What Is This Teaching?
Inner Conversation is the continuous, imagined dialogue you have with yourself that shapes your feelings, assumptions, and therefore your outer experience. It’s not merely thoughts or affirmations but the living, felt exchange you rehearse inwardly that builds a new self-concept and attracts matching circumstances.
Core Principles
- Feeling is the secret: The emotional tone of your inner talk fixes the assumption in consciousness; feeling accomplished equals manifestation
- Assumption creates reality: Repeated, dominant inner conversations form an identity that the outer world reflects
- Revision and replacement: You can intercept and replace destructive or accidental inner dialogues with deliberate, fulfilled imaginings
- Persistence of imaginal acts: Consistent, vivid inner conversation (not length) stabilizes new outcomes
Quick Techniques to Start Today
- Catch-and-Change (3 steps): Notice a negative inner remark; pause and breathe; state a short, specific imagined reply as if true (1-2 sentences) while feeling it-repeat until it feels natural
- The Two-Minute Completed Conversation: Create a brief scene of a conversation where your desire is already true (e.g., a friend congratulating you); play it in first-person sensory detail for 1-2 minutes, end with gratitude. Do daily
- Evening Revision: Before sleep, run through your day and mentally rewrite any moments you didn’t like as you wish they had occurred; feel satisfaction and let that feeling close your day
Key Insights
- Inner conversation is conversational and situational, not generic repetition; make it specific and contextual.
- Feeling, not verbosity, anchors the change-short, believable felt statements beat long affirmations.
- Most people unknowingly rehearse the problem; awareness plus immediate substitution is the most powerful remedy.
- Results pace varies: sudden changes occur when conviction and feeling unite; otherwise steady shifts follow persistent inner practice.
- Inner conversation works best when lived between waking and sleep and as a steady mental habit, not a sporadic exercise.
Biblical Foundation
“The kingdom of God is within you." (”
Luke 17:21
Neville's interpretation:
The Divine Presence and creative power are your own consciousness. Inner Conversation is the practice of entering that kingdom by assuming the inner state of the fulfilled desire.)
“Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them." (”
Mark 11:24
Neville's interpretation:
Prayer is not petitioning outside forces but the inner act of believing and living as if the wish is already fulfilled. The inner conversation must be in the present tense: 'I have,' not 'I will have.')
“...God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were." (”
Romans 4:17
Neville's interpretation:
Your imagination 'calls' realities into being by assuming them now. Inner Conversation is the lawful act of calling things which are not yet visible as though they were already so.)
Step-by-Step Practice Method
- Preparation (5-10 minutes) - Choose a single clear desire (one scene representing the fulfillment). Keep it specific and sensory (location, people, exact words). - Remove distractions. Sit or lie down in a comfortable quiet place. - Set an intention: "I will enter the state that assumes this wish fulfilled." Say it silently
- Relaxation and entering the State Akin to Sleep (SATS) (5-15 minutes) - Close your eyes. Breathe slowly and deeply 6-8 times. - Progressive relaxation: relax face, jaw, neck, shoulders, arms, torso, legs. Let body sink. - When drowsy but conscious, you're in SATS. This is the prime moment for imaginal acts
- Construct the Imagination Scene (3-7 minutes) - Create a short, vivid scene that implies the wish is already realized. Keep it 10-30 seconds long and repeat it. - Use present tense, first person, sensory detail, and a dominant feeling. Example for job: imagine receiving a congratulatory email, reading the salary amount, feeling warmth and relief. - Keep dialogue natural. If another person is involved, imagine them saying something that confirms the fulfillment
- Inner Conversation Technique (the core practice) (3-10 minutes) - Begin an internal dialogue from the assumed state. Speak to yourself as the fulfilled you: "You did it. Everything is settled. I feel so grateful." - If involving another, imagine their confirming words: they say what you want to hear. Hold the emotional tone of satisfaction. - Repeat the scene and lines until it feels convincingly real. Never argue with outer facts-live in the end
- Closing and Sealing (1-2 minutes) - End by mentally affirming: "It is done" or "Thank you" as if already given. - Bring attention back to the body slowly; keep the inner attitude of assurance through the day
