Controlled Attention: Key to Application of the Science of Success Principles

by Angel L. Rivera, Ph.D.

Introduction

I started my journey with the seventeen principles of success on January 10, 2013. After completing the three study phases toward certification, in March 2015, I adopted a service project as the means to acquire my certification as Instructor of the PMA Science of Success Course. The objective of the service project was to develop a self-study system that will enable the student of the success principles to study, understand, and assimilate each principle first as a single lesson then as a single principle across all the lessons. The initial idea of a self-study system was simply a seed of inspiration. I had a conception of the functional aspect of the idea, but not its form. The form revealed itself after I started taking action and going the extra mile in the progressive realization of the idea. As time passed the idea kept growing in scope. This experience made me realize that this idea was driving me toward a lifetime undertaking. After some thinking, I made the decision to limit the scope of the idea to a working model suitable to secure the certification. On June 20, 2016, I achieved my certification. Since then, I continued working on the project to bring the idea toward a first generation product by adding scope to the self-study function and including an application function. The first generation product is being completed as a Science of Success Principles Self-Study and Application Guide

Application of the Success Principles – Controlled Attention is the Key

In developing the application guide I discovered that the principle of controlled attention, supported by the application of self-discipline is the key to drive the application of this philosophy of success principles. Controlled attention is the highest form of self-discipline. Controlled attention is defined as the act of coordinating all the faculties of the mind and directing their combined power to a definite end; an act that can only be achieved by the strictest form of self-discipline. Controlled attention, or effective concentration, requires that the attention be focused, fully controlled and directed toward a definite end. Achievement of controlled attention requires the application of six factors through the application of self-discipline. The six factors are: definiteness of purpose, imagination, desire, faith, will power, and the subconscious mind. Napoleon Hill teaches us that “When you have applied the principles of success you will find that the subconscious mind always react positively to you. Then and only then will your door to success be open to you.” The decision to adopt a motivational definite major purpose and a plan for its attainment by the student is the key step that selects the object upon which the student must focus the controlled attention.

The purpose for the application of the principles of success is to establish and maintain a success habit pattern as a voluntarily controlled habit. The success habit pattern is composed of thought (mental) habits and action (physical) habits. Napoleon Hill gave us the following practical definition of ‘big things’: “All big things are composed of smaller things of a related nature.” Based on that working definition, I define a success habit pattern as a habit pattern composed of principle-specific habit patterns of a related nature. This definition provides for the interdependencies among the principles and the collective power of combinations of principles. This success habit pattern is attained and maintained by establishing, and maintaining principle-specific habit patterns as voluntarily controlled habits. A success habit pattern is fixed by cosmic Habitforce and operates automatically through the subconscious mind. Voluntarily controlled habits empower the individual to take positive control over the dominating influences from the environment, clearing the way to the attainment of the desired definite end.

The development of a procedure for the application of the principles of success shall include two steps. The first step is stating the principles as actions. As an example, the principle of self-discipline can be stated as enforce self-discipline and the principle of controlled attention as control your attention. Stating the principles as actions is a positive step to begin the second step, perform a self-inventory analysis to determine if the principles, stated as actions, are being performed consciously and voluntarily. Any action that is not being performed or not performed consciously and voluntarily is an opportunity for a new initiative. Each definite controlled attention procedure for application of the success principles will be unique to each student. The resulting controlled attention procedure could also be used as a plan of study of the principles in an effort to increase assimilation in support of their application.

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Mount Juliet TN USA

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Notes

I started my journey with the seventeen principles of success on January 10, 2013. After completing the three study phases toward certification, in March 2015, I adopted a service project as the means to acquire my certification as Instructor of the PMA Science of Success Course. The objective of the service project was to develop a self-study system that will enable the student of the success principles to study, understand, and assimilate each principle first as a single lesson then as a single principle across all the lessons….

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