What is the Law of Assumption?
The Law of Assumption is a profound principle that states: whatever you assume to be true becomes your reality. Unlike passive wishing or hoping, assumption requires you to fully embody the state of having your desire now—not someday, not eventually, but in this present moment.
This principle was most eloquently taught by Neville Goddard, a spiritual teacher whose lectures from the mid-20th century continue to transform lives today. Neville taught that your imagination is the creative power of the universe, and when you assume a state with conviction, your physical reality has no choice but to mirror that internal assumption.
"Assume the feeling of your wish fulfilled and observe the route that your attention follows."
— Neville Goddard
At its core, the Law of Assumption operates on a simple but radical idea: your consciousness is the sole creator of your experience. The external world you perceive—your relationships, your financial situation, your health—is merely a reflection of your dominant assumptions about yourself and life.
This means that changing your reality is not about manipulating external circumstances or other people. It's about changing yourself—specifically, the assumptions you hold in your imagination. When you assume you are loved, wealthy, healthy, or successful, and maintain that assumption despite what your senses currently show you, your outer world must eventually conform.
Law of Assumption vs Law of Attraction: Key Differences
Many people discover the Law of Assumption after first learning about the Law of Attraction. While both concepts deal with manifesting desires, they operate on fundamentally different premises. Understanding these differences can transform your manifestation practice.
Law of Attraction
- • Focus on raising your "vibration"
- • Attract things from outside yourself
- • Emphasizes positive thinking
- • Your desire is separate from you
- • Universe delivers to you
Law of Assumption
- • Focus on assuming a new state
- • Become the person who already has it
- • Emphasizes feeling and knowing
- • Your desire is already yours
- • You are the operant power
The Law of Attraction suggests you send out requests to the universe and wait to receive. The Law of Assumption states there is no separation—you are the universe experiencing itself. You don't attract your desires from somewhere "out there." Instead, you assume the state of being someone who already has what they desire, and your world rearranges itself to match.
Perhaps the most significant difference is the concept of "operant power." In the Law of Assumption framework, you are the only operant power in your reality. Nothing and no one can prevent your manifestation except your own contradicting assumptions. This is incredibly empowering—it means you never need to worry about timing, other people's free will, or universal permission. You simply assume, persist, and receive.
This also means you take full responsibility for your reality. Every circumstance in your life, pleasant or unpleasant, is a reflection of your past assumptions. While this can feel confronting initially, it's actually liberating—because if you created it, you can change it.
Practice the Law of Assumption Daily
Mani helps you maintain your assumed state through daily check-ins, evidence tracking, and guided protocols based on Neville Goddard's teachings.
Download Mani FreeHow to Apply the Law of Assumption
Applying the Law of Assumption is both simple and challenging—simple because the technique itself is straightforward, and challenging because it requires consistent mental discipline. Here is a practical framework you can begin using today:
Define Your Desire Clearly
Get specific about what you want. Instead of "more money," define the exact amount or what it would allow you to do. Instead of "a relationship," envision the specific qualities of that partnership. Clarity creates a definite target for your assumption.
Create a Scene That Implies Fulfillment
Neville taught a technique called SATS (State Akin to Sleep). Before falling asleep, imagine a short scene that would only happen after your desire has been fulfilled. If you want a promotion, imagine a colleague congratulating you. If you want a relationship, imagine a loving moment with your partner.
Feel It Real
This is the crucial step most people miss. Don't just visualize—feel the reality of your scene. Experience the joy, relief, satisfaction, or peace you would feel if this were happening now. The feeling is the secret ingredient that impresses your assumption upon your subconscious mind.
Live From the End
Throughout your day, return mentally to the state of the wish fulfilled. When doubt arises, don't resist it—simply redirect your attention back to your new assumption. Ask yourself: "How would I think, feel, and act if this were already mine?" Then think, feel, and act that way.
Persist Until It Hardens Into Fact
Neville famously said, "Persist in your assumption and it will harden into fact." This is not a one-time exercise. You must return to your assumed state repeatedly, especially when external circumstances seem to contradict it. The 3D world is always showing you yesterday's assumptions. Keep assuming your new reality until it becomes natural.
Affirmations can support this process by helping you stay aligned with your new assumption throughout the day. However, remember that affirmations alone—without the feeling of the wish fulfilled—are less effective. The power is in the assumption, not the repetition of words.
The Role of Feeling and Imagination
If assumption is the vehicle of manifestation, feeling is the fuel. Neville Goddard was adamant that intellectual belief alone is insufficient. You must feel your assumption to be true. But what does this actually mean in practice?
The feeling Neville refers to is not emotion in the conventional sense. It's closer to a sense of naturalness or knowingness. When you assume something successfully, it doesn't feel like you're pretending or forcing anything. It feels like remembering something that already exists. It feels real.
"Feeling is the secret. The feeling of the wish fulfilled is the creative act."
— Neville Goddard
Your imagination is not mere fantasy—it is the creative workshop where your reality is shaped before it appears in the physical world. Everything that exists was first imagined. Your job is to use this creative faculty consciously rather than letting it run on autopilot based on fears, worries, and past programming.
Practical Tips for Feeling It Real
- •Engage all senses: In your imaginal scene, don't just see—hear the sounds, feel the textures, smell the scents. The more sensory detail, the more real it becomes to your subconscious.
