self mastery through conscious auto suggestion

7/31/2019 Self Mastery Through Conscious Auto Suggestion

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THECOUE"METHOD"

Complete&UnabridgedEdition

SELFMASTERYTHROUGHCONSCIOUSAUTOSUGGESTION

ByEmileCoue´

TranslateddirectfromM.CoueoriginalFrenchEdition,forthe

COUELEAGUEOFAMERICA

Translationcarefullycompared

withtheoriginalFrenchand

preparedforpressby

ArchibaldStarkVanOrden

A.B.NewYorkUniversity

YM.C.A.Secretarywiththe

FirstDivision,A.E.F.,inFrance

MALKANPUBLISHINGCO.,Inc.,

Distributors

96WarrenSt.,NewYork

Copyright1922byMalkanPublishingCa,Inc.

Contents

INTRODUCTION:ByArchibaldStarkVanOrdenTHEMIRACLEWITHIN:ByM.Burnat-Provins-.

SELFMASTERYTHROUGHCONSCIOUSAUTO-

SUGGESTION:ByEmileCoue´15

ConsciousAutosuggestion,15TheConsciousBeingandtheUnconsciousBeing,16WillandImagina-tion,17SuggestionandAutosuggestion,21TheUseofAutosuggestion,22HowSuggestionWorks,26TheUseofSuggestionfortheCureofMoralAilmentsandCongenitalorAcquiredFaults,28.



THE"METHOD"APPLIEDTOTHEEDUCATIONANDCORRECTIONOFCHILDREN:ByEmileCoue ́31

INSTRUCTIONSFORPRACTITIONERSOFTHE"METHOD"HowToTeachPeopleToMakeAuto-suggestions:AdviceAndInstructionsToHisPupilsAnd

Disciples:ByEmileCoue´38

PreparatoryExperiments,40CurativeSuggestionMethods,44TheSuperiorityofThis"Method,"49.

WHATAUTOSUGGESTIONHASDONEObservations

ofSomeRemarkableCures:ByEmileCoue´53

Tuberculosis,53CongestionoftheLungs,54Asthma,54Bronchitis,55SenilityofLarynx,55Pott'sDisease,55Eczema,56Gout,56ClubFeet,57Rheumatism,57Palsy,5&Stammering,58KidneyDisease,58Enteritis,59NervousDys-pepsia,60Neuralgia,60Neurasthenia,60Var-icoseUlcers,62Abscess,63FrontalSinus,63

HeartDisease,63Paralysis,65WombTrouble,66Metritis,67.

THOUGHTSANDPRECEPTSOFEMILECoue´:

ByMtne,EntileLeon68

M.EMILECoue´ATWORKINHISCLINIC78

LETTERS89

ExtractsfromlettersaddressedtoM.CoueandtoMine.EmileLeonandMile.Kaufmant,hisdisciples.

ALLFOREVERYONE:ByMtne.EmileLeon105

SOMENOTESONM.Coue´'STRIPTOPARIS.112

SUGGESTEDLISTOFSTANDARDBOOKSONAUTO-SUGGESTION^PSYCHOLOGY,etc119

Coue´LEAGUEOFAMERICA122

Introduction



Thependulumofmedicalthoughtisswingingawayfrommaterialism.Thedayofthepredominanceofthepillispast.Practitionersofallschoolsnowrealizethataverylargepartofourwealandwoeisthere-sultofourthinking.Probablyninetypercent,ofallcureshaveamentalbasisindependentoftheapparentmaterialmeansemployed.Thisisnoargumentagainstvthephysicianorhealerofanyschool,butitisanarg-umentinfavorofscientificunderstandingandem-ploymentofmentalmeansforhumanbetterment.

EmileCouestandsoutasleaderofthegreatandeverincreasinghostofthosewhobelievethatmindistheprincipalfactorinhealthandsickness.Hetellsusthatineverycasethematerialelementhasitsplace,butthatthisplaceisoneofsubservience;thatmatterisservant,mindismaster;andthatmatterwillobeythedirectionofmind,ifthethingaimedat"isinanywaypossible."Thisimpliesthattheremaybein-stancesinwhichthedesiredthing"isnotinanywaypossible,''butCou6doesnotundertaketodefinethelatterclass.Afterreadingofthemanycuresinducedbyhis"method,"onecannotavoidtheconclusionthat

furtherdevelopmentandapplicationofthe"method"willgreatlyreducethefieldnowregardedas"theim-possible."

CouSisscientific.Hedoesnotstartwithatheoryandthentrytoproveitbylogic;buthebeginswith"experiments"andbuildsuphistheoryinductively.Hetakesyoutoaclinicwherethingsarebeingdone,nottoalectureroomwherethingsarebeingdiscussed.

5

6THECoue´"METHOD"

Herecognizesthefactthatpeople,notthoroughlyacquaintedwithhis"method,"mayfindinitmuchthat"seemschildish";buthisansweris,"itproducesresults."Onefeelslikeparaphrasingthewordsofan-other:"Thelamewalk,theillaremadewhole,andhappyaretheywhodonotstumbleatthatwhichis

seeminglytoosimpleinmymethod."

Cou6isinlinewithaconsiderablenumberofscholarswhohavestudiedandutilizedhypnotisminitsvariousphases,particularlyrelatedtodisease.Formanyyearsiswassupposedthathypnotismandkindredphenomenawereabnormal,butweknownowthatthesephenomenaareperfectlynatural,thattheyhavebeenthegreatestfactorsinalltheagesformoralandphysicalhealthordisease,andthatthemodernpsychologistismerely



attemptingtouseconsciously,forhumangood,thatwhichhadpreviouslybeenagreatuncontrolledpowerforbothgoodandill.

TheuniquecontributionswhichCouehasmadetohumanbettermentare,hisrecognitionoftheprimaryplaceoftheimaginationinthecureofdisease,andhisdevelopmentofa"method"wherebytheimaginationmaybeenergizedanddirectedforitsbeneficentwork.

Ourmentalityisoftwosorts,thatwhichweuseconsciouslyandthatwhichweuseunconsciouslyorsub-consciously.Coueagreeswithmanyothersinrecogniz-ingthisdualmentality.Butnopredecessor,Ibelieve,hasrecognizedtheclosenessoftherelationshipbetweensubconsciousmentalityandtheimagination.Itwouldseem,attimes,thatthetwoarealmostidenticalinhisthought.IsitfairtointerprethimasmeaningthattheimaginationisatoncetheentranceandexitbywhichweopenupourunconsciouspowersanddrawthemoutforourgoodorillfPerhapsso,buthedoesnottheorizemuchinthislittlebook;hisinterestis

INTRODUCTION7

ratherinpracticalcures,andthesearesowonderfulthatthereaderwillfindhiscredulityputtothetest.Tothis,yournaturalquestioning,Cou6andhisdis-cipleswouldsay"comeandsee,"whichisafteralltheonlyscientifictestofanything.

Theformula,"Everyday,ineveryway,Iamgettingbetterandbetter,"Cou6says,"coversallcases,"and,regardlessofthediseaseordifficulty,thisformulare-peatedasdirectedproducesresultsiftheyare"inanywaypossible."Doubtlessthethingwhichhappensisthattheimaginationtakesholdofthegeneralideaofprogressivebetterment,assuggestedintheformula,andfillsinthedetailsofthatideawithdataofitsownexperienceandhope.(Therheumaticpatient,repeat-ingtheformula,seeshimselfinimaginationreachingthepointwherehecanwalkorrun,etc.)Now,thewonderofthe"method"isthis,thatthisimaginedcurehasmarvelouspowertocallintoactionthesubjective

mind,whichproducesinrealitythethingimagined.

IftheCou6"method"hassuchwonderfuleffectontheunconsciouspersonalityforthecureofdisease,whyshouldn'tithaveaneffectalongmoralandsociallinesthatisequallywonderful?ThefactseemstobethatthisprocesswhichCou4haslearnedtoutilizeforcures,istheprocesswhichhasbeenbackofeverygreathis-toricmovement.Apersongetsholdofanidea.Heholdsitbeforehisimaginationuntilitpossesseshis



subjectivemindandtransformshim.Heconstantlygivesthethoughttoothersuntiltheyaretransformed,andeventuallytheideaoftheonemanbecomesthedominatingforceofwholenations.

Mr.Cou6'sbriefstatementoftherelationofhis"method"toeducationisdestinedtobecomeaclassiconthisvitalsubject.Thateducationshouldbeginatbirthandevenbefore,thatitisthedutyofparents

DigitizedbyVjOOQIC

8TEECOTJti"METHOD"

andrelativestoseetoitthatthemindsofchildrenareplacedinthecorrectattitudetowardtheirowndevelop-ment,thateducationconsistsin"self-mastery"andnotinteachingsubjects;inthesemattersandsomeothersthe"master"standsoncommongroundwithmanythoughtfulpeople;butheadvancesbeyondothersin

showingaclear,scientific,andsimple"method"ofac-complishingthesehighlydesirableresults.Thelittlesectioninthisbookwhichdealswiththissubjectshouldreceivethethoughtfulattentionofallwhoareinterestedinthefutureofthechildrenofthisland.

Thenameoftheoriginatorsometimesleavesitsmarkinhistory.SuchisConfucius.ThehistoryofChinaforthepasttwenty-fivehundredyearsistheoutwork-ingoftheimaginationoftheSageinthelivesoftheuntoldmillionsofChinesethroughthoseages.

Couehastaughtushowthepsychologyofthemobis

produced.Weareallchangedintotheimageofthatwhichisheldbeforetheeyesofourimagination.Wecanchangeourselvesaswewish.Wecanbesick,orwell;good,orbadaccordinglyaswedirectourimagi-nationsthiswayorthat.Perhapswethinktherearelimitations;butletusnottalkaboutthoseuntilwehavebeguntoapproachthem.

Wecanhavethekindofworldwewanttolivein,assoonaswearewillingtoholdproperidealsbeforeourimaginationsuntilourunconsciousmindschangeusintothatwhichweimagine.Anddon'tforgetthenightandmorningrepetitionoftheformula,andeven

thestringwithitstwentyknots;Cou6hasproventhemtobeeffective.

ArchibaldS.VanObden



TheMiracleWithin:ATributetoEmileCoue

ByM.Burnat-Provins.

(Reprintfromthe"RenaissancePolitique,UUraireet

artistique"ofthe18thofDecember,1920.)

InSeptember,1920,IopenedforthefirsttimethebookofProf.CharlesBaudouin,oftheinstitutej.j.RousseauofGeneva,entitled,suggestionandauto-suggestion,anddedicatedbytheauthor:

"withgratefulacknowledgmentsto

emilecoue,thesteadfastworkerandpioneer."

IdidnotputitdownuntilIhadreaditthrough.Itcontainsaverysimpleexpositionofamagnificenthumanitarianwork,baseduponatheorywhichmayappearchildishtosome,becauseofitsuttersimplicity.Butifanyonepracticesitheisboundtoreceivegreat

goodfromit.

Duringmorethantwentyyearsofindefatigablework,EmxleCouS,whoresidesatNancy(wherehecontinuedtheworkandexperimentsofLiSbault,fatherofthedoctrineofsuggestion),fortwentyyears,Ire-peat,CouSstudiedthisonesubject,totheexclusionofeverythingelse,forthepurposeofhelpinghisfellowcreaturesbyinducingthemtocultivatethepracticeofautosuggestion.

Atthebeginningofthiscentury,CouShadattainedtheobjectofhisresearches.Hehaddiscoveredthe

immensepowerofautosuggestionandthesecretofitsapplicationforgeneraluse;havingmadeinnumerableexperiments,withthousandsofpatients,heprovedtheactionofthesubconsciousonorganicailments.

9

10TEECoue´"METHOD"

Thiswassomethingentirelynew;andthegreatmeritofthisprofoundlymodestscholaristohavefoundaremedyforterribleills,heretoforeconsideredincurable,andwithouthopeofrelief,although,insomeinstances,extremelypainful

AsIcannotgointolengthyscientificdetails,IwilljusttellhowthislearnedmanofNancypracticeshis



method.

Thesubstanceofhisteachingclearcutasthoughinsculpturefoundafteralifetimeofpatientre-searches,issummedupinabriefformulatobere-peatedmorningandnight.

Thisformulamustberepeatedinalowvoice(witheyesclosed,bodyinapositionthatpermitsofrelaxingthemuscularsystemsayinbedorinaneasychair)andinamonotonoustone,asifonewererecitingalitany.Themagicwordsare:

"EVERTDAT,INEVERTWAT,IAMGETTINGBETTERANDBETTER."

Theymustberepeatedtwentytimes,morningandnight.Youmayuseastringwithtwentyknotsonitwhichservesasanaidincountingjustasarosarydoes.Thismaterialaidisimportant;itinsuresmechanicalrecitation,whichisessential.

Whilearticulatingthesewordswhichareregisteredbytheunconscious,youmustnotthinkofanythingin

particular,neitherofyourillnessnorofyourtroubles.Youmustbepassive,withonlythedesirethatallmaybeforthebest;theformulaineverywayhasageneraleffect.

Yourdesiremustexpressitselfwithoutpassion,gent-lyandwithoutexertionofyourwill,butwithabsolutefaithandconfidence.

ForEmileCou6,atthemomentofinducingauto-

THEMIRACLEWITHIN11

suggestion,doesnotappealtothewillinanyway.ThewiUmastnotbeexercisedatallatthatmoment!Imagi-nationonlymustcomeintoplay;thatisthegreatmotivepower,infinitelymoreactivethanthewillpowerwhichisusuallyinvoked.

Haveconfidenceinyourself...Believefirmlythat

allwillbewellwithyou,saysthisgreatcounsellor,and,indeed,alliswellwiththosewhohavetheunquestion-ingfaithofachild,supplementedbyperseverance.

Asfactsanddeedsspeaklouderthanwords,IwilltellyouofmyownexperiencebeforeImetM.Cou6.

ImustgobacktothemonthofSeptemberwhenIfirstopenedthebookofM.CharlesBaudouin;afterdetailedexpositionofhissubjecttheauthornotescom-



pletecuresofsuchmaladiesas:enteritis;eczema;stammering;dumbness;sinusdatingtwenty-fiveyearsback,withelevenoperations;metritis;salpin-gitis;fiberoustumor;varicoseveins;etc.etc.,andlastbutnotleast,deeptubercularsoresandthelaststagesofphthisis(asinthecaseoftime.D.,ofTroyes,age30,whobecameamotherafterhercure;thiscasewasfollowedupandtherewasnorelapse).Allthisistestifiedtobyattendingphysicians,whohadtreatedthepatients.

Theseexamplesimpressedmeprofoundly;somewererealmiracles!Itwasnotaquestionofnerves,butofillsforwhichthereisnomedicineasyet.Especiallythatcaseoftuberculosiswasarevelationtome.

Havingsuffered,myself,horriblyfromacuteneuritisoftheface,Iknowwhatrealpainis.Fourphysicians,twoofthemspecialists,hadpronouncedthesentence,"Nothingcanbedoneforyou,"which,ofitselfalone,sufficedtoincreasethetroublebyitsfatalinfluenceonmymind:That"Nothingcanbedone"hadinducedtheworstofautosuggestions.

12THECOVtt"METHOD"

Onceinpossessionoftheformula:"Everyday,ineveryway,etc.,"Ireciteditwithafaith,which,al-thoughithadcomesuddenly,wasnonethelesscapableofremovingmountains.Idiscardedshawlsandcom-fortersand,inwindandrain,wentoutintothegarden

bareheaded,murmuringgently:"Iamgoingtobecured;therewillbenomoreneuritis;itisgoingaway;itwillnotcomeback,etc."Iwascuredtheverynextday;therewasnomoresufferingfromtheabominablecomplaint,whichhadnotallowedmetotakeastepoutofdoorsinwindyordampweather,andhadmadelifeunbearable.Justimaginemyintensejoy!Skepticswillsay,"Itwasallnervousness.''Obviously,andIwillconcedetothemthisfirstpoint.But,delightedwiththeCouemethod,Itrieditforanoedemaoftheleftankle,resultingfromanaffectionofthekidneyswhichwassaidtobeincurable.Intwodaystheoedemahaddisappeared.Ithentreatedfatigueandmental

depression,etc.Anextraordinaryimprovementre-sultedandIhadbutoneidea:togotoNancyandthankmybenefactor.