- Mental Diet (ongoing discipline) - Immediately after SATS practice and throughout the day monitor inner speech. When negative or contradictory thoughts arise, stop and replace them with short present-tense statements rooted in the assumed state. - Use rewriting: when you catch negative scenes, instantly revise them to the desired inner conversation
- Revision Technique (evening practice) - At night before sleep, review the day. Mentally rewrite any scene you disliked as you would have preferred it to happen. Imagine the new scene with feeling and conversational confirmation. - This reprograms memory and frees you from repeating unwanted states
- Daytime Inner Conversations (integration) - Between formal sessions, practice brief 30-60 second inner conversations: when triggered, pause, breathe, and speak internally from the fulfilled position. - Use habitual phrases: "Everything is working for me," "I am secure and loved," "My health is restored." Say them conversationally, not as rote affirmations
- Frequency and Consistency - Daily SATS + inner conversation for at least 21-30 days for a new impression. Use SATS nightly when possible and short daytime adjustments as needed
- Recording and Adjustment - Keep a small journal: note the scene used, the feelings evoked, and any outer changes. If imagination lacks sensory vividness, add more detail next session. Technical tips - Keep scenes short and repeat them rather than long complicated fantasies. - Emphasize the emotional 'proof' of fulfillment rather than obsessive visualization of results arriving. - Avoid trying to control means; focus on end-state and inner assurance. Neville-specific framing - Always assume the 'I AM' presence as the creative self. Use present-tense statements ('I have', 'I am') as inner conversation, because Neville taught that 'I AM' is the law that calls realities into being
Real-World Applications
Example:
❌ Wrong way:
Worrying inner conversation: "How am I going to pay this? I don't have enough. I'll try to find work. I hope it works out." (future tense, doubt, problem-focused) -
✅ Right way:
SATS scene: Imagine opening an email or bank statement showing the deposit, feeling the relief and gratitude, and saying inwardly, "There it is. It's taken care of. Thank you." Keep it short, sensory (look at the number, feel the weight lifted) and repeat nightly until calm assurance replaces anxiety. - Script example (right): "I see the payment in my account. I feel so relieved and proud. Everything is provided for me now."
Example:
❌ Wrong way:
Rehearsing the problem: "They never listen to me. Maybe it won't work out. I must fix them." (blaming, pleading, future pleading tone) -
✅ Right way:
SATS scene: Imagine a specific moment of warmth-a hug, a sincere apology, or laughter-where the other person speaks a confirming line (e.g., "I've missed you; let's try again"). Use present-tense inner dialogue: "We are together, understood, and at peace." Feel the mutual love and act from that inner state toward the person. - Script example (right): "We sat together and talked, and I felt truly heard. It felt effortless and loving."
Example:
❌ Wrong way:
Worry-and-symptom focus: "My pain is still here. I need medicine. What if it gets worse?" (attention on illness reinforces it) -
✅ Right way:
SATS scene: Imagine a short scene where you feel vitality-walking easily, laughing, or a doctor confirming positive test results. Inner conversation: "My body responds perfectly. I feel fresh, strong, and grateful." Repeat until the inner reality predominates. - Script example (right): "I woke up rested and pain-free. I moved with ease and joy. My body is restored."
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Allowing contradicting inner conversations (lack of mental diet) - Mistake: Returning to complaining or imagining obstacles during the day. This neutralizes imaginal acts. - How to avoid: Immediately note negative inner speech and replace it with a brief present-tense corrective sentence. Set reminders to check your mental diet
- Long, unfocused visualizations instead of short, emotional scenes - Mistake: Creating marathon fantasies without a clear end-state or feeling. The imagination gets scattered. - How to avoid: Use short 10-30 second scenes repeated in SATS. Focus on feeling the reality of the wish fulfilled
- Expecting instant visible results and giving up too soon - Mistake: Impatience; abandoning practice when external evidence doesn't appear immediately. - How to avoid: Trust in subtle inner changes first (calm, conviction) and keep practicing 21-30 days. Look for synchronicities and inner signs rather than immediate miracles
- Using future tense or pleading language - Mistake: Saying "I will" or "I hope" which keeps desire in the future and reinforces lack. - How to avoid: Always speak internally in present tense as if it already is: "I have," "I am," "It is done."