- •Practice when drowsy: The state between waking and sleeping (SATS) is when your conscious mind's defenses are down and impressions sink deeply into the subconscious.
- •Loop a short scene: Rather than a long, complicated visualization, create a 5-10 second scene and replay it until you fall asleep or until it feels completely natural.
- •Use first-person perspective: See through your own eyes in the scene, not watching yourself from outside. This makes the experience more immersive and real.
- •Notice the sabbath: When you genuinely feel it done, you'll experience a deep sense of peace and release. This is the "sabbath"—the rest that comes from knowing your work is complete.
Remember: you are not trying to make something happen. You are acknowledging something that, in consciousness, has already happened. The feeling of fulfillment comes not from excitement about a future event, but from satisfaction about a present reality.
Signs Your Assumption is Working
One of the most common questions beginners ask is: "How do I know if it's working?" While the ultimate sign is your manifestation appearing in physical form, there are several indicators along the way that suggest your assumption is taking root:
1. A Shift in Inner State
The most reliable sign is an internal shift. You feel different about your desire. The desperate wanting transforms into calm knowing. You think about your desire with peace rather than anxiety. This shift often happens before any external evidence appears.
2. Decreased Need to Check
When you genuinely assume something is done, you stop obsessively checking for evidence. Just as you don't constantly verify that the sun will rise tomorrow, you stop needing proof of your manifestation. The checking impulse fades into quiet confidence.
3. The Bridge of Incidents
Neville spoke of a "bridge of incidents"—a series of natural events that lead you to your manifestation. You might meet the right person, receive unexpected information, or find yourself in circumstances that move you toward your desire. These aren't coincidences; they're your assumption unfolding.
4. Synchronicities and Signs
While you shouldn't seek or need external validation, you may notice meaningful synchronicities—hearing about your desire unexpectedly, seeing related numbers or symbols, or receiving confirmation through conversations. These are echoes of your inner assumption showing up in your world.
5. Others Treat You Differently
People in your life are reflections of your self-concept. When your assumption shifts, you may notice people responding to you differently—with more respect, affection, or opportunity—even before your specific desire manifests. They're responding to your new inner state.
6. Tests and Temporary Contrary Evidence
Paradoxically, things sometimes appear to get worse before they improve. Old patterns may surface more intensely as they're being cleared. Don't interpret this as failure—it's often a sign that deep change is occurring. Persist through these tests without abandoning your assumption.
The key is to trust the process without needing constant proof. Your assumption is working the moment you assume it. The physical manifestation is simply catching up to what already exists in consciousness. Keep your focus on maintaining your inner state, and let the outer world rearrange itself in its own time.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I can't stop thinking negative thoughts?
Don't fight negative thoughts—this only gives them more power. Instead, acknowledge them without judgment and gently redirect your attention to your desired state. Think of it like training a puppy: you don't punish it for wandering, you simply guide it back. With practice, your mind will naturally dwell more in your new assumption. Consistency matters more than perfection.
How long should I practice before seeing results?
There is no universal timeline. Your manifestation appears when your assumption becomes so natural that you no longer feel like you're "trying" to manifest. For some people, this happens quickly; for others, it takes longer. The key is persistence without desperation. Release attachment to timing while maintaining your assumption. The less you need it to happen on your schedule, the faster it often appears.
Can I manifest for other people?
Yes. In Neville's teaching, everyone in your reality is you pushed out—they reflect aspects of your own consciousness. By assuming a better state for someone else (seeing them healthy, successful, or happy), you can influence their experience. However, this works best when done from love rather than control. You're not manipulating them; you're changing your assumption about them.
What if my desire seems impossible?
"Impossible" is a judgment made by your current state of consciousness, not an objective fact. The Law of Assumption knows no size—a small manifestation and a "big" one require the same process. If you can imagine it, you can manifest it. Start with smaller assumptions to build your confidence, then apply the same principle to larger desires. Your only limitation is your own imagination and willingness to assume.
Do I need to take action?
Action often flows naturally from a changed assumption. When you truly assume you are successful, you behave like a successful person—not from force, but from natural expression of your new state. Don't take action from desperation or to "make" your manifestation happen. Take inspired action that feels aligned. If an opportunity presents itself and it feels right, act on it. The bridge of incidents will guide you.
What's the difference between assumption and delusion?
Assumption operates in the realm of imagination and inner state, not denial of physical reality. You don't pretend your current circumstances don't exist—you acknowledge them while choosing to assume a different inner state. Delusion ignores reality; assumption transcends it. You can be fully aware that your bank account shows $100 while assuming the state of wealth. The assumption changes your inner world first, which then influences the outer.
Begin Your Manifestation Journey
The Law of Assumption offers a direct path to creating the life you desire. Unlike methods that require complex rituals or depend on external forces, this principle puts the power squarely in your hands. Your consciousness is creative. Your imagination shapes reality. Your assumptions become facts.
Start today. Choose one desire. Create a scene that implies its fulfillment. Feel it real. And persist in your assumption regardless of what your senses currently show you. The world you see tomorrow is being created by what you assume today.
For a deeper understanding of these principles, explore our guides on Neville Goddard's teachings, the practice of living in the wish fulfilled, and using affirmations to support your assumptions.