Iwentandfoundtheexcellentmanwhoattractsallbyhisgoodnessandsimplicity,andhebecamemyfriend.

Itwasindispensabletoseehimonhisownfieldofaction.Heinvitedmetoapopularclinic.ThereI



witnessedaconcertofgratitudelesionsofthelungs,displacedorgans,asthma,Pott'sdisease(!),paralysisallthishostofdeadlydiseaseswasputtoflight.Isawaparalyticwhosatcontortedandtwistedinachair,getupandwalk.CouShadtalkedtothemurg-ingeachtohavegreatconfidence,animmensecon-fidenceinthemselves.Hesaid,"Learntocureyour-selves;youcan.Ihavenevercuredanybody;theremedyiswithinyourselves.Galluponyourspirit;let

THEMIRACLEWITHIN13

itactforyourmentalandspiritualbenefitanditwillcome,itwillcureyou;youwillbestrongai^dhappy.''Havingspoken,Coueapproachedtheparalyticandsaidtoher:"Youhaveheard.Doyoubelievethatyouwillwalk?..'."Yes."..."Verywellthen,getupl"Thewomanarose,shewalked,andwentaroundthe

garden.Themiraclewasaccomplished.

AyounggirlafflictedwithPott'sdisease,whosever-tebralcolumnhadbecomestraightagainafterthreetreatments,toldmeoftheintensehappinessshefeltinbeing,sotospeak,rebornafterhavingbeenahope-lesscripple.Threewomen,curedoflesionsofthelungs,expresseddelightatbeingabletogobacktoworkandtoenjoynormallife.

Coue,inthemidstofthesepeoplewhomheloves,appearedtomeasapersonapart;heignoresmoney;allhisworkisgratuitousandhisextraordinarydisin-

terestednessdoesnotpermithimtotakeacentforit.Itoldhim:"IoweyousomethingIoweyouall!"'Hisreplywas:"No,thepleasurethatIhaveinyourcontinuedwell-beingpaysmeabundantly."

Anirresistiblesympathydrawsyoutowardthisplainphilanthropistwhohasthesoulofachild.Arminarmwewalkaroundthekitchen-garden,whichhecul-tivateshimselfgettijigupearlytodoso.Heisprac-ticallyavegetarianandlooksupontheresultsofhisgardenworkwithgreatsatisfaction.Hethenresumesseriousconversation."Youpossesswithinyouanun-limitedpower,yourUnconsciousbeing,commonlycalled

imagination.Itactsonmatterifwebutknowhowtodomesticateit.Theimaginationmaybecomparedtoahorse,improperlyharnessedtoyourcarriage,andwithoutbridleorreins;thathorsemayperformallsortsoffoolishtricksandcauseyourdeath.But,harnesshimproperly,drivehimwithafirmhand,and



14THECOVti"METHOD"

hewillgowhereyouwanthimto.ItisthesamewithyourUnconsciousself,yourimagination.Youmustdirectitforyourowngood.Autosuggestionformulatedwiththelips,isanorderwhichtheUnconsciousreceives.Itcarriesitout,unknowntoourselves,especiallyatnight;sothattheeveningsuggestionisthemostimportant.Itgiveswonderfulresults.

"Whenyoufeelphysicalpainaddtheformula:'Itpasses,itpasses.9Repeatitveryquickly,inasortofmurmuringvoice,placingyourhandontheachingpart,oruponyourforeheadifitismentaldiscomfortordistress.Themethodalsoactsveryeffectivelyonthemind.Afterhavingcalledinthehelpofthesoulforthebody,youcancallonitagainandagaininallcircumstancesanddifficultiesoflife."

Iknowfromexperiencethatunsatisfactoryresults,obtainedbyusualtreatment,canbesingularlymodified

bythisprocess.

Younowknowaboutit,andcanknowitstillbetterifyouwillreadMr.Baudouin'sbook,"SuggestionandAutosuggestion"andthenhispamphlet:"CultureoftheMoralPower,"afterreadingthisbrieflittletreatise,"Self-Mastery,"writtenbyMr.CouShimself.

Now,ifIhavebeenabletoinspireyousufficientlytomakethepilgrimagetoNancyforyourself,youwillhavethesameexperiencethatIhad;youwilllovethisuniquemanuniquebyreasonofhisnoblecharityandhisunselfishloveofhisbrethrenasChristhas

taughtit.

And,likemyself,youwillbehealedphysically,morallyandmentally.Lifewillseemmoreworthliv-ingandaltogethermorebeautiful.Andthatissurelyworthtryingfor.

DigitizedbyVjOOQIC

SELFMASTERY:

Through

ConsciousAutosuggestion

ByEmilbCouL.



i,orrather,Autosuggestionisinonesenseanentirelynewsubject,although,atthesametime,itisasoldastheworlditself.

Itisnewinthat,uptothepresent,ithasnotbeenstudiedfromthecorrectviewpoint,andconsequentlywrongconclusionshavebeenformed.ItisoldbecauseitdatesbacktotheadventofmanonEarth.Indeed,autosuggestionisaninstrumentwhichwepossesswhenweareborn.Itisaforceofwonderfulandincalculablepowerwhichproduces,accordingtocircumstances,theverybestortheveryworsteffects.Aproperknowledgeofthisforceisusefultoeveryone,but,moreparticular-ly,itisindispensabletophysicians,magistrates,lawyersandeducatorsoftheyoung.

Whanoneknowshowtoemployitconsciouslyhecan,firstofall,guardhimselfagainstprovokingharmfulautosuggestionsinothers,theconsequencesofwhichmaybedisastrous;furthermore,hecanconsciouslybringabouthelpfuloneswhichrestorephysicalhealthtothesick,andmentalandmoralvigortothenervous-lyderangedunconsciousvictimsofprevioushurtfulautosuggestions;hecanalsoguideintorightwaysthose

whohaveatendencytowardevil.

16

16THECOUti"METHOD"

TheConsciousBeingandtheUnconsciousBeing

Inordertounderstandthephenomenaofsuggestionor,moreaccurately,ofautosuggestion,itisnecessarytorealizethatthereexist,withinus,twobeingsabsolutelydistinctfromeachother.Bothareintelligent,butwhileoneisconscious,theotherisunconscious.Thatisthereasonwhytheexistenceofthelatterisnotgenerallyrecognized.

Theexistenceofthisunconsciousbeingmaybeeasily

provedifonewillonlytakethetroubletoexaminecer-tainphenomenaandtothinkalittle,forexample:.

Everybodyisfamiliarwithsomnambulism.Weallknowthatthesleep-walkergetsupduringthenightand,withoutbeingawake,leaveshisroom,dressedorundressed,goesdownstairs,walksalongcorridorsand,afterhavingperformedcertainactsoraccomplishedcertainwork,returnstobed.Nextmorningheisgreatlyastonishedatfindingworkfinishedwhichhehadleft



unfinishedthenightbefore.

Neverthelesshehimselfdidit,althoughhedoesnotrecallanythingaboutit.Whatpowerthendidhisbodyobey,ifnotanunconsciousforce,hisunconsciousbeing?

Considernow,ifyouplease,theregrettablyfrequentcaseofthedrunkardinastateof"deliriumtremens."Inaparoxysmofragehetakesupwhateverweaponishandy,aknife,hammer,axe,andstrikesfuriouslyatthosewhohavethemisfortunetobenearhim.Whentheparoxysmofragehaspassedandheregainshissenses,helookswithhorroratthesceneofcarnage,ignorantofthefactthathehimselfdidit.Hereagain,

SELFMASTERY17

isn'tittheunconsciousthathasdirectedtheactionsofthepoorwretchf#

IfwecomparetheConsciouswiththeUnconscious,wefindthatwhiletheConsciousisendowedwithaveryunreliablememory,theUnconsciousonthecontrary,isgiftedwithamarvelousmemorywhichregistersunfail-ingly,withoutourknowingit,everyeventandeveryleastlittlethingthathappensduringourexistence.Moreoveritiscredulousandaccepts,withoutreason-ing,whatitistold.AstheUnconsciousdirectsandcontrolstheworkingofallourorgansbytheinterme-diaryofthebrainanapparentlyparadoxicaleffectis

produced;thatis,whenitbelievesthataparticularorganisorisnotinproperworkingorder,orthatwefeelsuchandsuchanimpression,thatorgan,indeed,worksproperlyorbadly;orrather,wehavetheim-pressionthatitdoes.

TheUnconsciousnotonlypresidesoverthefunctionsofourorganismbutalsoovertheperformanceofallouractions,whatevertheymaybe.

TheUnconsciousiswhatweusuallycall"imagina-tion''andwhich,contrarytothecommonbelief,always-makesusact,evenagainstourwill,ifthereisantago-

nismbetweenthosetwoforces.

WillandImagination.

Whenweopenadictionaryandlookforthesenseoftheword"Witt"wefindthefollowingdefinition:"Facultytofreelydetermineallouractions.''Weac-ceptthisdefinitionastrueandindisputable,butthereisnogreaterfallacy.ThiswUlwhichwesoproudly



*Andwhataversions,whatillsofvariousdegrees,oftenhardlyperceptible,wecreateinourselves,allofus,byneglectingtocounter-balanceimmediatelythebadunconsciousautosug-gestions,byusinggood,consciousautosuggestions,thusbringingaboutthecessationofmuchunnecessarysuffering.

18THECOUti"METHOD"

assert,alwaysgiveswaytotheimagination.Thisisanabsoluterulewithoutasingleexception.

Blasphemy!Paradox!Yousay.Notatall.Truth!Absolutetruth,Ireply.

Andinordertoconvinceyourselfofthistruthopenyoureyes,lookaboutyouandtrytocomprehendwhatyousee.YouwillthenunderstandthatwhatIassertisnotanemptytheory,engenderedbyadisordered

brain,buttheplainexpressionofanactualfact.

Supposethatweplaceontheflooraplank30feetlongand10incheswide.Itisevidentthateverybodywouldbeabletowalkalongthatplankfromoneendtotheotherwithoutsteppingoff.Nowchangethecon-ditionsoftheexperimentandsupposethatthisplankisplaced,letussay,ashighasthetowersofacathedral;wherethenisthepersoncapableofwalkingonlyasinglefootalongthatnarrowpathmadebytheboardtWouldyouwhoreadthisbetheonetDoubtlessno.Youwouldn'ttaketwostepsbeforeyoubegantotrem-bleandinspiteofalltheeffortsofyourwill-

poweryouwouldcertainlytumbletotheground.

WhyisitthatyoudonotfallwhentheplankisonthegroundtAndhowisitthatyoudofallwhenitisraisedtoanygreatheightfSimplybecauseinthefirstcaseyouimaginethatitiseasytowalktotheendofthatplank,whileinthesecondcaseyouimaginethatitisimpossible.

Observethatyoumaywilltowalkalongit,asmuchasyouplease,but,ifyouimaginethatyoucannot,itisabsolutelyimpossibleforyoutodoit.

Dizzinessiscausedbytheimageformedinourmindsthatwearegoingtofall.Thisimagetransformsitselfimmediatelyintotheact,inspiteofalleffortsofourwill,andeventhemorequicklythemoreviolentourwill-effortsaretothecontrary.



SELFMASTERY19

Letusconsiderthecaseofapersonafflictedwithin-somnia.Ifhemakesnoefforttosleep,hewillrestquietlyinhisbed.If,onthecontrary,he"wants''todeep,thegreaterhiseffortstogotosleepthemorerest-lesshebecomes.

Haveyouevernoticedthefactthatthemoreyoutrytorememberthenameofapersonwhich,forthemoment,youhaveforgotten,theharderitbecomesforyoutorecall,untilyoudismissthethought"Ihaveforgotten"andthinkinstead"itwillcomebacktomymind";thenthenamecomestoyounaturallyandwith-outtheleasteffort!

Thosewhoridebicycleswillreadilyrecalltheirfirstefforts.Whileholdingontightlytothehandlebarsforfearofafall,suddenlyyouobserveintheroadaharmlesslittlepebbleorperhapsevenahorse.Youtrytoavoidtheobstaclebut,themoreyoutrytoavoidit,thestraighteryougorighttoit.

Whohasnot,atonetimeoranotherhadanuncon-trollablefitoflaughterthatbecamemoreuncontrollablewitheachefforttosuppressit?

Whatwasthestateofmindofeachofthesepersons*"IdonotwanttofallbutIcan'thelpit.Iwanttosleepbutcannot.IwouldliketorememberthenameofMadameA.,butIcannot.Iwanttoavoidthatob-staclebutcannot.Iwanttosuppressthatlaugh,butIcawnot."

Youwillreadilyseethatineachcase,thoughunder

differentcircumstances,itwasalwaystheimaginationthatcarriedawaythemil,withoutasingleexception.

Similarly,wenoteanofficerrushingforwardattheheadofhistroops;hiscourageousexampleinspiresthemtofollow;butthecry:"Saveyourselves"causesadis-orderlyandfatalretreat.Why*Inthefirstcase,themenimaginethattheymustmarchforwardand,inthe

20THECOTJti"MliTROD"

second,theyimaginethattheyarebeatenandmustfleetoescapedeath.

Panurgeknewthecontagionofexample,ortheforceofimagination,when,totakerevengeonamerchantwithwhomhesailed,heseizedandthrewoverboardhis



biggestsheep,sureinadvance,thatthewholeherdwouldfollow;whichofcoursehappened.

Wehumanbeings,resemblemoreorlessaflockofsheep.Againstourwillwefollowtheexampleofothers,imaginingthatwecannotdootherwise.

Icouldcitethousandsofotherexamples,onlytheenumerationwouldbetiresome.Icannot,however,omitemphasizingthisfactoroftheenormouspowerofimagination,otherwisecalledtheUnconscious,initsfightagainstthewill.

Drunkardswouldgladlystopdrinkingbuttheycan-notcontrolthemselves.Askthem.Theywilltellyou,inallsincerity,thattheywouldliketobeabstemious,thatdrinkisdisgustingtothem,butthattheyareir-resistiblydriventodrink,inspiteoftheirwill,andinspiteoftheevilconsequenceswhichtheyknowaresuretoresult

Inthesamemannercriminalscommitcrimesinspiteofthemselves.Whenyouaskthemwhytheyhaveactedthatway,theyreply:"Icouldnothelpmyself,Iwas

pushedtoit,itwasbeyondmypowerofresistance."

Andthedrunkardaswellasthecriminalspeaksthetruth:Theyareforcedtoactastheydobecausetheyimaginethattheycannothelpthemselves.

Idonotsaythatyourwillisnotapower.Onthecontrary,itisagreatforce;butitalmostalwrvysturnsagainstyou.Yourstateofmindmustbe:"Idesiretodo(ortohave)suchandsuchathingandIamabouttodo(ortohave)it."Ifyoumakenowill-effortsyouwillsucceed.

SELFMASTERY21

Nowthen,wewhoaresoproudofourwillpower;wewhothinkthatweactvoluntarily;weare,inreality,onlypoorpuppetsdirectedbyourimaginationwhichholdsthereins.Weceasetobepuppetsonlyafterwehavelearnedtoconsciouslydirectourimagination.

SuggestionandAutosuggestion.

Wemayproperlycomparetheimaginationtoator-rentwhichcarriestodestructiontheunluckyonewhogetsintoitscurrent,eveninspiteofhiswillandeffortstoreachshore.Thistorrentappearsindomitable.Butifyouknowhow,youmayturnitfromitscourse,divertit,asitwere,tothefactory,andtransformitsforceintousefuldrivingpower,heatandelectricity.



Again,wemaylikentheimaginationtoawildhorsewithneitherbridlenorreins.Whatelsecantheriderdobuttoletthehorsecarryhimwhereitwill*Then,ifthehorsestumbles,theriderplungesintotheditchwhichstoppeditsmadcareer.Butconsider,iftheriderputsbridleandreinsonthehorseandbreaksittohar-ness,therolesarechanged.Thehorsenolongergoeswhereveritwantsto;itistheriderwhonowcontrolsanddirectsallitsmovements.