- Trying to control the how or insisting on specific means - Mistake: Fixating on exact methods or timeline for the desire to occur. This creates resistance. - How to avoid: Assume the end and let the means unfold. Use inner conversation focusing on the feeling of fulfillment and gratitude; allow intelligence to arrange means
Advanced Techniques
- Revision at will (Neville's powerful memory reprogramming) - Technique: After any negative encounter (even days old), sit quietly and re-imagine the same scene the way you wished it had happened. Do it in SATS and make the revised scene feel real. Repeating this consistently erases the old impression and implants the new one. - Application: Use for arguments, accidents, lost opportunities. Treat memory as plastic to be remolded
- Two-person imaginal dialogue (conversational assumption) - Technique: Create a brief scene in which you and the other person are present, and carry on a real-sounding exchange where that person confirms the fulfillment. Focus on their words and your feeling of it being true. - Application: Especially effective for relationship outcomes, job offers, or reconciliations. Practice until the other person's confirming lines feel inevitable
- Living in the End for extended periods (state occupancy) - Technique: Beyond nightly SATS, deliberately occupy the feeling of the wish fulfilled throughout parts of the day (during commute, chores, breaks) for extended durations. Act, speak, and make small choices from that assumed state. - Advanced nuance: Neville advises not to worry about frequency but depth. Quality of assumption-firm, relaxed conviction-outweighs quantity. Optional advanced adjuncts - Use nocturnal dreams as allies: before sleep, seed the scene and expect related dreams. Keep a dream journal and intentionally 'talk' to dream imagery in the morning with revision. - Employ 'I AM' declarations for structural changes: silently affirm "I am (state)" to address identity-level shifts ("I am confident," "I am healed"). Neville taught that 'I AM' is the operative creative phrase
Signs of Progress
- A sustained calm or assurance replaces anxiety when the subject is considered.
- Vividness and ease in creating the imaginal scene; the feeling of 'realness' increases.
- A sense of relief or gratitude after the practice rather than agitation.
- Synchronicities begin: small coincidences, helpful people, timely information.
- Subtle behavioral changes: you start making choices aligned with the assumed state (confidence, new conversations, applied steps).
- Others respond differently to you (friendliness, new opportunities, unexpected invitations).
- Tangible outcomes that reflect the inner scene (income changes, reconciled relationships, medical improvements).
- Formerly persistent obstacles dissolve or transform; new avenues open.
- Expect inner shifts first (feeling, clarity), then outer changes. If outer evidence is slow, double down on mental diet and SATS depth rather than increasing intensity.
- If no progress after consistent practice (30-60 days), refine the clarity of the scene, increase sensory detail, and check for hidden contradictory beliefs.
- Consistent inner peace regarding the desire is the clearest sign of success.
- When you can think of the desired outcome without emotional agitation and still feel its truth, manifestation is maturing.
- Keep a simple log of practices and observable changes; look for correlations between consistent inner conversation and external shifts. The pattern of increased synchronicity and alignment over time is a reliable indicator that the inner work is effective.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I catch and change negative inner dialogues?
- Interrupt and substitute. When you catch a negative line, deliberately stop it. Replace it with a short, present-tense imaginal scene that implies the desired outcome and invoke the feeling of its reality
- Use revision. Neville's powerful technique: replay the day in imagination before sleep and rewrite any scene that displeased you as you wished it had been. Impress this revised scene with feeling
- Convert dialogues into conversational assumptions. Instead of arguing mentally about a problem, imagine a calm inner conversation with the person or situation from the already-accomplished state - what would you say and how would you feel?
- Nightly and morning practice. Use the drowsy states (as you fall asleep and as you wake) to feed the subconscious with chosen inner conversations because these states are highly impressionable. Addressing blocks: Doubt, guilt or ingrained identity statements will try to reassert themselves. Neville counseled persistence: persist in the assumption until it hardens into fact in your consciousness. If guilt arises, forgive and revise the scene; if disbelief arises, take smaller believable steps (a vivid, short scene you can feel) and build momentum. Use scripture if it helps your faith: Romans 12:2 advises being transformed by the renewing of your mind - inner conversation is the practical method of that renewal
What are inner conversations and why do they matter?
Inner conversations are the running, imagined dialogues you carry on inside your consciousness - the petty rehearsals, judgments, hopes and explanations you converse with yourself and others about. In Neville Goddard's teaching they are not idle chatter but the active medium through which imagination shapes your outer world.
