Neville Goddard Word Study: State

Executive Summary

A state is defined as an attitude of mind, a level of being, or a body of beliefs which you live by. Every individual is always occupying a state, such as the state of being rich or the state of being poor. Your external world is a direct mirror of the state of consciousness you inhabit. All that befalls you is the result of your state. There are infinite states, all existing now, and you can consciously choose to move from one state to another by assuming the feeling of your wish fulfilled.

Key Concepts

• A state is an attitude of mind and a body of beliefs you live by.
• Your external world is a mirror that constantly bears witness to the state you occupy.
• There are infinite states of consciousness, and they all exist now, whether you are occupying them or not.
• You pass through states like a traveler passing through cities; they are not permanent unless you remain in them.
• To change your world, you must change your state of consciousness.
• You enter a desired state by assuming the feeling that your wish is already an accomplished fact.

Detailed Explanation

A state is an attitude of mind, a state of experience, or a body of beliefs that you live by. It is the level of being you currently occupy, and you are always expressing a state. You identify with and give life to a state through your claims, such as “I am rich” or “I am poor.” Your automatic reaction to any event serves to define the state you are in.

The phenomena of your life are explained by the state of consciousness you inhabit. Your world is your conditioned consciousness objectified, a mirror that reflects the state in which you live. Everything that happens to you—your fortunes and misfortunes—is the result of your state. The belief that there are causes outside of your own state of consciousness is a delusion. For example, the consciousness of lack produces poverty, while the consciousness of wealth produces riches.

There are an infinite number of states, and they all exist now. They are not created but are entered into. You can think of states as cities and yourself as a traveler passing through them. The city exists whether you are in it or not, and when you enter it, it seems to be the only reality. Likewise, when you enter a state, it feels substantial and real. No state is supreme; they are all simply conditions that the soul may fall into.

To change your circumstances, you must change your state. This is accomplished by assuming the feeling of your wish fulfilled. If you can identify the feeling that your realized desire would produce, you can, in reverse, awaken that feeling within yourself to produce the realized desire. By assuming and sustaining this new state of consciousness, you compel it to become objective in your world. The undisciplined mind may find it difficult to assume a state denied by the senses, but a state akin to sleep can aid in this process.

Important Quotes

A state is an attitude of mind, a state of experience with a body of beliefs which you live by.

— Infinite States

The world – my mirrored self – ever bears witness of the state of consciousness in which I live.

— Freedom For All

Man passes through states, like a traveler who passes through places, through cities.

— Many Mansions

All that befalls a man -all that is done by him - all that comes from him - happens as a result of his state of consciousness.

— The Power Of Awareness

Related Concepts

A state is a conditioned form of the one, unconditioned consciousness. This unconditioned awareness of being, or 'I AM,' is the creator of every conditioned state. While you, as a conditioned state, might forget who or where you are, you cannot forget that you are. To change your world, you use the Law of Assumption to appropriate a new state. You 'assume' the feeling of the wish fulfilled, and by sustaining this assumption, the new state hardens into fact.

Common Misunderstandings

• That states are permanent: The source material explains that man passes through states just as a traveler passes through cities. A state only seems to be the only reality while you are in it, but you are not bound to it.
• That external events create your state: It is a delusion to believe there are causes outside of your own mind. Your state of consciousness is the sole cause of the phenomena of your life. Chance, fate, innocence, and guilt are not the authors of your circumstances.
• That some states are inherently supreme: No state, whether considered 'just' or 'wicked,' is a supreme state. They are all simply conditions that can be occupied.

Practical Applications

To apply this teaching, you must first identify your current state by uncritically observing your automatic reactions to life's events. If you do not like the world that this state is projecting, you must choose to move into a new state. This is done by assuming the feeling of your wish already being an accomplished fact. You should live and move in this feeling until the new state feels natural. This sustained assumption will cause the state to objectify and become visible in your world. A state akin to sleep is helpful for making an assumption that is denied by your senses.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a state?

A state is an attitude of mind or a collection of beliefs that you live by. Examples include the state of being rich, poor, known, or unknown.

Are states real?

Yes. When you enter a state, it seems to be the only reality, and all other possibilities seem like shadows. All infinite states exist now, just as real as the room you are in.

How does my state affect my life?

Everything that happens to you is a result of the state of consciousness you occupy. Your world is a mirror that constantly reflects the state in which you live.

Can I get stuck in a bad state?

No, you pass through states like a traveler passes through cities. A state only seems permanent while you are in it, but you can always move to another by changing your assumption.