Whatissuggestion?Onecoulddefineitas''theactofimposinganideaonthebrainofanotherperson"Issuchanactionreallypossible!Properlyspeaking,no.Suggestiondoesnotactuallyexistbyitself.Itdoesnotexist,andcannotexistexceptonthedistinctcondi-tion,sinequanon,thatittransformsitselfintheotherperson'smindintoautosuggestion:andthiswordwedefineas"implantinganideainone'sselfthroughone'sself."

Youmaysuggestsomethingtosomeone.IftheUn-consciousofthelatterdoesnotacceptthatsuggestion,

22THECOUti"METHOD"

ifhedoesnotdigestit,sotospeak,andtransformitintoautosuggestion,noeffectisproduced.

Ithashappenedtome,occasionally,thatsuggestions,moreorlesscommonplace,whengiventoordinarily

obedientpatients,havefailedentirely.ThereasonwasthattheUnconsciousofthosepatientsrefusedtoacceptthesuggestionsanddidnottransformthemintoauto-suggestions.

TheUseofAutosuggestion.

ReturnnowtothepointwhereIsaidthatwecouldcontrolanddirectourimaginationaseasilyaswecoulddivertatorrentorcontrolawildhorse.Allthatisre-quiredisforustorealizethatitispossible,afactofwhichmostpeopleareignorant.Next,wemustknowwhatmeanstouse.Well,themeansareverysimple.

Infact,withoutwantingtoandwithoutknowingit,wehaveemployedthemabsolutelyunconsciouslyeverydaysincewecameintotheworld;but,unfortunatelyforus,wehaveoftenemployedthemwronglyandtoourdis-advantage.Themeansare,autosuggestions.

Insteadofautosuggestingunconsciously,allthatisneededisforustoautosuggestconsciously,andhereisthewaytodoit:firstconsidercarefullythethingswhicharetobetheobjectofyourautosuggestionsand



decidewhetherthemattersrequireanaffirmationoranegation;thenrepeatseveraltimes,withoutthinkingofanythingelse:"thiscomes"or"thisgoes";thisisgo-ingtohappenorthatisnotgoingtohappen,etc.,etc.IftheUnconsciousacceptsthesuggestion,ifitautosug-gests,youwillfindthattheideaisrealizedineverydetail.

PleaseunderstandthatautosuggestionisnothingelsebuthypnotismasIcomprehendit,andmaybedefined

SELFMA8TEEY23

insimplewordsasinfluenceoftheimaginationonthemoralandphysicalbeingofman.Thisinfluenceisun-deniableand,withoutrepeatingexamplespreviouslynotedIwillciteseveralothers.

Ifyouinduceinyourselfabeliefthatyoucandoacertainthing(provideditconformstothelawsofnature)youaregoingtodoit,nomatterhowdifficultitmaybe.If,onthecontrary,youimagingthatyoucannotdothesimplestthingintheworld,itbecomesimpossibleforyoutoaccomplishit.Amole-hillmaybecometoyouanunsurmountablemountain.

This,particularly,isthecaseofneurasthenicswho,believingthemselvesincapableoftheslightesteffort,finditimpossibleeventotakeonlyafewsteps,withoutsufferingextremefatigue.Andthesesameneuras-thenics,bytheirveryeffortstoridthemselvesoftheir

depression,onlygetdeeperanddeeperintoit,liketheunfortunatewhogetsintoquicksandandsinksdeeperanddeeper,themoreenergeticallyhestrugglestofreehimself.

Inlikemanneritsufficesjusttothinkthatapainisgoingtoceaseinordertofeelthatthepaindoesactual-lydisappearlittlebylittle,and,viceversa,itsufficesjusttothinkthatyouaresuffering,toimmediatelyfeelthepaincoming.

Iknowsomepersonswhocanpredictinadvancethattheyaregoingtohaveaheadacheonsuchandsucha

day,undercertaincircumstances;andonthatday,thecircumstancesoccurring,theyhavetheirheadaches.Theycausethemselvespain,whileothersgetridoftheirsbyconsciousautosuggestion.

Iamwellawarethat,speakinggenerally,oneiscon-sideredafoolwhodarestodevelopentirelynewideas.Wellthen!EvenattheriskofbeingcalledafoolInaythatifsomefolksarementallyorphysicallysick,



24THECOUti"METHOD"

itisbecausetheyimaginethemselvestobesick,eithermentallyorphysically.Andthat,ifsomefolksareparalytics,withoutalesionofanykind,theysimplyimaginethattheyareparalyzed.Amongthisclassofpeoplemostextraordinarycureshavebeeneffected.

Ifothersarehappyorunhappy,itisbecausetheyimaginethemselvestobehappyorunhappy.Itispos-siblefortwopeople,inexactlysimilarcircumstancesandconditions,tobecome,theoneperfectlyhappyandtheotherabsolutelymiserable.

Neurasthenia,stammering,fearofthewater,klepto-mania,certainformsofparalysis,etc.,arenothingelsebuttheresultoftheactionoftheUnconsciousuponthephysical,mentalormoralbeing.

ButiftheUnconsciousisthesourceofmanyofourillsandailmentsitcanalsobringaboutthecureofourmentalorphysicalafflictions.Itcannotonlyrepairtheevilithasdone,butalsocurerealmaladies,sogreatisitsactiononourorganism.

Isolateyourselfinaroom;sitdowninaneasy-chair;closeyoureyestoavoidalldistractionandthinkex-clusivelyforafewmoments:"Suchandsuchathingisgoingtodisappear,"or"suchandsuchathingisgoingtohappen.''

Ifyouhavereallyautosuggested,thatis,ifyourUn-conscioushasabsorbedtheideawhichyouhavesug-gested,thenyouwillbeastonishedtoseehappentheverythingyourminddweltupon.(Itistobenotedthatitisthepropertyofideasautosuggestedtoexistwithinusunrecognized.Weonlyknowoftheirexist-encebytheeffectstheyproduce.)Aboveall,thisisanessentialpoint:Thewillmustnotbebroughtin-toPLAYINPRACTISINGAUTOSUGGESTIONbecause,ifitis

notinaccordwiththeimagination,ifonethinks:"Iwillsuchandsuchathingtohappen"andtheimagina-

SELFMASTERY25

turnsays:"YouarewUUngit,butitisnotgoingtobe,"youwillnotonlynotobtainwhatyouwant,but



moreover,exactlytheoppositemayhappen.

Thisobservationisofutmostimportance,andexplainswhyresultsaresolittlesatisfactorywhen,intreatingmoralailments,onestrivestore-educatethewill.Itisthetrainingoftheimaginationwhichisnecessaryanditisduetothisdifferencethatmymethodhasoftensucceededwhereothermethodshavefailed.

ThenumerousexperimentswhichIhavemade,daily,fortwentyyears,andwhichIhaveobservedmostcare-fully,haveenabledmetoarriveatthefollowingcon-clusions,whichIhavesummedupasLAWS:

1)Whenthewillandtheimaginationareopposedtoeachother,itisalwaystheimaginationwhichwins,withoutanyexceptionwhatever.

2)Intheconflictbetweenthewillandtheimagina-tion,theforceoftheimaginationisindirectratiotothesquareofthewill.

3)Whenthewillandtheimaginationareinaccord,onedoesnotaddtotheother,butoneismulti-

pliedbytheother.

4)Theimaginationcanbedirected.

(Theexpressions"indirectratiotothesquareofthewill"and"ismultiplied"arenotrigorouslyexact:Theyareusedsimplyasillustrationsintendedtomakemymeaningclearer.)

Fromwhathasbeensaiditwouldseemthatnobodyshouldeverbeill.This,isquitetrue.Everyillness,almostwithoutesception,canbemadetoyieldtoautosuggestion,howeverboldandhoweverdaringmy

affirmationmayseem.Idonotsaythatitalwaysdobsyield,butthatitcanbemadetoyield,whichisdif-ferent.

26THECOUti"METHOD"

Butinordertogetpeopletopracticeautosuggestion

consciously,itisnecessarytoteachthemhow,justastheyaretaughttoreadorwriteortoplayamusicalinstrument.

Autosuggestion,asIstatedbefore,isaninstrumentthatisinusatbirth,andonwhichweplayunconscious-lyallourlifeasababyplayswitharattle.Butitisadangerousinstrument;itcanwoundorevenkillyou,ifyouhandleitimprudentlyandunconscious-ly.Ontheotherhanditmaysaveyourlifeifyou



knowhowtoemployitconsciously.Onemaysayofitwhataesopsaidofthetongue:"Itisthebest,andatthesametime,theveryworstthingintheworld.''

HowSuggestionWorks.

Iwillnowexplaintoyouwhatmustbedoneinorderthateverybodymayenjoythebeneficentactionofauto-suggestion,appliedconsciously:Insaying"everybody"Iexaggeratealittle,fortherearetwoclassesofpeopleinwhomitisdifficulttoarouseautosuggestion.

1)Thementallydeficientwhoareunabletounder-standwhatyouaresayingtothem.

2)Thosewhoareunwillingtounderstand.

Inordertothoroughlyunderstandthepartplayedbysuggestion,orratherautosuggestion,itissufficienttoknowthattheunconsciousselfisthegranddirectorofallourfunctions.MaketheUnconsc\pusbelieve,asIhavesaidabove,thatacertainorganwhichdoesnotfunctionasitshould,mustperformitsfunc-tionwell,andimmediatelytheorderistransmitted.The

organobeyswillinglyandeitheratonceor,littlebylittle,itwillfunctionnormallyagain.

Thisexplainssimplyanddearlyhow,bymeansofsuggestion,onecanstophemorrhages,cureconstipation,

SELFMASTERY27

causefibroustumorstodisappear,cureparalysis,tuber-cularlesions,varicosesores,etc.

Forexample:takeacaseofdentalhemorrhage,whichIhadopportunitytoobserveattheclinicofDr.Gauthe,dentistatTroyes.AyoungwomanwhomIhadhelpedtocureherselfofasthma(fromwhichshehadsufferedforeightyears)toldmeonedaythatshewantedatoothpulled.AsIknewhertobeverysensitive,Iofferedtomaketheextractionpainless.Naturally,sheacceptedwithpleasure.Ontheappointeddaywecalledatthedentist's;placingmyselfoppositetheyoungwoman,I

lookedatherfixedlyandsaid:Youfednothing,youfeelnothing,etc.;whilecontinuingmysuggestionIsignalledthedentist;inamomentthetoothwasoutandMissD.hadnoticednothing;shehadnotevenWinkedaneyelash.Ashappensoften,ahemorrhagefromthegumsfollowed.Insteadofemployingahaemos-taticItoldthedentistthatIwouldtrysuggestion,withoutknowingbeforehandwhatwouldhappen.IthenrequestedMissDtolookatmefixedly,andIsuggestedtoherthatintwominutesthehemorrhage



wouldstopofitsownaccord;thenwewaited;theyoungwomanspatbloodagain,onceortwice,andthenitceased;Iaskedhertoopenhermouth;thedentistandIlooked,andfoundthataclotofbloodhadformedinthecavity.

HowisthisphenomenontobeexplainedtInthesimplestmanner.Undertheinfluenceoftheidea,thehemorrhagehasgottostop,theUnconscioushadsenttothearteriesandsmallveinstheordernottoallowanymorebloodtoescapeand,obediently,theycon-tractednaturally,justastheywouldhavedonearti-ficiallyoncontactwithahaemostatic,likeadrenalinforexample.

Thesamemethodofreasoningexplainshowitis

28THECOTJti"METHOD"

possibletocauseafibroustumortodisappear.TheUn-conscious,havingacceptedtheideathatthetumormustgo,thebrainordersthearteries,whichnourishandfeedit,tocontract.Theydocontract;theyrefusetheirser-vicestofeedthetumoranylonger,anddeprivedofnourishment,itdies,driesup,isreabsorbed,anddis-appears.

Neurasthenia,sofrequentthesedays,usuallyyieldstosuggestion,ifconstantlypractisedinthewayIhaveindicated.Ihavehadthesatisfactionofcontributingtotherecoveryofmanyneurasthenics,afterevery

othertreatmenthadfailed.OnehadspentamonthinaspecialsanitariumatLuxemburg,withouttheleastimprovement.Insixweekshewascompletelycured,andheisto-daythehappiestmanintheworld,afterhavinghavingconsideredhimselfthemostmiserable.AndhewillneverhavearelapsebecauseIhavetaughthimhowtomakeconsciousautosuggestions,andheprac-ticesthemwonderfullywell.

TheUseofSuggestionfortheCureofMoral

AilmentsandCongenitalorAcquired

Faults.

Butifsuggestionisusefulinthetreatmentofmentalandphysicaldefects,howmuchgreaterservicecdnitrendertosocietyintransformingintohonestfolksthepoor,wretchedchildrenwhonowfillourreformatoriesandwhoonlyleavethemtojointhearmyofcriminalst

Letnoonesaythatthisisimpossible.ItispossibleandIcanproveit!Takethetwofollowingcaseswhich



areverycharacteristic.But,parenthetically,tomakeperfectlyclearthemannerinwhichsuggestionactsincasesofmoraltaints,Iwillusethefollowingcom-parison.Letussupposeourbraintobeaplankwith

SELFMASTERY29

nailsdrivenintoittorepresentideas,habits,andin-stinctswhichdetermineouractions.Ifweobservethatthereexistsinanindividualabadidea,abadhabit,abadinstinct,inawordabadnail,wetakeanotherrepresentingthegoodidea,thegoodhabit,thegoodinstinctand,placingitontopofthebadnail,giveitatapwithahammer.Inotherwords:wemakeasug-gestion.Thenewnailwillbedriveninperhapsafrac-tionofaninch,whiletheoldonewillbeforcedouttothesameextent.Ateachfreshblowwiththehammer,thatistosay,ateachfreshsuggestion,the

newnailwillgoinanotherfractionofaninch,andthebadonewillbeforcedoutthatmuchfurther,until,afterasufficientnumberofblows,theoldnailwillbedrivenoutentirelyandthenewonewilloccupyitsplace.Whenthissubstitutionhasbeenmade,theindividualisgovernedbythenewandcorrectidea,habitorin-stinct.

Toreturntomyexamples:LittleM.,achildof11years,livingatTroyes,wassubjecttocertainlittleac-cidentscustomaryininfancy.Hewasalsoaklepto-maniacand,ofcourse,untruthful.Athismother'sre-questItreatedhimbysuggestion.Aftertheveryfirst

treatmentthoseaccidentsceasedduringdaytime,butcontinuedatnight;littlebylittletheybecamelessfrequentandfinally,afterafewmonths^thechildwascompletelycured;theimpulsetostealwasalsolessenedand,attheendofsixmonths,ceasedentirely.

Thebrotherofthischild,aged18,hadconceivedaviolenthatredagainstanotheroneofhisbrothers.Ev-erytimetheelderonehadtakenalittletoomuchwine,hefeltanimpulsetodrawaknifeandstabhisbrother.Hehadthefeelingthat,someday,hewouldactuallycommitsuchacrimeandheknewatthesametimethatifhedid,hewouldbeinconsolable.

30TEECOUti"METHOD"

Itreatedhimalso,bysuggestion,andtheresultwas



marvelous.Afterthefirsttreatmenthewascured.Thehatredofhisbrothervanishedcompletelyandtheybe-camefastfriends.Ifollowedupthecaseforalongtime:thecurewaspermanent.

Sinceitispossibletoobtainsuchresultsbysugges-tion,woulditnotseemuseful,orratherindispensable,tointroducethismethodintohousesofcorrectiontIamabsolutelycertainthat,bydailysuggestionsappliedtoviciouschildren,morethanhalfcouldbereformed.Woulditnotbeofgreatservicetosocietytosaveandbringback,haleandhearty,membersofthehumanfamilywhowereformerlymorally,mentally,andphys-icallydiseasedt

Itmaybesaid,perhaps,thatsuggestionisadanger-ousthingandthatitmightbeabusedforevilpurposes.Suchanobjectionshouldnotbeconsideredasvalid.Firstofall,thepracticeofsuggestionwouldbeen-trustedtoresponsibleandhonorablepersons,forin-stancetophysiciansattendinghousesofcorrection.Secondly,thosewhowouldusesuggestionfortheirownevilendswouldasknobody'spermission,anyway.

