Why Emotion Is the Secret Ingredient in the 6 Steps to Wealth – Think and Grow Rich Explained

“Not only thought impulses which have been mixed with FAITH, but those which have been mixed with any of the positive emotions, or any of the negative emotions, may reach, and influence the subconscious mind.” Page 41 “Think and Grow Rich.”

The subconscious mind is impressionable. It does not filter or judge. It simply accepts whatever is given to it emotionally. It doesn’t respond to “dry” thoughts or logical ideas alone. It responds to emotion-charged thoughts. These emotions can be positive (like faith, love, desire, enthusiasm), or negative (like fear, anger, worry, or guilt). Whichever emotional tone dominates your thoughts is what the subconscious absorbs and acts on for better or worse.

Hill’s 6 Steps (from Chapter 2) are designed to ensure your dominant thoughts are infused with positive emotions, especially faith and desire, so they can be planted deeply into your subconscious, where they can grow into physical results.

Step 1: Definite Amount of Money Desired

This makes your goal specific, but it’s your desire that gives it emotional power.

Step 2: What You’ll Give in Return

Makes you emotionally invested; you’re committing yourself.

Step 3: Definite Date

Gives urgency and energy to your desire.

Step 4: Definite Plan

Creates confidence and momentum, which breeds positive emotion.

Step 5: Written Statement

This statement is your auto-suggestion tool, a way to rehearse belief.

Step 6: Read It Aloud Daily With Emotion

This is where you inject emotion, especially faith, belief, and enthusiasm into your goal. If you read it without emotion, it doesn't reach the subconscious. Emotion is the delivery system.

⚠️ The Warning Hidden in the Quote:

If you continually feed your mind with negative emotions, like fear of failure or doubt, those too will be accepted by the subconscious and your results will reflect them. This is why he stresses guarding your thoughts and surrounding yourself with positive influences.

The subconscious mind is neutral, but it’s powerful. It will move you toward whatever emotionalized thought dominates your inner life. The 6 steps are a daily system to control your mental diet, to train your subconscious to believe in your goal and eventually make it real. This quote reinforces the idea that emotion is the activator of all success. Without faith, belief, desire, or enthusiasm, the 6 steps are just words. But with positive emotion, they become a magnet for ideas, action, and opportunity.