Arnold Van Den Berg on the Power of Your Subconscious Mind
Summary of "Arnold Van Den Berg on the Power of Your Subconscious Mind"
Short Summary:
This interview explores the power of the subconscious mind and its impact on personal growth, success, and happiness. Arnold Van Den Berg, a successful investor and Holocaust survivor, shares his life experiences and insights on harnessing the subconscious mind through visualization, belief, and positive thinking. He emphasizes the importance of developing good habits, dealing with anger, and practicing honesty to create a positive internal environment. Van Den Berg advocates for using the subconscious mind as a tool for achieving goals, overcoming challenges, and living a fulfilling life. He also highlights the role of the subconscious mind in influencing physical health and well-being.
Detailed Summary:
Section 1: Introduction and Early Life Experiences
- The interview begins with a brief introduction of Arnold Van Den Berg, a successful investor and Holocaust survivor.
- Van Den Berg shares his harrowing experiences during World War II, including his time in hiding and his parents' imprisonment in Auschwitz.
- He emphasizes the importance of dealing with anger and the power of apology, drawing a lesson from his encounter with a young girl who hid him in an orphanage.
- He recounts his parents' survival of Auschwitz and their subsequent return to business, highlighting the importance of resilience and turning adversity into opportunity.
Section 2: Overcoming Fear and Embracing Challenges
- Van Den Berg describes his struggles with bullying and his initial fear of fighting, which he eventually overcame by facing his fears and building strength through gymnastics.
- He shares his experience with the rope climb, highlighting the power of visualization and belief in achieving seemingly impossible goals.
- He recounts his journey from a struggling student to a national champion, demonstrating the transformative power of the subconscious mind in achieving success.
Section 3: The Subconscious Mind and Personal Growth
- Van Den Berg discusses his experience with depression after his divorce and how he learned to manage it through self-hypnosis and therapy.
- He explains the concept of repressed anger and its detrimental effects on mental and physical health, emphasizing the importance of expressing anger constructively.
- He highlights the role of the subconscious mind in attracting what we want, quoting John K. Williams' "The Wisdom of Your Subconscious Mind" and drawing parallels with his own experiences.
- He emphasizes the importance of developing a positive self-image and the role of external feedback in shaping it.
Section 4: The Power of Belief and Visualization
- Van Den Berg shares a story about Abraham Lincoln and the importance of preparation in achieving success, emphasizing the power of the subconscious mind in attracting opportunities.
- He quotes Sir Arthur Eddington and other scientists to illustrate the scientific evidence for the mind's ability to influence matter and reality.
- He recounts Conrad Hilton's story of visualizing his dream of owning the Waldorf Astoria, demonstrating the power of visualization in achieving ambitious goals.
Section 5: The Importance of Habits, Honesty, and Love
- Van Den Berg emphasizes the importance of developing good habits, quoting William James' "The Principles of Psychology" and highlighting the role of habits in aligning the nervous system with our goals.
- He discusses the importance of honesty and integrity, quoting Scott Peck's "People of the Lie" and Candice Pert's research on the link between honesty and physical well-being.
- He explores the concept of love, quoting the 13th chapter of 1 Corinthians and Ashley Montagu's research on the importance of love for happiness.
- He emphasizes that love is not a feeling but a practice, requiring the development of specific qualities such as patience, kindness, and humility.
Section 6: The Subconscious Mind and Financial Success
- Van Den Berg shares his journey into the world of finance, highlighting his initial struggles and eventual success through a deep understanding of value investing principles.
- He emphasizes the importance of character and integrity in achieving financial success, quoting Benjamin Graham's writings on the subject.
- He highlights the power of contrarian investing, emphasizing the importance of having faith in one's convictions even when facing opposition.
Section 7: The Role of the Subconscious Mind in Overall Well-being
- Van Den Berg emphasizes the importance of a healthy internal life, arguing that true prosperity goes beyond financial wealth and requires a sense of equanimity and control over one's circumstances.
- He discusses the role of the subconscious mind in influencing physical health, highlighting the benefits of a plant-based diet and regular exercise.
- He shares his personal experience with using hypnosis to help his son recover from an injury, demonstrating the power of the subconscious mind in influencing physical healing.
Section 8: Conclusion and Hope for Humanity
- Van Den Berg expresses his hope for humanity, believing that a deeper understanding of the subconscious mind and its power can lead to greater happiness and a better world.
- He emphasizes the importance of practicing love, honesty, and integrity as key ingredients for a fulfilling life.
- He concludes by sharing his belief that the world is what we make it, and that by focusing on our inner world and our relationships, we can create a more positive and fulfilling reality.