However,admittingforamomentthattheremightbesomedanger(whichisnotthecase),Iwouldasktheobjectortotellmewhatthingsweusedaily,arenotdangerous:howaboutsteamtgunpowder!railroads!shipstelectricitytautomobilestaeroplanes?Andthepoisonswhichwe,doctorsandchemists,useeverydayininfinitesimaldosesmighttheynotkillourpatients,ifbyinattentionwemakemistakesinweighingthemoutt

DigitizedbyVjOOQIC

The"Method"AppliedtotheEducationandCorrectionofChildren

ByEmileCoue.

Beforegoingfurtherletmesayafewwordsastothemannerofapplyingmy"method,''byparents,intheeducationandcorrectionofchildren.

EducationShouldBeginBeforeBirth.

Itmayappearparadoxicaltoyoubut,nevertheless,theeducationofachildshouldbeginbeforebirth.

A»amatteroffact,ifaprospectivemother,afewweeksafterconception,willmakeamentalpictureofthechildsheexpectstobringintotheworld,concerningitssexandthephysicalandmoralqualitieswithwhichshedesiresheroffspringtobeendowed,andifshewillthencontinuetoholdthatmentalimageduringthe



timeofgestation,thechildwillhavethesexandqual-itiesdesired.

Spartanwomenbroughtforthrobustchildrenwhobecameredoubtablewarriors,becausetheirstrongestdesirewastogivetotheircountryonlysuchsonsaswerelikelytobecomeheroes;whileatAthens,thewomengavebirthtochildrenwhoseintellectualqual-itiesfarsurpassedtheirphysicalattributes.

Aehild,thusconceived,willmorereadilyacceptgoodsuggestionsandtransformthemintoautosuggestionswhichmaydeterminethecourseofitslife.Foryoumustrealizethatallourwordsandallouractsarebut

31

32TEECoue´"METHOD"

theresultsofautosuggestionsinduced,forthemostpart,throughsuggestionbymeansofexampleorspeech.

WhatandHowtoTeach.

Whatthen,shouldparentsandteachersdotopre-ventbadautosuggestionsandinducechildrentomakegoodautosuggestionsinsteadtIndealingwithchil-dren,alwaysbeeven-temperedand'speaktothemingentlebutfirmtones.Inthiswayyouinfluencethemtobeobedientwithoutarousingtheslightestdesiretoresistauthority.Aboveall,beverycarefultoavoid

brutalityorharshness,becauseyouriskcreatinginthemautosuggestionsoffearaccompaniedbyhate.Fur-thermore,avoidmakingdamagingorevilremarksaboutanyoneinthepresenceofchildren,asoftenhappensinthedrawingroom,when,withoutdeliberateintention,thenurseoranabsentfriendispickedtopieces.Itfol-lowsinevitablythattheywillimitateyourbadexample,whichmaybeproductiveofseriousconsequenceslateron.

Assoonaschildrenareabletotalk,makethemre-peatmorningandevening,twentytimes,thewords:Everyday,ineveryway,Iamgettingbetterandbetter.

Thishabitwillproduceexcellenthealthphysical,mentalandmoral.

Awakeninthemadesireforknowledgeandloveofnatureandendeavortointerestthembygivingallpossibleexplanationsveryclearly,incheerful,goodtemperedtones.Youmustanswertheirquestionspleasantly,insteadofcheckingthemroughlywith:"Whatabotheryouare...dobequiet...youwilllearnthatlater,etc."



EDUCATIONOFCHILDREN33

Never,onanyaccountsaytochildren:"Youarelazyandgood-for-nothing";because,bysodoing,youwillcreateinthemtheveryfaultswhichyoureproachthemwith.Ifachildislazyandalwaysdoesbadlywhathehastodo,youshouldsaytohimsometime,evenifitisnotentirelyjustifiedbyhisactions:"Ah!Youhavedonemuchbetterto-daythanyouusuallydo;welldone,sonnie."Thechildwillfeelflatteredbysuchunaccustomedpraiseandcertainlyworkmuchbetterthenexttimeand,littlebylittle,withproperencouragement,willbecomeanearnestworker.

Avoidspeakingofsicknessbeforechildren*asdoingsowillcertainlyservetocreateinthembadautosug-gestions.Teachthem,onthecontrary,thathealthis

thenormalstateofmanandthatsicknessisananomaly,asortofdrawback,whichcanbeavoidedbylivingtemperatewellregulatedlives.

Donotdevelopweaknessesbyteachingthemtofearthisorthat,thecold,theheat,therain,thewind,etc.Maniscreatedtoenduresuchvicissitudeswithoutin-jury,withoutsufferingandwithoutcomplaining.

Donotmakechildrennervousbyfillingtheirmindswithideasofhob-goblins,andotherfearfulthings,forthereisalwaystheriskthattimidity,instilledinchild-hood,willpersistthroughoutlife.

Thosewhodonotbringuptheirchildrenthemselves,shouldbeverycarefulinselectingthepeopletowhomtheyentrustthem.Itisnotenoughthatthosepersonsarefondofchildren;itisnecessarythattheyshouldalsohavetheveryqualitieswhichyoudesireyourchil-drentohave.

Awakeninthechildrenaloveofworkandstudy.

34THECOUt"METHOD"

Makeiteasierforthembyexplaining,asIsaidbefore,clearlyandinapleasantmanner,theaimandobjectoftheirworkandstudy;introduce,ifpossible,anec-doteswhichinterestchildrenandmakethemeagerforthelessonthatistofollow.



Impressuponthem,aboveall,thatworkisessentialformanandthatheorshewhodoesnotdoworkofonekindoranother,isauseless,worthlesscreature.Impressuponthemthatallworkproducesinthemanwhodoesit,awholesomeandprofoundsatisfaction;whileidleness,whichappearssodesirabletomany,producesweariness,neurasthenia,disgustwithlife;leadingthosewhohavenotthemeansofsatisfyingpassionscreatedbyidleness,todebaucheryandcrime.

Teachyourchildrenalwaystobepoliteandamiabletowardsall,especiallytothosewhomtheaccidentofbirthmayhaveplacedinaclassinferiortotheirown.Teachthembywordandexampletorespectoldageandnevertomockandjokeaboutthedefectswhicholdagecausesphysicallyormentally.

Teachthemtoloveallmankind,withoutdistinctionofcaste.Teachthemthatonemustbealwaysreadytoassistthosewhoareinneedofhelpandnevertobeafraidofspendingtimeandmoneyonthem.Thattheymust,inaword,alwaysthinkofothersratherthanofthemselvesandthat,inactingthusonefeelsaninner

satisfactionforwhichtheegoistalwayslooksinvain.

Developself-confidenceinthem.Havethemunder-standthatbeforeembarkingonanyenterpriseorbus-inessventure,itshouldbethoroughlyanalysedbycriticalreasoning,avoidingimpulsiveness;andoncetheyhavearrivedatadecisiontheyshouldsticktoit,


unlesssomeadditionalfactsprovethattheyhadbeenmistaken.

Teachthemaboveallthattheymustsetoutinlifewiththeverydefiniteideathattheywillsucceed!Un-dertheinfluenceofthisideatheyinevitablywillsuc-ceed,notbysittingdownquietlyexpectingeventstohappen,butinfluencedbythisidea"theywilldoallthatisnecessaryforcompletesuccess.Theywillknowhowtoprofitbyopportunitiesand,ifthereshouldbebut

onesingleopportunitycomingtheirway,willseizeit,evenifitwerebyasinglethread;whilehewhodis-trustshimselfmaybelikenedtoConstantGuignard,whoneversucceedsinanythingbecausehedoesexactlyallthatpreventssuccess.Suchaonemightswiminaperfectoceanofopportunities,allwithheadsofhairlikeAbsalomhimself,butwouldneitherseethem,norseizeevenasingleone.Suchaoneoftencreatesforhimselfthe-verycircumstanceswhichcausefailure,whilehewhoissaturatedwiththeideaofsuccessunconscious-



lycreatesfavorablecircumstanceswhichcarryhimalongtothesummit.

Parentsandteachersshouldmakeitapointtoin-structbyexample.Thechildisimpressionableandopentosuggestion.Whatheseesbeingdone,hewillwanttodoalso.Parentsshouldtherefore,beverycarefultosetonlygoodexamplesfortheirchildren.

"Suggestions"byParents.

Toovercomefaultsanddefectsinchildrenandtodevelopgoodhabitsanddesirablequalities,thefollow-ingsuggestionwillproveapowerfulaid.

36THECoue´"METHOD"

Parentsshouldwaituntilthechildisinbed,and

asleep;thenfatherormothershouldnoiselesslyentertheroom,approachthebed,withinayard,andmurmurtothechildfifteenortwentytimesoyer,allthethingsyouwishthechildtodoortobeasregardshealth,sleep,work,application,conduct,etc.;thenretireasnoiseless-lyasyoucame,takinggreatcarenottoawakenthechild.Thisextremelysimpleproceedingalwaysgivesmostsatisfactoryresults,anditiseasytounderstandthereasonwhyitshould.Whenthechildsleeps,hisbodyandhisconsciousbeingareatrest;hisUnconsciousself,however,isawake.Youspeaktherefore,tothelatteraloneandasitisverycredulous,itacceptswhatyousaywithoutcontradictionand,littlebylittle,the

childbecomeswhattheparentsdesireittobe.

Letfathersandmothersconsiderthisasasacreddutytotheirchildren.Itismentalandmoralfood,asneces-sarytothemasphysicalfood.

"Suggestions"byTeachers.

Itisverydesirablethatteachersshouldmakesug-gestionstotheirpupilseverymorning,somewhatinthismanner:

"Myfriends,Iexpectyoutobealwayspoliteand

kindtoeverybodyandobedienttoyourparentsandteachers.Whenevertheygiveyouanorder,ortellyousomething,youwillalwayslistenattentivelyandobeytheorderorinstructionsgivenyouinacheerfulmanner.Neverlookuponitasanirksome,ortiresometask.Hithertoyoumayhavethought,onceinawhile,thattheorderwasmerelygiventoannoyyou,butnowyouunderstandverywellthatitisinyourownin-



DigitizedbyLiOOQIc


terestandforyourowngoodthatthingsarebeingtoldandexplainedtoyou.Therefore,insteadofbeingcrossanddisagreeable,youwillnowbethankfultoyourelders.

"Furthermore,youwillnowloveyourwork,what-everitmaybe.Atpresentitwillchieflyconsistofstudy.Inyourlessonsyouwillalwaysenjoythethingsyouaretostudy,eventhoseforwhichhithertoyouhadnoinclination.

"Whenateacherisgivingyoualesson,inclassorotherwise,youwilldevoteallyourattention,exclusive-lyandsolely,towhathesays,withoutoccupyingyourmindinanywaywiththesillyorstupidthingswhichyourcompanionsmayhavesaidordone;andespeciallywithoutdoingorsayinganythingofthekindyour-

"Undersuchconditions,asyouareintelligent,andyouareintelligent,myfriends,youwilleasilyunder-standandrememberyourlessons.Whatyouhavelearnedwillbestowedawayinthepigeonholesofyourmemory,whereitremainsatyourdisposalandwhereyoucantakeitoutforuse,wheneveryouhaveneedoruseforit.

"Likewisewhenyouarealone,workingatyourlessonsathome,orbusyatatask,youwillfixyourat-

tentionsolelyontheworkinhand.Inthiswayyouwillalwaysobtaingoodmarksforyourlessons."

Thismethod,iftrulyandfaithfullyfollowed,willproducearaceendowedwiththehighestphysicalandmoralqualities.

InstructionsforPractitionersofthe"Method"

HOWTOTEACHPEOPLETOMAKEAUTOSUGGES-TIONS:ADVICEANDINSTRUCTIONSTOHISPUPILSANDDISCIPLES

ByEmilbCoue´.

Instructionsinthemethodofinducinggoodauto-



suggestionsbythesickandafflictedarebrief,butaresufficientiffollowed.

Theprincipleofthemethodmaybesummedupinthesefewwords:

ITISIMPOSSIBLETOTHINKOFTWOTHINGSATTHE

sametime:Thatistosay,twoideasmaybeinjuxta-position,buttheycannotbesuperimposedinourmind.

EVERYTHOUGHTTHATCOMPLETELYFILLSOURMINDBE-COMESTRUEFORUSANDHASATENDENCYTOTRANSFORMITSELFINTOACTION.

Therefore,ifyoucancauseasickpersontothinkthathisorhertroubleisgettingbetter,itwilldisappear.Ifyouareabletomakeakleptomaniacthinkthathewillnotstealanymore,hewillstopstealingheiscured.

Alwaysencourageyourpatients;trytoarouseinthemfriendlysentimentsandabsoluteconfidence.Youwillbeaidedinyourexperimentsbytheirwilling

obedience.Ifyouinduceamentalattitudeofsatisfac-tionandgoodwillthedesiredresultswillbegottenmoreeasily.

38

INSTRUCTIONSFORPRACTITIONERS39

Praiseisastimulus,butnotwhenitisexaggerated.Reproachisalsoastimulus,butithurtsand,ifcon-tinued,ranklesdeeply.Iusewordswhichdonotwound,embodyingneededreproachesinlightphraseswhichnoonecanproperlyobjectto,andwhichtheydonotobjecttobecausetheyfeelthatIdonotmeanonlytoreproach.Youmayreproachyourself,butifanotherreproachesyou,itirritates.Idonotmakereproaches,Istatefacts.

Youmusthaveabsoluteconfidencethatyouarego-ingtodosomegoodtoeverypatientyoutreat.As-

sureyourselfthatyouareabletodoyourpart,notpassablybutefficiently,provideditisreasonable.

Lettheverytoneofyourvoiceconveyyourassur-ance.Beunaffectedinmannerandplaininspeech;but,atthesametime,beveryfirm,almostcommand-ing,withapatient.

Alwaysuseacommandingtonewhichpermitsofnodisobedience.Idonotsaythatitisnecessarytoraise



thevoice;itis,onthecontrary,preferabletospeakintheordinarypitch,buttolaystressoneachsyllableincrisp,decisivetones.

Shouldapatientbecoldandunsympatheticatfirst,donotletthattroubleyou,orhinderyoufromfollow-ingyourusualmethodoftreatment.Onthecontrarydoubleandtrebleyourefforts.Saytoyourself:"Al-thoughheiscoldandunsympatheticnow,heisgoingtolikemeandbecomefriendly."Thenthepatient'sattitudewillnotaffectyou;itwillchangeintofriend-liness.

Training,withsuchresults,mayseemimpossibletoyou,yetitisthesimplestthingintheworld.Allthatisnecessaryistoteachthepatient,byaseriesofap-propriateandgraduatedexperiments,theABCofcon-sciousautosuggestion.

40THECOU&"METHOD"

Hereistheseries.Ifyoufollowittotheletteryoumaybesure,absolutelysure,ofobtaininggoodresults,exceptingwiththetwotypesofpeoplepreviouslymen-tioned.

FirstExperiment

(Preparatory)

Askthepatienttostandupright,withbodystiffas

anironbar,feetclosetogetherfromheeltotoe,butwiththeanklesflexible,asiftheywerehinges.Tellhimtothinkofhimselfasofapost,hingedatitsbase,nicelybalancedonthefloor.Remindhimthatpushingthepostslightly,eitherforwardorbackward,willtum-bleittothefloorwithouttheleastresistance,whicheverwayitispushed.Saythatyouaregoingtopullhimbackbytheshouldersandthatheistoallowhimselftofallstraightintoyourarms,withouttheslightestresistance,turningonhisanklesasapostwouldonhinges;thatistosay,keepinghisfeetonthefloor.Nextpullhimbackbytheshouldersandiftheexperimentdoesnotsucceedatonce,repeatuntilitdoes,orprac-

ticallyso.

SecondExperiment.

