Change Your Inner Conversation – Neville Goddard’s Powerful Exercise
One of the authors who has given me profound insights into how our creative power works is Neville Goddard. In one of his books, I recently came across a powerful teaching about changing our inner conversations, which helped me address a few real-life situations. No matter how much we study the mind and the power of thoughts, it’s easy to overlook some of the most crucial principles.
What struck me as truly unique about this chapter on inner dialogue is the perspective it offers. While most personal development methods emphasize self-talk and focus mainly on what we think about ourselves (which is indeed important), Neville highlights another overlooked dimension. He explains that we must also pay attention to what we think about others, because our inner conversations about them might actually be influencing their behavior toward us.
This is something that requires careful reflection: What are our thoughts when we think about the people in our lives? Not just those who are very close to us, but also those who may seem less significant yet still play a role in our individual world. How often do we replay old dialogues with them in our minds—things they said that hurt us, words we wish we could say in response, or expectations we have of them? Believe it or not, this mental replay happens frequently. One key reason we might speak negatively about others behind their backs is that we carry a lot of unexpressed thoughts about them.
From early childhood, humans are taught to focus on external circumstances. Our usual response to hostile or challenging behavior has been either to distance ourselves from such individuals or confront them directly. While there is nothing inherently wrong with these approaches—and sometimes they are necessary—it is essential to understand that our inner state and the way we perceive the world are far more significant than the actions we take. Often, working on our beliefs and thoughts about others can lead to remarkable changes in our interactions and emotional well-being.
We Are Intuitive
No matter how logical-minded you are, intuition naturally shows up in many situations—especially when people have expertise in a certain field. Think of an experienced mechanic who opens the car bonnet and instantly knows where to look, or a stock market expert who executes a trade at just the right moment. In both cases, they are guided not only by their knowledge but also by their inner voice.
Even though most people rely mainly on the information gathered through their five senses, they sometimes make decisions that go against pure reasoning—and those decisions often turn out to be beneficial. At such times, they are unknowingly listening to their intuition. The key difference between highly intuitive individuals and those who are not is that the former have learned to distinguish their inner voice from the ego’s chatter.
There are practical ways to recognize and strengthen your inner voice, but it requires practice to truly access what many call the “sixth sense.” One of my favorite self-training courses, the Silva Ultramind System program(read my review here), provides structured training that helps individuals develop their intuitive and psychic abilities. Still, even without formal practice, we all communicate with one another in subtle ways that go far beyond what the eye can see.
Let me give you some relatable examples. Has it ever happened that you suddenly think about an old friend, and they end up calling you right after? Or you randomly crave a particular cuisine, and someone serves it to you without you ever mentioning it? (This actually happened to me once—I received a specific sweet dish out of the blue, and I’ve shared that story in my quick manifestations post.) Many such things occur in our everyday lives. With a little awareness, we can recognize that we exist on a much deeper level than what is immediately visible.
This is why we may sense that certain individuals don’t like us, even though their words and body language seem sweet and polite. It’s also why we sometimes feel uncomfortable around people who have never openly been hostile to us. We all know these experiences, right? I’m sure you can think of a thousand such examples. But here’s something to reflect on—what if we create the same effect on others? What if the people we avoid are in our lives because of our own inner state? What if their behavior towards us is actually a reflection of the judgments we hold about them?
Why Do People Behave Differently with Different People?
Believe it or not, we all wear different faces; we behave differently with different people, and our personalities often shift depending on the social circles we are in. I first noticed this in others, seeing how their behavior changes depending on who they are talking to. Then I became aware of my own personality changes in different situations and around different people, realizing that I was no different.
Let me tell you something interesting: we often mimic the people we are talking to without even realizing it in order to connect with them better. This unconscious behavior is known as the chameleon effect. By subtly mirroring gestures, tone, or expressions, we build rapport and make interactions smoother. Understanding this phenomenon can help you become more aware of your social behaviors and improve how you relate to others in both personal and professional settings.
Many psychological and social factors influence why people behave differently, including materialistic or egocentric motivations. But there is also a deeper spiritual and emotional aspect that is often overlooked. How we behave toward total strangers and how people treat us in general often depends less on our personal history, identity, or status, and more on our inner state and energy.
We may make countless excuses for why some people are more liked, such as wealth, looks, or power. But the ultimate truth is that you don’t need to be a prince or princess to be treated kindly, and being one does not guarantee that you will be loved. Understanding these patterns can help you improve your interactions and be treated better in all areas of life.
