.”
Your everyday life is a practice
In our last email, we discussed the importance of consciously choosing your actions to develop your willpower and attain freedom.
This seemingly small practice compels you to take responsibility and strengthens your will.
Your will isn’t built through exercises alone. While exercises can raise awareness of certain aspects, genuine progress happens in your everyday life.
Yes, the true work is done during those boring, mundane tasks we all have to do. If you ever feel like your life lacks excitement or is too repetitive, that’s fine. You don’t need to have a busy life to develop your Will.
Whatever you routinely do, that shall be your practice.
Your Will practice could be as simple as brushing your teeth or vacuuming your apartment.
How can that be a Will practice?
By consciously deciding to do it and executing it with awareness.
Let’s consider a typical, mundane scenario: vacuuming your apartment.
Perhaps before starting, you feel compelled to do it because the place is already quite dirty, and you dislike living in such conditions. Notice how pain is forcing you to act. It’s not a conscious decision but an impulse to avoid the discomfort of a messy home.
Or maybe it’s Saturday morning, and vacuuming is just part of your routine. So it’s an automatic mindless action you do while listening to a podcast.
Or perhaps your partner asked you to do it, and to avoid conflict, you comply. Once again, it’s pain and discomfort pushing you into action.
None of these actions are truly willed or consciously decided. They’re driven by internal impulses, conflict, and mindless habits.
But… could it be any different? Certainly, you still need to do it or at the very least hire someone to do it – but, for the sake of example, let’s assume you can’t and it must be you.
Instead, notice that impulse in your body, notice how it’s forcing your action. And notice the internal conflict among different parts of yourself. Can you become aware of the internal representation of those different aspects of yourself? How are they manifested in your body and energy?
Only when you truly acknowledge them, when you can feel fully the different impulses – become aware – and let them take their course, then can they be finally integrated inside of you and you can take a conscious, decisive, and willful action free of their emotional charge.
Otherwise, you will simply be driven by a painful impulse, a mindless habit, or a desire.
The main challenge is avoiding turning this into a mental debate or rationalization. There’s no benefit in deluding yourself. That’s why it’s crucial to connect all of this with your body and energy. Otherwise, it’s too easy to deceive yourself.
This is the work that we do in the course:
>>> Will Mastery
Get the Newsletter
Join our newsletter to receive the latest articles from Charisma School as well as a detailed video: "How to Develop Personal Magnetism".