Explaintothepatientthatinordertoshowhimtheactionofimaginationonourselves,youaregoingtoaskhiminamomenttothink:"Iamfallingbackward,etc.,"thathemustnothaveanyotherthoughtinmind,thathemustnotreflectforamomentastowhetherheisgoingtofallornot,orthinkthatinfallinghemight



hurthimself,etc....thathemustnot,inordertopleaseyou,trytofallbackwardpurposely,butthatontheotherhandifhereallyfeelsanindefinablesomethingthatimpelshim,hemustnotresistbutmustobeythatimpulse.Thenaskhimtoholdhisheadhighandto


shuthiseyes.Placeyourrightfistonthebackofhisneckandthelefthandonhisforehead,andtellhim:think:"Vmfallingbackward...Vmfallingback-ward"...and"youwillfallbackward,you...faU...back...ward...,etc."Atthesametimemoveyonrlefthandlightlybackwardonhislefttempleabovetheearandslowly,veryslowly,butwithacon-tinuousmovement,withdrawtherightfist.Thepatientwillmakeamovementbackwardandeitherstophimselffromfallingorfalldowncompletely.Inthefirstcase

tellhimthathehasresisted;thathedidnothaveinhismindonlythethoughtoffalling,butalsothethoughtthathewouldhurthimselfifhedidfall.Andthatistrue,forifhedidnothavethatthoughthewouldhavefallenplumptothefloor.Repeattheexperiment;speakinacommandingmannerasifyouwouldcompelthepatienttoobeyyou.Continueinthiswayuntilyousucceedcompletely,orpracticallyso.Isuggestthatyoustandatalittledistancebehindthepatient,withyourleftlegforwardandrightlegwellback,inorderthatyoumaynotbeknockedoffyourfeetwhenhefalls.Ifyouneglectthatprecautionadoublefallmayhappen,ifthepatientbeaheavyperson.

ThirdExperiment.

Letthepatientstandfacingyou,withbodystiff,an-klesflexible,feettogetherandparallel.Putbothyoarhandsonhistempleswithoutpressure;lookathimfixedly,notmovingyoureyelids,butstaringattherootofhisnose;thentellhimtothink:"Iamfallingfor-ward,Iamfallingforward"andrepeattohimac-centuatingthesyllables,"Youare...fall...vng...for...ward...You...are...fall..*ing...forward,etc,,"neverceasingto\oo\fixedlyathin*,

42TEECOV&"METHOD"

FourthExperiment.



Bequestthepatienttoclasphishandsandtopressthefingerstogetherastightlyaspossible,thatistosayuntilthefingersbegintotrembleslightly;lookathimfixedlyasinpreviousexperiments,andkeepyourhandsonhis,pressingthelatterslightlyasthoughyouwantedtopressthemtogethermoretightly.Tellhimtothinkthatheisunabletounclasphisfingers;thatyouarego-ingtocounttothree,andwhenyousaythreeheshouldtrytoseparatehishandswhilethinkingonly:"Ican-notdoit...Icannot...,etc."andhewillfindthatheisunabletodoit.Count:one...two...three...veryslowlyandaddatonce:"You...can...not...do...it.""You...c<m...not...do...it."Ifthepatientthinkssolely:"Icannotdoit,"hewillnotonlybeunabletounclasphisfingersbutthefingerswillpressthemselvesallthehardertogether,thegreaterhiseffortstoseparatethem.Theeffectisexactlycontrarytowhathetriestodo.Afterafewsecondstellhim"Nowthink:Ican,"andhisfingerswillunclaspofthemselves.

Itisessentialthatyoushouldkeepyoureyesfixedattherootofhisnose,anddonotallowthepatienttoturnhiseyesawayfromyoursforasinglemoment.Ifheshouldbeabletoseparatehishandswhileyousay:

"You...can...not,"donotthinkthatitisyourfault;itisthatofthesubjectwhohasnotbeenthinkingsolely:"icannot."Tellhimsoinadecidedmanner,andtrytheexperimentoveragain.

Whentheseexperimentshavesucceeded,allotherswillsucceedequallywell.Resultswillbeeasilygottenbyfollowing,totheletter,theinstructionsgiven.

Usenounnecessarywordsandencouragenone.Justsay:"Yousufferfromneurasthenia.Iknowbetterthanyoudowhatailsyouandhowmuchyousuffer


(italwayssatisfiesthemtobetoldthattheysuffer),andIalsoknowthatyouaregoingtogetridofyourailment."

Neverpityapatient.Theymaysay:"Oh!You

haveaheartofstone."Youreply:"Itisinyourowninterest;ifIweretopityyou,Iwouldbedoingyouabadturn."

Ipurposelyemploytermswhicharenotvulgar,butfamiliarones;theyaremoreforceful.

Speakinacalmvoice,asonewhoisaccustomedtobeobeyed.



Thevoiceiswhatwemakeit.Itissusceptibleofcultivation.Thereforecultivateyourvoice.Whoeverwilltakealittletrouble,canacquireagoodone.

ThefurtherIgothemoreIseethatonemustnotevenforceattention.Byobservation,Itrytoimitatenature.Theshorterandsimplertheinstructionthebetteritis.Donottrytomakeseveralsuggestionsatatime,"everyday,ineveryway,iamgettingbetterandbetter,"answersforeverything.Onepersonhadbeenunabletoopenhishandforyears,notwithstandingtreatmentbymanyphysicians.Dr.Vachetmadehiuropenthathandinstantlybyputtingintohismindthethought"Ican."

Somepatientsyieldfarmorereadilythanothers.Itiseasytorecognisesuchbythereadywayinwhichtheirfingersandlimbscontractalmostatonce.Aftertwoorthreesuccessfulexperimentsitisnolongernecessarytotellthem:"Thinkthis,"or"thinkthat."Yousim-plytellthem,forinstance,butinthefirmimperativetoneusedbyallgoodsuggestionists:"Closeyourhands.Nowyoucannotopenthem/9"Closeyoureyes.Nowyoucannotopenthem,etc.,"andyouwill

seethatthepatientwillfinditabsolutelyimpossibletoopeneitherhandsoreyes,inspiteofhisverybest

44THECOVt"METHOD"

efforts.Afterafewmomentstellhim:'T<n*ccrn"andinstantlythecontractionwillcease.

Experimentsmaybevariedinfinitely.Hereareafewmore:

Letthepatientjoinhishandsandsuggesttohimthattheyareweldedtogether:

Placehishandonthetableandsuggestthatitisstucktoit:

Tellhimthatheisfixedtohischairandthathecan-notrisefromit:

Makehimriseandtellhimthatitisimpossibleforhimtowalk:

Putapenholderonthetableandtellhimthatitweighs100kilosandheisunabletoliftit,etc.etc.

InalltheseexperimentsIcannotlaytoomuchstressonthefactthatitisnotsuggestion,properlyspeaking,whichproducesthephenomena,butautosuggestion,whichisproducedinthepatientbythesuggestionof



thepractitioner.

CurativeSuggestionMethods.

Whenthepatienthaspassedthroughthepreliminaryexperimentsandhasunderstoodthem,heispreparedforcurativesuggestion,likeacultivatedfieldinwhichseedmaygerminateanddevelop;beforethathewaslikeunplowedgroundonwhichseedwouldperish.

Whatevertheailmentofthepatientmaybe,physicalormental,itisimportanttoproceedalwaysinthesamewayandtousethesamewordswithfewvariations,ac-cordingtothecase.Yousaytothepatient:"Sitdownandcloseyoureyes:"Iwillnottrytoputyoutosleep;itisnotnee-


"Irequestyoutocloseyoureyessimplyforthepurposethatyourattentionmaynotbedistractedbythethingsyouseearoundyou:"NowimpressuponyourmindthateverywordIsayisgoingtofixitselfinyourbrainandbefirm-lyimprinted,engraved,embeddedthere:

"Mywordswillalwaysstaytherefixed,imprinted,embedded,andwithoutyourwillorknowledge,infactwhollyunconsciouslyonyourpart,youyour-selfandyourentireorganismaregoingtoobey:"Itellyou,firstofall,thateveryday,threetimes

aday,atmorning,noonandevening,attheusualmealhours,youwillbehungry,thatistosay:youwillfeelthepleasingsensationthatmakesyouthink:*Oh!Iamreadytoeatwithgreatsatisfac-tion':

"Youwillindeedeatwithgreatpleasureanden-joyyourfood,ofcoursewithoutover-eating;youwillbecarefultochewyourfoodthoroughlysoastotransformitintoasortofsoftpastewhichyouwillthenswallow:

"Yourfoodwillbeproperlydigestedandyouwill

notfeeltheslightestdiscomfort,inconvenience,orpainneitherinthestomachnorintheintestines:"Youwillassimilateyourfoodwellandyouror-ganismwillprofitbyitinmakingblood,muscle,strength,energyinaword:life."Havingdigestedproperly,thefunctionofexcre-tionwillbeperfectlynormal:"Everymorning,onrising,youwillfeeladesireforanevacuation;withouteverrequiringmedicineorartificialmeansofanykind,youwillobtainen-



tirelynormalandsatisfactorybowelmovements."Furthermore,everynight,fromthemomentyouwishtosleeptothetimeatwhichyoudesiretoawakeinthemorning,youwillsleepaprofound,

46THECOUL"METHOD"

calm,wholesome,unbrokensleep,duringwhichyouwillhavenonightmares;uponwakingyouwillfeelwell,cheerful,andreadyforactivework.

"Ifattimesyouhavebeensadanddepressed;ifyouhavebeenbroodingandworrying,thiswillceasefromnowon,andinsteadofbeingsad,de-pressedandworried,youwillfeelcheerful,verycheerful,evengay;youmayhavenocauseforyourgaiety,justasyoumayhavehadnoreasonforyourdepression.MoreoverIsay

thatevenifyouhavehadanyrealreasonforbeingsadordepressed,youarenotgoingtobeso."Ifithappens,sometimes,thatyouhavefitsofimpatienceandilltemper,youwillneverhavethemagain.Onthecontraryyouwillalwaysbepatient;alwaysmasterofyourself;andthethingswhichworried,irritatedandannoyedyouwillhenceforthleaveyouabsolutelyindifferentandperfectlycalm."Ifyouareattimesattacked,pursued,hauntedbybadandunwholesomeideas,byapprehensions,fears,aversions,temptations,orgrudgesagainstothers,allwillgraduallydisappearfromyourmind;theywillfadeawayandbelostasinapassingcloud

andwillfinallydisappearcompletely;asadreamvanishesonawakening,sowillallyourvainimaginationsvanish.

"Isaythatallyourorgansareperformingtheirfunctionsproperly:

"Theheartbeatsnormally,thecirculationofthebloodisasitshouldbe:"Thelungsareinfinecondition:"Thestomach,theintestines,theliver,thebladder,thekidneysandthebiliaryductareallfunctioningproperly:

"Ifatthismomentoneofthemshouldnotbeactingnormally,thisabnormalitywillbelessdaybydayandverysoonitwillhavevanishedcorn-




pletelyandtheorganwillbeinperfectworkingorder.

"Further,ifthereshouldbeanylesionsinanyoneoftheseorganstheywillimprovedaybydayandsoonbeentirelyhealed.(InthisconnectionIwillsaythatitisnotneces-sarytoknowwhichorganisafflictedinordertohealit.Undertheinfluenceoftheautosuggestion"Everyday,ineveryway,Iamgettingbetterandbetter"theUnconsciousexercisesitsinfluenceonthepar-ticular,diseasedorgan.)"Imustalsoadd,anditisofextremeimportance,thatifuptothepresent,youhavelackedcon-fidenceinyourself,Itellyouthatdistrustinyour-selfwillgraduallydisappearandgiveplacetoself-confidence,basedonyourknowledgeofthatforceofincalculablepowerwhichisinyou."Thisself-confidenceisabsolutelynecessaryforyouandeveryotherhumanbeingtohave.Withoutityouwillnevergetanywhere;withit,youmay

accomplishwhateveryouwantto(withinthelawsofnature,ofcourse).

"Youarenowgoingtohaveconfidenceinyourselfandthisconfidenceenablesyoutobelievethatyoucanreacheachgoalyousetforyourself(ifitisanaturalone):

"Andthatyouwilldowellallthat,inthecourseofduty,youhavetodo.

"Sothen,whenyouwishtodosomethingthatisnatural,orwhenyouhaveadutytoperform,al-

waysthinkthatitisaneasythingtodo.Thewords:'Itisdifficult,impossible,Icannot,itisbeyondme,Icannothelpmyself...mustdisap-pearentirelyfromyourvocabulary.Think:'itiseasy...ican.'Believingamattertobeeasy,itbecomessoforyou,althoughitmayseemdifficulttoothers.Youwilldoitquicklyandwell,with-outfatigue,becauseyoudoitwithouteffort."

48THECOUJS"METHOD"

Allsuggestionsmustbemadeinamonotonous,sooth-ingvoice(emphasizing,however,theessentialwords)whichcausesthepatient,thoughnottoactuallysleep,yettobecomesomewhatdrowsyandstopthinkingofanything,thuspermittingyourwordstopenetratemoredeeplyintohisunconsciousself.



Tothesegeneralsuggestions,whichmayseemratherlengthyandevenchildishtosome,butstillareneces-sary,addothersthatapplytotheparticularcaseofthepatientyouhaveunderyourcare.

Whenyouhavefinishedyourseriesofsuggestionsyousaytothepatient:

"Inshort,Imeanthatfromeverypointofview,phys-icalandmental,youaregoingtoenjoyexcellenthealth,betterhealththanyouhavebeenabletoenjoyhitherto:"Iamnowgoingtocountthree,andwhenIsay'three'youwillopenyoureyesandcomeoutofthepassivestateinwhichyouarenow:"Youwillcomeoutofitveryquietly,withoutfeelingintheleastdrowsyortired:

"Onthecontraryyouwillfeelstrong,vigorous,alert,active,fulloflife:

"Moreoveryouwillbecheerful,fitandwellineveryrespect:

"ONE...TWO...THREE..."

Attheword"three"thepatientopenshiseyes,al-wayswithasmileandanexpressionofwell-beingandcontentmentonhisface.Sometimes,althoughrarely,thepatientiscuredinstantly.Atothertimes,andmoregenerally,thepatientfeelsrelieved,hispainorailmentdisappearspartiallyortotally,butforatimeonly.

Inmostcasesitisnecessarytorepeatthesuggestionsmoreorlessfrequently,butatlongerandlongerinter-


valsaccordingtotheprogressmadebyyourpatient,untiltheybecomeunnecessary;thatis,whenthecureiscomplete.

Beforedismissingyourpatient,impressuponhim

thathecarrieswithinhimselftheinstrumentofself-cure;thatyouare,sotospeak,onlyaninstructorteachinghimhowtousethisinstrument,andthathemustconstantlyhelpyoutohelphim.Therefore,everymorningbeforerisingandeverynightassoonasheisinbed,hemustclosehiseyesandmentallytransporthimselfintoyourpresence,andthenrepeattwentytimesinamonotonoustone,usingastringwith20knotsforcounting,thisphrase:



"EVERYDAT,INEVERTWAT,IAMGETTINOBETTERANDBETTER."

Mentally,hemustunderlinethewords,inevertwaywhichapplytoeverything,mentalorphysical.

Thisgeneralsuggestionismoreeffectivethanspecialsuggestions.

TheSuperiorityofthisMethod.

Thismethodhasgivenabsolutelymarvelousresultsanditiseasytounderstandthereasonwhy.Indeed,ifyoufollowcloselymyadvice,itbeeomesimpossibleforyoutofail(exceptingofcoursewiththetwoclassesofpeoplebeforementioned,whofortunatelyrepresentbarely3%ofthemass).

Ontheotherhand,ifyoutrytoputyourpatientstosleeprightaway,withoutexplanationsandprelimin-aryexperiments,whicharenecessarytogetthemtoacceptyoursuggestionsandsotransformthemintoautosuggestions,you<wmotandwillnotsuooeed;ex-

DigitizedbyVjQOQlC

60THECOUJS"METHOD"

ceptingperhapsincasesofextraordinarilysensitivepeople,andtherearenotmanysuch.

Everyonemaybecomeresponsivebytraining,butveryfewaresowithoutthatpreliminaryinstruction

whichIhaverecommended,andwhichcanbegiveninafewminutes.