So what is that X factor, the secret ingredient, the magical component that makes some people be liked by most others? It is the self-image—the thoughts one holds about themselves in their own mind. We are treated by others the way we treat ourselves. A healthy self-image reflects itself in the world. However, when it comes to particular individuals, another hidden factor is also at work.
When relating to specific people in our lives, the mental conversations we have with them while thinking about them actually affect our real conversations with them. We all replay past and future scenarios involving people and situations in our minds. What we imagine is often based on past occurrences, but our thoughts also shape the future, creating a continuous cycle. To genuinely change someone’s behavior, we need to train our minds to have positive inner conversations with others.
Neville Goddard provides a real example of this in his book Be What You Wish, particularly in the chapter By Imagination We Become. He explains how one of his friends used the exercise of changing inner conversations to improve her relationship with a producer she worked with as a customer designer. I will show you how to do this exercise. While it is simple, the real effort lies in your determination, persistence, and sincerity. This is a habit to cultivate rather than a one-time activity.
The Exercise
When you are new to this exercise, it is best to select someone with whom you are not very emotionally attached. This is because it can be challenging to envision a scenario that is very different from your real-life experiences. Therefore, in the beginning, choose someone who does not significantly affect your emotional state. Once you notice some positive outcomes, you can gradually shift your focus to people who are more important to you.
After deciding to work on someone specific using this exercise, someone whose better version you wish to see, imagine a scenario where you are with this individual, preferably at a place where you usually meet them. Then, engage in a conversation with them in your imagination, where you see them behaving kindly toward you, saying uplifting, appreciative, and positive things.
For example, if you are using this exercise with your boss in mind, imagine them recognizing your efforts and engaging in a conversation where you express your love for the office environment and the joy this job brings you. Meanwhile, they share how you have been a great asset to the team. It is crucial to imagine scenarios that make you feel good, which is why I recommend excluding anything hard to believe, such as your boss suddenly offering you an unexpected salary hike. Start this exercise with general positive conversations in your mind.
The two most important things to remember while performing this exercise are: first, you should be persistent with it; and second, you must avoid falling into the usual chatter while imagining your conversation. Speaking from experience, it is quite challenging to imagine a conversation that is very different from how we interact with people in real life, and it is even more difficult to remain consistent with such activities. However, if you practice sincerely and regularly, I am confident that you will see positive results. Know this: through this exercise, we are not changing people, as that is beyond our capability. Instead, with the help of this activity, we are encouraging the emergence of the kinder side of the same person. As we have already discussed, people’s personalities vary from one individual to another. Therefore, we are changing ourselves to become someone around whom they naturally behave better.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Neville Goddard book discusses our telepathic or inner conversations with others?
The concept of telepathic or inner conversations is discussed in Neville Goddard’s Be What You Wish, particularly in the chapter By Imagination We Become. This book explains how our inner dialogue can shape real-life interactions and influence others.
Which Neville Goddard exercise works well for improving relationships?
Neville Goddard’s inner conversation exercise is highly effective for relationships. By visualizing positive interactions and imagining people behaving kindly toward us, we encourage the emergence of their better traits while also shaping our own responses.
Which Neville Goddard imagination exercise helps manifest healthy relationships?
The imagination exercise for manifesting healthy relationships involves visualizing scenarios where people treat you positively and appreciatively. Practicing this regularly strengthens your self-image and naturally attracts better interactions in your personal and professional life.
Can our thoughts really affect other people’s behavior? If so, how?
Yes, our thoughts can influence others’ behavior. When we maintain positive inner conversations, we change our own energy and responses, which subtly encourages others to behave more kindly toward us. This is a core principle in Neville Goddard’s teachings.
How does changing our self-image affect the way others behave toward us?
Our self-image directly impacts how we are treated. A healthy, confident self-image reflects outwardly, prompting others to respond more positively. Conversely, a low self-image can unintentionally invite negative reactions from others.
I hope you found this post engaging, and I would be delighted to hear your thoughts. Please share your comments below, as your feedback not only motivates me but also helps improve the content of this blog. If you notice anything important that I might have overlooked, feel free to mention it in the comments. And if you have tried this exercise, please share your story so that others can benefit from your experience.
For personal inquiries or assistance with any issues, you can reach out through the contact page. I am always happy to help.
If you found value in this post, I would truly appreciate it if you could share it within your social networks. Your support in spreading the word makes a big difference!
And if you are interested in developing your intuition and strengthening your imagination power, I recommend checking out the Silva Ultramind System program. It is a powerful resource that complements the exercise shared in this post and can help you take your inner growth to the next level.