Neville insisted that imagination is God within us; it is the creative faculty that gives form to experience. When you assume in imagination the scene that implies the fulfillment of your desire and sustain the feeling of that state, you are effectively holding an inner conversation that tells your subconscious 'this is real.' They matter because the world you observe reflects your inner state.
Biblical support appears in passages Neville often cited: 'For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he' (Proverbs 23:7, KJV) and 'What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them' (Mark 11:24). Inner conversations are the practical enactment of such prayer: repeated, living assumptions that alter your consciousness.
Change your inner conversations and you rewrite the blueprint your subconscious uses to build your outer life. Practically, inner conversations govern attitudes, decisions and actions. A childlike belief that you are 'unworthy' will produce a life that fits that belief; a steady inner conversation of abundance, competence and love will eventually reconfigure circumstances to match.
For Neville, it is not about manipulating external laws; it is about altering the only thing you can-your own consciousness-because the outer must follow the inner.
How do inner conversations differ from formal affirmations?
- Imaginal vs. Verbal: Affirmations often remain intellectual slogans. Inner conversations are lived scenes - dialogues that include sensory detail and emotional conviction. You don't merely say 'I am rich'; you imagine a conversation in which you, or another, treat you as wealthy and feel the reality of it.
- Feeling and Assumption: Neville insisted 'feeling is the secret.' Inner conversations must carry the feeling of the wish fulfilled. Affirmations can lack feeling and therefore fail to impress the subconscious.
- Continuity and Revision: Inner conversation is continuous and can be revised; it's a stream of consciousness you manage throughout the day and especially in the twilight states. Formal affirmations are usually episodic recitations that may not alter the deeper self-concept.
- Relational Authority: Neville taught that imagination occupies the place of 'I AM' - the subjective presence that claims reality. Inner conversation is not self-persuasion but a declaration from the 'I AM' as if the new identity is already true. Biblical echoes include Exodus 3:14 (I AM THAT I AM) and Mark 11:24 (believe that you have received). Affirmations often stop short of this authoritative self-identification.
How quickly can changed inner conversations show outer change?
There is no fixed timetable; manifestation speed depends on several factors: the depth and duration of the previous belief, the intensity and feeling behind the new assumption, the complexity of the desired change, and your persistence. Neville gave many examples of instant effects - sometimes an outer event shifts immediately after a vivid assumption - and many examples where the external arrangement took days, weeks or longer.
Small, simple changes (a favorable phone call, a new idea, an opportunity) often appear quickly. Larger identity shifts (major health reversals, lifetime career rewrites) usually require sustained mental revision until the subconscious accepts the new self-concept.
Practical expectations: expect some changes within hours to days for minor desires if your inner conversation is clear and feeling-charged. Expect weeks to months for moderate changes, and possibly longer for deeply entrenched circumstances that require repeated revision and 'living in the end.' Do not be discouraged by apparent delay - Neville points to Mark 11:24 and Hebrews 11:1 (faith as substance) to emphasize that the inner assurance is the operative factor, not the speed.
If resistance persists, look for hidden assumptions (I don't deserve this; this always happens to me) and revise those specifically. Keep the faith, persist in the feeling, and act as if the scene were already true until inner conviction displaces the old reality.
What phrases help install a new self-concept through inner talk?
- 'I am now whole and healed.' (Use with a brief imaginal scene of living healthily.)
- 'I am prosperous; money flows to me easily and often.' (Imagine receiving, with gratitude.)
- 'I am loved and cherished exactly as I am.' (Feel warmth and acceptance.)
- 'I am confident, calm, and capable in every meeting.' (See yourself calm and successful.)
- 'I live from the consciousness of abundance.' (Hold the feeling of security.)
The Bible Through Neville
Acts 28:1
Ephesians 5:28
2 Samuel 16:13
1 Thessalonians 2:19
Deuteronomy 4:9
1 Timothy 1:6
Isaiah 24:1
Amos 7:1
Joel 1:7
1 John 4:19
Neville Bible Sparks
Joshua 17:6
2 Samuel 22:7
Genesis 12:12
Exodus 12:11
Jeremiah 26:8
Exodus 5:17
Ezekiel 45:19
Isaiah 66:5
Ecclesiastes 7:17
Matthew 6:24
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