FormerlyIlaboredundertheimpressionthatsug-gestionscouldonlybegivenwhilethepatientwasasleep,andsoIalwaystriedtoinducesleep;butfindingthatitwasnotindispensable,Iceaseddoingittosparepatientsthatfeelingoffearanduneasiness,whichtheyusuallyhavewhentoldthatheorsheisgoingtobeputtosleep.Thatfearofteninducesinvoluntaryresis-tanceagainstsleep.If,onthecontrary,youtellapatientthatyouarenotgoingtoputhimtosleep,youimmediatelygainhisconfidence,andhelistenswitha

receptivemindfreefromdisturbanceoropposition.Itoftenhappens,that,soothedbythemonotonoussoundofyourvoice,thepatientfallssoundlyasleepandwakesupastonishedathavingbeenasleep.

Ifthereareskepticsamongstyou,andtherearesuretobesome,Isaytoyousimplythis:"Cometomyhouse,seewhatisbeingdonethereandbeconvincedbythefacts."



Donotthink,however,thatitisabsolutelynecessarytoproceedexactlyandonlyinthewayIhaveindicatedinordertomakesuggestionsandbringaboutautosug-gestions.Itispossibletomakesuggestionstosomepeoplewithouttheirknowingitandwithoutanypre-parationatall.Forinstance,ifaphysician,whobyhistitlealonehasalreadyasuggestiveinfluenceonhispatient,weretotellhimthathecandonothingforhim,thathisillnessisincurable,hewouldinduceinthemindofthepatientanautosuggestionwhichmighthavethemostdisastrousconsequences.If,ontheotherhand,


thephysiciantellsthepatientthat,althoughhisillnessisaseriousone,withtime,care,andpatiencehewillcertainlybecured,heoftenobtainsresultsthataresurprising.

Theinfluenceoftheminduponthebodyexistsun-deniablyandisinfinitelygreaterthaniscommonlysupposed.Itisimmense,immeasurable.Itoftencausescontractionsorparalyseswhichmaybeonlytemporary,butwhichmayalsolastthroughlife,unlesssomethingextraordinaryoccurstochangethementalandthere-forethephysicalstateofthepatient.

Makeupyourmindthatyouaregoingtoobtaincertainresultsandyouwillfindthewaysandmeans;thatistheapparentlystrangepartofit.Ifyoucon-siderityourdutytotakefolkstotheclinics,youwill

findwordstoinducethemtogoandeventocausethemtodesiretogo.

Itiseasytounderstandthepartplayedbytheonewhogivesthesuggestions.ItisnotaMasterwhocom-mands;heisafriend,aguidewhohelpsthepatientstepbystepalongthepathofrecovery.AsallthesuggestionsaregivenintheinterestofthepatienttheUnconsciousofthelatterisperfectlycontenttoas-similatethemandtransformthemintoautosuggestions.Whenthisisdone,acurefollowsmoreorlessrapidly.

Anotherexample:Supposeaphysician,afterexamin-

inghispatient,weretowriteoutaprescriptionandhanditoverwithoutawordofcomment;theprescribedremedieswillnothavemucheffect.Butifheexplainstohispatientthatsuchandsuchmedicinesmustbetakeninsuchandsuchconditionsandthattheywillproducecertainresults,itispracticallycertainthattheexpectedresultswillbebroughtabout.

Iftherearemedicalmenorbrotherchemistsinmyaudience,Itrusttheywillnotlookuponmeastheir



52THECoue´"METHOD"

enemy;Iam,onthecontrary,theirbestfriend.OntheonehandIwouldliketoinscribeonthecurriculaofmedicalschoolsthestudyoftheoreticalandpracticalsuggestionforthebenefitofthesick,andofthephy-siciansthemselves;also,itismyopinionthatwhenapatientvisitshisphysician,thelattershouldalwaysprescribeoneormoreremedies,evenifnotnecessary.Itisafactthatwhenapatientgoestoseehisphysi-cian,itistoaskwhatremedywillcurehim.Hedoesnotknowthat,inmostcases,itisthehygieneandregimenwhichdothis,soheattacheslittleimportancetothem.Whathewantsismedicine.

Inmyopinion,ifthephysicianprescribesadietonly,withoutmedicine,hispatientwillbesatisfied.He

willsaythatitwasnotworthwhileseeinghisphysicianwithouthavinganythingprescribedforhim,andoftengoestoanother.Itseemstomethataphysicianshouldalwaysprescribemedicineforhispatientand,asmuchaspossible,medicinesmadeupbyhimself,ratherthantheadvertisedremedieswhichowetheirvaluetoad*vertisementsonly.HisownprescriptionwillinspireinfinitelymoreconfidencethanthepillsorpowdersofSoandSowhichanyonecanobtaininthenearestdrugstore,withouttheneedofaprescription.

WhatAutosuggestionHasDone

OBSERVATIONSOFSOMEREMARKABLECURES

ByBmileCoue.

Thislittlemonographwouldbeincompleteifitdidnotincludeafewtypicalexamplesoftheactualcures

ejected.Thewholelistwouldbetoolong,anditmightprovetiresomeifIweretomentionallthecaseswhichIhavetreated.Iwilltherefore,contentmyselfwithcitingafewofthemoreremarkableones.

Inordertoshowthatthesecuresarepermanent,Ihavepurposelychosensomecasesofolderdates,aswellasafewofthemorerecentones.

Tuberculosis.



Mrs.D.,ofTroyes,about30yearsofage,inthelaststagesofconsumption;grewthinnerandthinnerdailyinspiteofspecialfeeding.Therewascoughing,spitting,op-pressionanddifficultyinbreathing;indeedfromallap-pearancesshehadonlyafewmonthsmoretolive;pre-liminaryexperimentsshowgreatsensitivenessandsug-gestionisfollowedbyimmediateimprovement;fromtheverynextdaythemorbidsymptomsbegantobelesspronounced;theimprovementbecamemoremarkeddaily,andtheweightofthepatientincreasedrapidlyalthoughshenolongertookspeciallynourishingfoods;afterafewmonthsthecurewasapparentlycomplete.Thisladywrotemeonthe1stofJanuary,1911(thatwas8monthsafterIhadleftTroyes),aletterof

53

54TEECOCTU"METHOD"

thanks,informingmethatalthoughpregnant,shewasperfectlywell.

MissX.,ofGenfcve,13yearsofage,hasasoreonthetemplewhichseveraldoctorsconsideredtobeoftubercularoriginandvarioustreatmentsextendingoveraperiodofayearandahalfhadavailednothing;shewasthentakentoMr.Baudouin,adiscipleofMr.Cou6,residingatGeneva;wastreatedbysugges-tionandtoldtoreturninaweek;whenshecamebackthesorewashealed!

CongestionoftheLungs.

Mrs.Z.,ofNancy,inJanuary1919,contractedcon-gestionofthelungs,fromwhichshehadnotrecoveredaftertwomonths;therewasgeneralweakness,lossofappetite,indigestion,rareanddifficultbowelaction,in-somnia,andcopiousnight-sweats;afterthe,veryfirsttreatmentthepatientfeltmuchbetter;twodayslatershecametotellmethatshewasperfectlywell;everytraceofillnesshaddisappearedandeveryorganfunc-tionednormally;threeorfourtimesshehadbeenonthevergeofhavingnight-sweatsagain,buteachtime

preventeditbyconsciousautosuggestions.Fromthattimeon,Mrs.Z.hasenjoyedperfecthealth.

Asthma.

MissM.D.,ofTroyes,sufferedforeightyearsfromasthmawhichcompelledhertositupinbednearlyallnight,strugglingforbreath,whenherrespiratoryorgansfailedtofunction;preliminaryexperimentsshowedhertobeaverysensitivesubject,goingtosleep



immediatelythesuggestionisgiven.Results:fromtheveryfirstdaythereisgreatimprovement;thepatientpassedagoodnight,interruptedbyonlyasingleattackofasthma,whichlastedbutaquarterofanhour;in

WHATAUTOSUGGESTIONHASDONE56

averyshorttimetheasthmadisappearedcompletely,andwithoutrecurrencethereafter.

Bronchitis.

Mr.Hazot,48years,ofBrin,takenillthe15thofJanuary,1915,withchronicbronchitis,growingworsedaily;hecametomeinOctober1915;therewasanimmediateimprovementwhichhasbeenmaintainedeversince.Atthetimeofwritingheisnotcompletelycuredbutisverymuchbetter.

SenilityofLarynx.

Mr.X.,aProfessorofBelfort,couldnottalkformorethantenorfifteenminuteswithouthisthroatbe-comingveryirritated;variousdoctorstoldhimthattherewasnolesioninthevocalorgans,butonestatedthattherewassenilityofthelarynx,whichledhimtobelievethathecouldneverT>ecured;hecametoNancyforavacation,andaladyfriendadvisedhimtoseeme.Herefused,atfirst,butfinallyconsentedinspiteofhisabsolutedisbeliefintheeffectsofsuggestion;Itreatedhim,notwithstanding,andrequestedhimtocome

backinacoupleofdays;hecameandtoldmethatonthepreviousdayhehadbeenabletoconverseallafter-noonwithouttheslightestindicationofhisoldtrouble;twodayslaterhecametoseemeagain,tosaythathehadbeenabsolutelyfreefromsorethroatalthoughhehadnotonlybeentalkingallthetime,butalsohadbeenboldenoughtosingthepreviousevening.ThecurestillholdsgoodandIamconvincedthatitisalastingone.

Pott'sDisease.

Mr.Nagengast,aged18,rueSellierNo.39,sufferingfromPott'sdisease.Hecametomeearlyin1914,

havingbeenencasedinaplastercorsetforsixmonths.Hecametwiceaweektotheregularsittingsandhim-

56THECOVJS"METHOD"



selfmadetheusualautosuggestion,morningsandeven-ings.Theimprovementmanifesteditselfveryrapidlyandverysoonthepatientwasabletodowithouthisplaster-corset.Isawhimagainin1916.Hewasen-tirelycured,carryingonhisdutiesasapostman,afterhavingbeenan"Infirmier,"tendingthesickincon-nectionwiththeNancyambulanceservicewherehehadstayeduntiltheservicehadbeendiscontinued.

Eczema.

Mrs.H.,ofMax6ville,suffersfromeczema,particular-lyintenseontheleftleg;bothlegsswollenandin-flamed,especiallyattheankles;walkingdifficultandpainful;suggestions:thesameeveningMrs.H.wasabletowalkseveralhundredyardswithoutfatigue;thenextmorningthefeetandankleswerenolongerswollenandhavenotbeenswollensince;theeczemadisappearedrapidly.

Gout.

Mr.E.,ofTroyes,hadanattackofgout;theright

anklewasinflamedandpainfulandhewasunabletowalk;thepreliminaryexperimentsprovedhimtobeaveryresponsivesubject;afterthefirsttreatmenthewasabletowalktothecarriagewhichbroughthim,withoutusinghiscaneforsupport;therewasnomorepain;thenextdayhedidnotcomeback,asIhadinstructedhimtodo;laterhiswifecametotellmethatherhusbandhadrisenearlythatmorning,hadputonhisshoes,andgoneoffonabicycletohisworkshop(heisapainter).Justimaginemyastonishment.Ihavenotbeenabletofollowupthiscaseasthepatientnevertroubledhim-selftocomeandseemeagain.Ilearnedlaterthathehadgonealongtimewithoutanyrelapse,butIdonot

knowwhathasbecomeofhim.


ClubFeet

T.Maurice,8}4yearsold,ofNancy,hasclubfeet.

Afirstoperationcuredtheleftfoot(ornearlyso),therightfootremainingcrippled.Twosubsequentopera-tionsdidnogood.

ThechildwasbroughttomeforthefirsttimeinFebruary1915.Hewalkedfairlywell,owingtotwocontrivanceswhichheldhisfeetstraight.'Animprove-mentwasnoticedimmediatelyafterthefirsttreatment,andafterthesecondthechildwasabletowalkinor-dinaryshoes.OnApril17ththechildwasquitewell.



Therightfoot,however,isnotquiteasstrongasitwas,becauseofasprainwhichwasreceivedonFeb-ruary20th,1916.

Rheumatism.

Mrs.Meder,52years,ofEinville.Forsixmonthsshesufferedfrompainintherightknee,accompaniedbyswellingwhichmadethebendingofthekneeim-possible.Shesawme,forthefirsttime,on7thDecem-ber1917.Shecameagain,on4thofJanuary1918,totellmethatshesufferednomorepainandthatshewasabletowalkquitenormally.

Mr.FerryEugene,60years,ruedelaCote56,hadrheumaticpainsintheshoulderandtheleftlegforfiveyears.Hewalkedwithdifficultyleaningonacaneandcouldnotlifthisarmsabovetheshoulder.Heconsultedmeon17thofSeptember1917.Afterthefirstvisitthepainshadentirelyvanishedandthepa-tientcouldnotonlytakelongstridesbutcouldalsorun.Moreoverhecouldwhirlhisarmslikeawind-mill.IsawhimagaininNovemberandtherehadbeennorelapse.

M*s.Castelli,41years,ofEinville(M-et-M)forthir-teenyearsintermittentrheumaticpainintherightknee.Fiveyearsagoshehadamoreviolentattackthaneverbefore:thekneeaswellasthelegbeganswellingconsiderablyandthenthelowerpartofthe

58THECoue´"METHOD"

legatrophiedandthepatientwasreducedtowalkingverypainfullywiththeaidofacaneoracrutch.Isawherforthefirsttimeon5thofNovember1917and

shewalkedawaywithoutthehelpofeithercaneorcrutch.Sincethensheneverhadanymoreuseforthecrutchbutoccasionallydidusethecane.Onceinawhilethepaininthekneerecursbutisveryslight.

Palsy.Mr.X.,post-officeclerkatLungville,lostachildinJanuary1910;thiscausedacerebraldisturbancewhichmanifesteditselfbyuncontrollablenervoustrembling;hisunclebroughthimtomeinthemonthofJune;pre-liminaryexperimentswerefollowedbysuggestions;fourdayslaterhecamebacktotellmethathistrem-blinghaddisappeared;Irepeatedthesuggestions,with

instructionstocallagaininaweek;theweekwentby,thentwo,three,fourweekspassedwithnonewsfromhim;alittlewhileafterwardshisunclecametotellmethathehadreceivedaletterfromhisnephew,informinghimthatthelatterwasperfectlywell;thathehadbeenre-instatedinhispositionastelegraph-clerkwhichhehadpreviouslybeenobligedtoabandonandthatonthedayhewrotetheletter,hehadsentoffalengthytelegramof170words,withouttheleastdifficulty;headdedinhisletterthathecouldhaveeasilysentoffan



evenlongerone.Therehasbeennorelapse.

Stammering.MissLinier,15years,rueMontet88,stammeredfrominfancy.ShecameonJuly20,1917,andwasinstant-lydeliveredfromherdefect.Isawheramonthlaterandfoundherpermanentlycured.

KidneyDisease.

Mrs.P.,ofLaneuveville,hadpainsinherkidneysandknees;hercomplaintdatedback10years;shewasgoing


frombadtoworseeveryday.Suggestion,onmypartandautosuggestion,onherpart;improvementwasim-mediateandprogressedsatisfactorily.Shewasrapidly

andpermanentlycured.

Enteritis.

Mr.A.G.>ofTroyes,hassufferedforalongtimefromenteritis(inflammationofthebowels)whichdif-ferenttreatmentsfailedtocure;hewasinaverybadway,beingdepressed,gloomy,unsociableandobsessedbythoughtsofsuicide;preliminaryexperimentsbeingsatisfactory,suggestionfollowed;appreciableresultsshowedfromtheveryfirstday;continuedsugestionsforthreemonths,atfirstdaily,thenatincreasinglylongerintervals;attheendofthattimae,therewasacomplete

cure;theenteritishadentirelydisappearedandhismentalconditionwasexcellent.Asthiscuredatesbackfortwelveyears,withouttheslightestrelapse,itmaywellbeconsideredtobepermanent.

Mr.G.isastrikingexampleoftheeffectsthatcanbeproducedbysuggestion,orratherbyautosuggestion.WhileIwasmakingsuggestionsfromthephysicalpointofview,Ialsodidsofromamentalpointofviewandheacceptedtheonesuggestionaswellastheother.Hisself-confidenceincreaseddailyand,ashewasanex-cellentworkman,inordertoearnmore,hetriedtoob-tainamachinewhichwouldenablehimtoworkathome.

Sometimeafterwardsamanufacturer,whohadseenwithhisowneyeshowgoodaworkmanhewas,en-trustedhimwiththeverymachinehesomuchdesired.ThankstohisskillMr.G.wasabletoturnoutmoreworkthananordinaryworker.Delightedwiththere-sult,hisemployergavehimanotherandstillanothermachineuntilMr.G.,who,butforhisrecoursetosug-gestionswouldhaveremainedanordinaryworkman,



60THECOUL"METHOD"

nowisinchargeofsixmachineswhichnethimahand-someincome.

NervousDyspepsia.

Mrs.T.,ofNancy,hadneurasthenia,dyspepsia,gas-tralgia,enteritis,andpainsindifferentpartsofthebody;shetreatedherselfforseveralyearswithnegativeresults;Igavehersuggestionswhichsheturnedintoautosuggestions,daily.Therewasanoticeableimprove-ment,fromthefirstday,whichcontinuedwithoutinter-ruption;shewascuredlongago,bothmentallyandphysically;shefollowsnospecialdiet;thinkstherestillis,perhaps,aslighttouchofenteritisbutisnotsure.

Neuralgia.

Mrs.L.,ofNancy;painsintherightsideoftheface,overaperiodofmorethan10years;consultedmanyphysicianswhoseprescriptionsdidnothelp;finallyanoperationwasdecidedupon,but,first,shecametomeonthe25thofJuly,1916;herimprove-mentwasimmediate;after10daysthepainvanishedand,uptoDecember20th,therewasnorecurrence.

Mrs.Lacour,63years,ChemindesSables,hadpainsinthefaceforthepasttenyears.Alltreatmentstakentadavailedhernothingandwhenanoperationwasadvised,sherefusedtosubmittoit.Sheconsultedmeforthefirsttimeon25thofJuly1916.Fourdays

laterthepainshadvanishedandsheneverhadthemagainuptothisday.

Neurasthenia.

Mr.Y.,ofNancy,asuffererfromneurastheniaforseveralyears,hasaversions,nervousfears,disordersofthestomachandintestines;hissleepisbroken,heisgloomyandhauntodbyideasofsuicide;whenwalkinghestaggerslikeadrunkenmanandcanthinkofnoth-ingbuthistrouble;allothermethodshadfailedandhe


wentfrombadtoworse;amonth'streatmentinasani-tariumhadnottheslightesteffect.Mr.Y.cametoseemeearlyinOctober,1910;thepreliminaryexperiments



provedcomparativelyeasy;Iexplainedtothepatienttheprinciplesofautosuggestion,andalsotheexistencewithinusoftheconsciousandtheunconsciousbeing;thenImadesuggestions;fortwoorthreedaysMr.Y.hadalittletroubleingraspingtheexplanationswhichIhadgivenhim,butinalittlewhilehiscloudedmindsawthelight,andheunderstood;Igavehimfreshsug-gestionsandhetransformedthemintoautosuggestionseverydayaddingothers,ofhisownaccord;theim-provementwasslowatfirst,but,littlebylittleitpro-gressedmorerapidly;inamonthandahalfthecurewascomplete.Theex-invalidwhosorecentlyhadlookeduponhimselfasamostmiserableman,nowcon-sidershimselfmosthappy.Notonlyhastherebeennorelapsebutitisimpossibleforsuchtooccur,becauseMr.Y.isfirmlyconvincedthathecouldnotfallbackintohisformermiserablestateofexistence.

Mrs.X.,asisterofMrs.T.,hadaverybadcaseofneurastheniaandremainedinbedtwoweeksoutofev-eryfour;itwasimpossibleforhertomoveorwork;sufferedfromlackofappetite,depression,anddigestivedisorders.Shewascuredinonesinglesittingandthecureseemstobealastingone,asshehasneverhadare-

MissD.,ofMirecourt,16yearsold,sufferedforthepastthreeyearsfromnervousattacks.Theseattacks,infrequentinthebeginning,keptrecurringatshorterintervals.WhenshecametomeonApril1st,1917,shehadhadthreeattacksintwoweeks.PromthattimetoApril18ththerewasnotasingleattack.Imayaddthatsincetakingthetreatment,thisyounggirlwasnolongertroubledwithbadheadachesfromwhichshehadpreviouslysufferedalmostconstantly.

62THECOUE"METHOD"

VaricoseUlcers.

Mrs.UrbainMarie,aged55,ofMaxgvillehadbeensufferingfromvaricoseulcersforayearandahalf.ThefirsttreatmenttookplaceinSeptember1915,the

secondtreatmentaweeklater.Therewasanabsolutecureintwoweeks.

Mrs.H.,rueGuilbert-de-Pix6r6court,Nancy,49yearsold,varicoseulcersinceSeptember1914whichwastreatedbyherDoctorwithoutsuccess.Thelowerpartofthelegwasgreatlyenlarged.TheulcerwasaslargeasatwoFrancspiece,waslocatedabovetheankleandwenttothebone.Theinflammationwasveryintense,thesuppurationwasabundantandthepainextremely



violent.ThepatientcalledforthefirsttimeinApril1916.Animprovementwasnoticeableafterthefirstvisitandcontinuedwithoutinterruption.Bythe18thofFebruarytheswellinghadgonedowncompletelyandthepainandirritationhadvanished.Thesorewasstillthere,butitwasnolargerthanapeaandonly2or3millimetersindepth.Itstilldischargedveryslightly.In1920thecurehadlongbeencomplete.

Mr.PhilippeSchirer,48years,ofBouxidres-aux-Dames,cameforthefirsttimeon20thofApril1917,witha15yearoldvaricosesoreontheleftleg,aslargeasafiveFrancspiece.Onthe27thofAprilthesorewashealed.Sawhimagainon4thofMayandfoundthecuretobepermanent.

Ulcer.

MissX.,ofBlainville,hadasoreontheleftfoot,probablyofspecificorigin.Aslightspraincausedaswellingofthefoot,accompaniedbyacutepains.Varioustreatmentshaddonenogoodandafteralittlewhileasuppuratingsoreappearedwhichseemedtoin-dicatecariesofthebone.Walkingbecamemoreand

moredifficultinspiteofcontinuoustreatments.Ontheadviceofaformerpatientofmine,shecametomeandreliefwasnoticeableafterthefirstfewvisits.


Graduallytheswellingwentdown,thepainbecame

lessintense,thesuppurationbecamelessandlessandfinallythesorewashealedcompletely.Ittookafewmonthstogetthisresult.Atthiswritingthefootisalmostnormalandalthoughthepainandswellinghavedisappeared,thebackwardflexionofthefootisnotyetperfect,whichcausesthepatienttolimpslightly.

Abscess.MissZ.,alsoofGeneva,hadundergoneanoperationforanabscessabovethekneewhenshewas17yearsoldandhad,asaconsequence,adrawn-uprightleg.SherequestedMr.Baudouintogiveatreatmentbysug-gestionandhehadhardlycommenceddoingso,when

thelegbegantobendbackandforthinanormalmanner.(Itmustbeadmittedthattherewasapsy-chologicalcauseinthiscase.)

FrontalSinus.

Mr.B.hadsufferedfor24yearsfrominflamma-tionofthefrontalcavity(sinus)whichhadbeenoperatedupon11times.Butinspiteofallthathadbeendonetheinflammation(sinusite)persisted,causingin-



tolerablepains.Thephysicalstateofthepatientwasextremelypitiable.Hehadalmostcontinuouslyviolentpains,noappetite,extremeweaknessandcouldneitherwalk,read,norsleep.HisnerveswereinnobetterstatethanhisbodyandnotwithstandingthetreatmentofsuchmenasBernheimofNancy,DejerineofParis,DuboisofBerne,X.ofStrasbourg,thispitiablestatecontinuedandgrewworseeveryday.

Ontheadviceofoneofmyformerpatients,hecametomeinSeptember1915.Fromthatmomenthishealthimprovedrapidlyandatthepresenttime(1921)heisperfectlywell.Thiswasarealresurrection.

HeartDisease.

EmileChenu,10yearsold,of19GrandeBue(arefugeefromMetz),hadhearttroubleofuncertain

64THECOUti"METHOD"

nature;bledfromthemoutheverynight;hisfirstvisitwasinJuly1915;afterafewtreatmentsthelossofbloodbecameless;improvementcontinued,andbytheendofNovemberhewascompletelycured.TherehasbeennorelapsesinceAugust1916.

YoungB.>13yearsold,enteredahospitalinJanu-ary,1912;hadveryserioushearttrouble,characterizedbydifficultyinbreathing;canwalkonlywithveryslowandshortsteps.Thedoctorwhoattendedhimwasone

ofourbestphysiciansandpredictedarapidandfatalissue.

ThepatientleftthehospitalinFebruary,nobetter!Afriendofthefamilybroughthimtome.Themo-mentIsawhim,Iconsideredhimahopelesscase.NeverthelessIlethimgothroughthepreliminaryex-periments,towhichherespondedsurprisinglywell.Afterhavinggivenhimsuggestionandinstructinghimtodothesameforhimself,Itoldhimtocomebackintwodays.WhenIsawhimthesecondtime,Inoticedtomygreatsurpriseamostremarkableim-provementinhisrespirationandinhiswalking.Ire-

peatedthesuggestivetreatment.Hereturnedagainafewdayslater.Theimprovementhadcontinued,andsoitwasateachsubsequentvisit.

MylittlepatientmadesuchrapidprogressthatthreeweeksafterIfirstsawhim,hewasabletogoonfootwithhismotheruptotheplateauofVillers.Hisbreathingwasfreeandalmostnormal.Hewalkedwithoutgettingoutofbreathandcouldevengoupstairs,somethingwhichitwasimpossibleforhimtodoa



shortthreeweeksago.TheimprovementcontinuedsteadilyandverysoonhesurprisedmebyaskingmypermissiontogotoCarignantoseehisgrandmother.AsheseemedwellenoughIadvisedhimtodoso.Hewent,keepingintouchwithmeregularlybymail.Hishealthisgettingbetterandbetter;hehasagoodap-petite,hisdigestionandassimilationaregood,andthefeelingofoppressionhaslefthimentirely.Nowhenot


onlywalkslikeeverybodyelse,butevenrunsandchasesbutterflies.

HecamebackinthemonthofOctoberandIhardlyrecognizedhim.ThebentandpunylittlefellowwhowentawayinMaylasthadbecomeafine,tall,erectboy,whosefacewastheverypictureofhealth.He

hadaddedtwelvecentimeterstohisheightand19lbs.tohisweight.Fromthattimeonhehaslivedaper-fectlynormallife,herunsupanddownstairs,ridesabicycle,andplaysfootball.

Paralysis.

Mr.D.,ofJarville,hadparalysisoftheleftuppereye-lid.Hewenttothehospitalwherehereceivedinjections,asaresultofwhichthepatientwasabletoraisehiseyelid,butthelefteyewasdeflectedoutwardformorethan45degrees,andanoperationappearedtobeneces-sary.Hecametomyhouseand,thankstoautosugges-

tion,hiseyewasrestored,littlebylittle,toitsnormalposition.

Mr.M.,ahat-maker,livingatSainte-Savine,nearTroyes,wasparalyzedfortwoyears,followinganin-juryatthejunctionofthespinalcolumnandthepel-vis;theparalysisexistedonlyinthelowerlimbsinwhichthecirculationofthebloodhadpracticallyceased,makingthemswollen,congestedanddiscolored;varioustreatments,includingantisyphilitic,hadbeentriedwith-outresult;preliminaryexperimentsweresuccessful;suggestionsgivenbymeweretransformedintoautosug-gestionsbythepatient,foraweek;afterthattimethere

wasanalmostimperceptible,butneverthelessappre-ciablemovementoftheleftleg.Renewedthesugges-tions:aweeklatertheimprovementwasnotable;inan-othertwoweeksamoreandmorenoticeableimprovementtookplacetogetherwithaslow,butprogressive,lessen-ingoftheswelling,andsoon;elevenmonthsafterwards,onthe1stofNovember,1906,thepatientwentdown-



66THECOVti"METHOD"

stairsalone,andwalked1000yards;inthemonthofJuly,1907,hewentbacktohisfactorywherehehassinceworkedcontinuously,withouttheleasttraceofparalysis.

WombTrouble.

Mrs.Jousselin,60yearsold,ruedesDominicains6,cametomeon20thJuly,1917,complainingofaviolentpainintherightlegandaconsiderableswellingoftheentirelimb.Shecouldonlydragherselfalongmoan-ingwithpain.Afterthetreatmentshecould,tohergreatastonishment,walknormallywithoutfeelingtheleastpain.Whenshecameagainfourdayslater,thesaidthatshehadhadnopainintheintervalandtheswellinghadsubsided.Thiswomaninformedmethatsincecomingtomyhouseshehadalsobeencuredofwhitedischargesandofinflammationofthewomb

fromwhichshehadsufferedalongtime.InNovemberthecurewasstillholdinggood.

Mrs.Martin,GrandeRue(VilleVieille)105.In-flammationofthewombofthirteenyears'standing,ac-companiedbypainsandredandwhitedischarges.Themonthlyperiodswereverypainfulandappearedevery22or23days,lastingfromtentotwelvedays.Firstconsultationon15thofNovember1917andregularweeklyvisitsthereafter.Thepatientfeltbetterafterthefirsttreatmentandimprovedrapidlyuntil,inthebeginningofJanuary1918,theinflammationhadcom-pletelydisappeared;herperiodshadbecomemore

regularandpainless.Apaininthekneewhichthepatienthadalsohadforthirteenyears,haddisap-pearedlikewise.

Mrs.M.,43years,rued'Amance2,Malzeville,cametowardtheendof1916complainingofviolenthead-acheswhichshehashadalmostallherlife.Afterafewvisitsthepainshadentirelydisappeared.

Abouttwomonthsafterwardsshenoticedthatshewasalsocuredofadisplacementofthewomb,ofwhich


shehadsaidnothingtomeandtowhichshegavenothoughtwhenmakingherautosuggestions.(Thisre-sultisduetothewords:"ineveryway,"contained



intheformulatoberepeatedmorningsandevenings.)Mrs.D.,Choisy-le-Roi,hadonlyonegeneralsug-gestiononmypartandthereaftermadeherautosug-gestionsmorningandevening.InOctoberofthesameyearthisladyinformedmethatshewascuredofaprolapsusofthewombwhichhadtroubledherfor20years.Upto1920thecureisstillpermanent.(Sameremarkasintheprecedingcase.)

Metritis.

Mrs.&.,ofChavigny,sufferedfromMetritis(in-flammationofthewomb)for10years.CametomeendofJuly1916.Therewasanimmediateimprove-ment,thepainandlossofblooddiminishedrapidlyandbythe29thofSeptemberbothhaddisappearedThemonthlyperiodwhichlastedfrom8to10daysisnowoverin4days.

ThoughtsandPreceptsofEmileCoue

RecordedbtMme.EmileLeon."Itisnotthepersonwhoacts,itisthemethod."

"Wecanmake,toourselves,verymuchstrongersuggestionsthananyoneelsecan,whoeverthatpersonmaybe."

"Idonotimposeanythingonanybody.Isimplyhelppeopletodowhattheywouldliketodo,butwhattheybelievethemselvesincapableofdoing.Itisnot

acontestbutanassociationwhichexistsbetweenthemandmyself.ItisnotIthatact,butapowerexistinginthemselves,whichIteachthemtouse."

"Contrarytogeneralopinion,autosuggestionisabletocureorganiclesions."

"Don'tbotheraboutthecauseofanailment;beconcernedonlyabouttheeffect,andtomakethateffectdisappear,ifsuchbeatallnatural."

"Thewords:Jwouldliketo,alwaysimply:ButIcannot.Ifyousuffer,neversay:'Iwilltrytoget

ridofthisorthat/butsay:'Iamgoingtocauseittodisappear,9for,ifthereisdoubt,thereisnoresult."

"Thekeytomymethodisintheknowledgethattheimaginationissuperiortothewill.Ifbothgoto-getherinthesamedirection,asinsayingforinstance:'1willandJcan,'theyareperfectlyinaccord;other-wisetheimaginationalwayswinsoverthewill."

68



THOUGHTSANDPRECEPTS69

"Many,whohavetakenmedicaltreatmentsalltheirlives,expecttobecuredatoncebyautosuggestion.Thatisamistake.Itisunreasonabletoexpectany-thinglikethat.Itisuselesstoaskmoreofautosug-gestionthanwhatitcannormallybringabout,thatistosay:aprogressiveimprovementwhichslowlytransformsitselfintocompleterecovery,ifthelatterisatallnatural/'

"Developthehabitofexpressingyourselvesprompt-ly,clearly,simplyandwithcalmdetermination.Speakbriefly,butdistinctlyusenounnecessarywords."

"Cultivateself-control.Avoidanger,forangerburnsupourreserveenergy;itweakensus.Angerneverac-

complishesanythinggoodonlydestroys.Itisalwaysanobstacletosuccess."

"Letusbecalm,gentle,benevolent,sureofour-selves,andmoreoverletusbeself-sufficient."

"TheUnconsciousselfdirectseverything,boththephysicalandthemoral.Itpresidesoverthefunctionsofalltheorgansdowntotheinfinitesimalcellsofoursystem,throughtheintermediaryofthenerves."

"Tobeafraidofbecomingillistoinviteillness."

"Itisanillusiontothinkthatyouhavenoillusions."

"Donotspendtimetryingtofindmaladiesthatyoumaypossiblyhave;ifyouhavenorealones,youaresuretocreateartificialones."

"Manmaybecomparedtoabasinwithafaucetatthetopforfilling,andadrainatthebottom(oflargerdiameterthanthefaucet)foremptying.Ifthedrainbeclosed,thebasinmaybefilledandkeptfull.When

70TEECOTJti"METHOD"

bothventsareopenatthesametime,thebasinisal-waysempty.Whathappens,ontheotherhand,ifthedrainremainsclosedandthefaucetopenfThebasinfillsupandoverflows.



"Nowthen,letusallkeepour'drains'closed,thatis,letusnotwasteourstrength.Letusmakeonlyonemotionwherenomorearenecessary,insteadoftwentyorfortymotionsaswithsomefolks.Letusneveractingreathaste;andalsothinkthatwhatwehavetodoiaeasy,ifitisatallpossibleofaccomplishment.Inthiswayourreservoirofstrengthwillalwaysbefull,theinflowbeingmorethansufficientforourordinaryneeds,ifweknowhowtouseiteconomically."

"It'snotthenumberofyearsthatmakesyouold,buttheideathatyouaregettingold.Manyarestillyoungateighty,whileothersareoldatforty."

"Thealtruistfindswithoutseekingwhattheegoistseekswithoutfinding."

"Themoregoodyoudotoothers,themoregoodyoudotoyourself."

"Richishewhothinksheisrichandpoorishewhothinksheispoor."

"Hewhopossessesgreatwealthshouldusealargepartofittodogood."

"Whentwopeoplelivetogether,theso-calledmutualconcessionsusuallycomefromthesameperson."

"WouldyouavoidennuitHaveseveralhobbies.Whentiredofone,playwithanother."

"Heredityshowsitselfmostlyasafatalrealizationoftheideaofitsexistence."


"Onewhoisbornwealthyknowsnotthevalueofriches;hewhoalwaysenjoysgoodhealthhasnoideaofthetreasurehepossesses.

"Toappreciateriches,onemusthaveknownpoverty.Toappreciategoodhealth,onemusthavebeenill."

"Itisbettertobeignorantofevilandavoidit,thantobefamiliarwithitandcultivateit."

"Simplifyalwaysdonotcomplicate.''

"Stoicsdrawonimaginationwhen,insteadofsay-ing:'Iwillnotsuffer'theysay:'Idonotsuffer'."

"Onecannothavemorethanoneideainmindata



time;ideasfollowoneanotherwithoutsuperimposing."

"Ifyoupracticeconsciousautosuggestion,doitinanaturalway,quitesimply,withfirmconvictionandes-peciallywithoutaneffort.Ifunconsciousautosugges-tions,producingbadeffects,manifestthemselvessoeasily,itisjustbecausetheyaremadewithoutanyef-fort."

"Beabsolutelycertain,inyourownmind,thatyouwillgetwhatyouwant,providedofcoursethatyoudonotexpectanythingunnatural."

"Tobecomemasterofyourselfitissufficienttothinkthatyouaremasterofyourself,orcertainlygoingtobe.Ifyourhandstremble,ifyourstepsareuncertain,tellyourselfthatallthisisabouttodisappearand,littlebylittle,itwilldisappear."

"Itisnotinmethatyoumusthaveconfidence,butinyourself;forinyourownselfisthepowertoheal.Mypartissimplytoteachyouhowtousethatpower."

72THECOTJti"METHOD"

"Neverdiscussthingsyouknownothingabout,otherwiseyouwillonlysaysomethingfoolish.

"Thingsthatmayseemextraordinarytoyouhaveanaturalcause.Iftheyappearextraordinarytoyourmind,itisbecausethatcausehasescapedyou.Onceyou

knowthecausethethingappearstoyouasquitenatural."

"Itistheimaginationandnotthewillwhichisthedominatingfacultyofman.Itisaseriousmistaketoadvisepeopletotraintheirwills;theyshouldlearntocontrolanddirecttheirimaginations."

"Wedonotseethingsastheyare,butastheyseejntobe.Thisexplainsthecontradictoryevidencegivenbyseveraleye-witnessesofanaccident,thoughthestatementsofallaremadeingoodfaith.'9

"Autosuggestionisjustoneinstrumentwhichwemustlearntouse,likeanyother.Themostperfectgun,ininexperiencedhands,givespoorresults;themoreskilledyourhandsbecome,themoreoftenyouhitthebull'seye."

"Consciousautosuggestion,madewithconfidence,faith,andperseverancerealizesitselfautomatically,inallmatterswithinreason."



"Ifcertainpeopledonotobtainsatisfactoryresultswithautosuggestionitisbecausetheylackconfidence,orbecausetheymakeefforts,thelatterbeingmorefrequentlythecase.Tomakegoodautosuggestionsitisabsolutelynecessarytomakethemwithouteffort.ThelatterimpliestheuseoftheWillandthatmustbeleftoutofthegameentirely.Youmusthavere-courseexclusivelytotheimagination."

.DigitizedbyVjOOQIC


4'Themeansemployedby'Healers'ofalleras,havebeenbasedonautosuggestion,thatistosay:theirmethods,ofwhateverkindwords,incantations,ges-tures,staginghavebeendesignedtoproduceinthepatienttheautosuggestionofrecoveryandhealth."

4'Everymaladyhasadoubleaspect(unlessitisex-

clusivelyamentalone).Oneveryphysicalmaladyamentalonegraftsitself.Ifwegivetothephysicalillnessthecoefficient1,thementalillnessmayhavethecoefficient1,2,10,20,50,100,ormore.Inmanycasesthismentalcoefficientmaydisappearinstantlyandifitwasveryhigh,100forinstance,whilethatofthephysicalaffectionis1,onlythelatterremains,thatisl/100thofthetotalillness.Thatwouldgenerallybeconsideredamiracle;yetthereisnothingmiraculousaboutit."

"Contrarytocommonopinionphysicaldiseasesare,generally,moreeasilycuredbyautosuggestion,than

mentalones."

"Buffonusedtosay:'Fashionformstheman.'Wewouldrathersay:'Maniswhathethinks.'Thefearoffailureisalmostcertaintocausefailure,justastheveryideaofsuccessbringssuccessandenablesonetoovercomeanyobstacleintheway."

"Itisasnecessaryforthepractitionerofsuggestion,asitisforthesubject,tobeconvincedofresultsbe-forehand.Itisthisabsoluteconviction,thisabundantfaith,whichenableshimtoobtainresults,whereallothermeanshavefailed."

"Whenyoulelieveyourselftobemasterofyourthoughts,youbecomeso."

"Everythought,goodorbad,becomesconcrete;h



74TEECOVti"METHOD"

materializesandbecomesareality,providedsuchiswithintherealmofpossibility."

"Wearethatwhichwemakeofourselves,notwhatfatemakesus."

"Whoeverstartsinlifewiththethoughtfirmlyplantedinhismind:'/shallsucceed9alwaysdoessuc-ceedbecausehedoeswhatisnecessarytothatend.Ifanopportunitycomeshiswayandifthatopportunityhas,sotospeak,onlyonesinglehaironitshead,heseizesitbythatonehair.Moreover,heoftenbringsaboutunconsciouslyornot,propitiouscircumstances.Onthecontrary,hewhoalwaysdoubtshimself,willneverarriveanywhere.SuchamanmightswiminanoceanfullofopportunitieswithheadsofhairlikeAb-salom*s.Hewouldneitherseenorseizeasingleone,evenifhehadonlytoreachouthishandandgraspit.Therefore,donotblamefate,blameyourselfonly."

"Wehearmuchofthevalueofeffort.Thattheorymustbeentirelyrepudiated,forhewhosayseffortsays

will,andifthewillisbroughtintoplay,imaginationmayruncountertoitandbringaboutexactlycontraryresults."

"Alwaysthinkthatwhatyouhavetodoweasy,ifitisatallpossibleofbeingdone.Thenyouwillnotexpendanymorestrengththanjustwhatisnecessary.Ifyouthinkitisdifficult,youwillspendmanytimesmorestrengththanisactuallyrequiredtoperformit*yousimplywastestrength."

"Christianmartyrsdiedwithsmilesupontheirlips.Theydidnotsufferthefullextentofthoseawfultor-

tures;but,holdingclearlyinmindtheimageofthecrownoflifewhichawaitedthem,theyreallyeoc-


periencedtheheavenlyjoywhichwassoontobetheirs,notthinkingofanythingelse."

"Apersonwantstodosuchandsuchathing,but,imaginingthatheisnotabletoaccomplishit,hedoesexactlythecontrarytothatwhichhewantstodo.Dizzinessisastrikingexampleofthis.Supposeapersoniswalkingonaverynarrowpath,borderingasteepprecipice.Atfirsthethinksnothingofit;butsuddenly,theideacomestohimthathemaytumble



overtheedge.Ifhehasthemisfortunetolookdown,heislost.Theimageofafallhastakenrootinhismind;hefeelshimselfattractedtowardtheabyssbyaninvisibleforcewhichbecomesmoreandmorein-sistent,thegreaterhiseffortsatresistance;finallyhegiveswayanddownhegoes.ThisisthecauseofmostaccidentsintheAlps."

"Physicallyyourespondtothementalpicturepro-ducedbyyourimagination;unwholesomethoughtsarelikeanabyssthatattractsthoseunabletoresist."

"Repeattwentytimes,morningandevening:Everyday,ineveryway,Iamgettingbetterandbetter.Itisthesameremedyforeverybodyintheworld.Itissosimpleandsoeasy.Almosttooeasy,isn'tittHow-ever,thisisimportant:ifyouhavethethoughtinyourmindthatyouaresick,yousurelywillbe.Ifyouthinkyouaregoingtobecured,itissuretohappen.Itisthecertaintythatyouareabouttorecover,thatbringsresults,notthehope."

"Patienceandperseverancearenecessaryinautosug-gestion,aswellasineverythingelse."

76THECoue´"METHOD"

27-2-1917.Yes,yesterdayIpassedthe60thmile-stoneandamonmywaytobeaseptuagenarian;butunlessabombora45Coltbarsmyway,Idonotin-tendtostopthere,and111carrymyyearslightly.Thatismyideaanditwillmanifestitself.

EmileCoue.

SelectedComments.

"Formerlyitwasbelievedthathypnotismcouldonly

beapplied,successfully,tonervousdiseases.Itspowerandinfluencegomuchfurtherthanthat.Itistruethathypnotismactsthroughthenervoussystemasin-termediary;butthenervoussystemcontrolsthewholeorganism.Themusclesaremadetomovebythenerves;thenervesregulatethecirculationofthebloodbytheirdirectactionontheheartandbytheiractiononthebloodvesselswhichtheydilateorcontract.Therefore,thenervesactonalltheorgansand,bytheirinter-mediaryaction,mayinfluencediseasedorgans."



DoctorPaulJoire,

PresidentoftheSocietyofUniversalPsychologicalStudies.(Bull.4oftheS.L.P.A.)

"Asanaidtorecovery,mentalinfluenceisapower-fuladjunct.Itisafactorofthefirstorderwhichwecannotaffordtoneglect,sinceinmedicineaswellasineveryotherbranchofhumanactivity,itisthespiritualforcesthatleadtheworld."

Dr.LouisRenon,

LecturingProfessoroftheFacultyofMedicineofParisandPhysicianattheNeckerHospital.(Bull.3oftheS.LP.A.)

THOUOHTSANDPRECEPTS77

"Neverlosesightofthisgreatprincipleinautosug-gestion;OPTIMISMALWAYS,ANDINSPITEOPEVERYTHING!EVENIPEVENTSDONOTSEEMTOJUSTIFYIT."

Ken6Brabois,(Bull.HoftheS.L.P.A.)

"Suggestion,sustainedbyfaith,isaformidableforce."

Dr.A.L.,Paris,July,1920.

"Tohaveandtoinspireunshakeableconfidence,onemustactwiththeassurancewhichonlyperfectsin-ceritycajigive;topossesssuchassuranceandsincerityyoumustplacethegoodofothersaboveyourownin-terests.7'

"CultureofMoralForce"byC.Baudouin.

M.EmileCoueatWorkinHisClinic

TheoldtownofNancythrillsatthementionofthenameofCoue.Peopleofeveryrankandclassflocktohimandallarereceivedwithanequallybenevolent



regard,whichatoncestartsmanyalongthewaytowardsrecovery.Butthedeeplytouchingpartistosee,atthecloseofthesession,peoplewhocameinbentandgloomy,withanalmosthostilefeeling(causedbypain),goawayglad,happy,unconstrainedandoftenradiantwithjoy,nolongerinpain.

Smilingandgoodnatured,withacheerfulnessthatishissecret,Mr.Coueholds,sotospeak,theheartsofhispatientsinthehollowofhishand.Onebyonehead-dressesthecrowdofpeoplewhoattendhisclinic,talk-ingtothemasfollows:

1*Well,Madam,whatisyourcomplainttOh!youlooktoomuchforthewhyandwherefore.Whatdoesitmattertoyouwhatcausesyourpain.Yousufferthatisenough.Iwillshowyouhowyoucangetridofyourpain."

"Andyou,mydearsir,yourvaricosesoreisim-provingalready.That'sfine,that'sfine.Doyouknow,youhavebeenhereonlytwicetIcongratulateyouonhavinggottensuchgoodresultsinso-shortatime.Ifyoucontinuetomakeyourautosuggestionproperly,you

willsoonbeentirelycured.Yousaythatyouhavehadthisulcerfortenyears.What'sthedifferencefYoumighthavehadthatsorefortwentyyearsormore,butitwillhealupjustthesame."

78

Jf.COUtATWORK79

*'Andyon.Yousaythatyouhavenotimprovedatall.DoyouknowwhytSimplybecauseyouhavenoconfidenceinyourself.WhenIsaythatyouarebetter,youbegintofeelbetteratonce,don'tyoutWhytBecauseyoubelieveinme.Believenowinyourselfandyouwillgetjustasgoodresults/9

"Oh!Madam.Notsomanydetails,Ibegyou.Inlookingfordetailsyoucreatethemandyouwouldneedalistayardlongtoholdallyourmaladies.Asamatteroffa$titisyourmentaloutlookwhichiswrong.Now2

justmakeupyourmindthatyouaregoingtogetbetterandyouwillbebetterverysoon.Iamgoingtoshowyounowtomakeyourautosuggestions.It'sassimpleandasplainastheGospel."

"Yousayyouhaveanattackofnerves,everyweek.Allright.YoudoasItellyoutoandfromnowonyouwillnothavethemanymore."

"Yohhavebeenasuffererfromconstipationfora



longwhile.WhatdoesthetimematterfYousay,forfortyyears.Yes,Iheardyou,butneverthelessitistruethatyoucanbecuredto-morrow;doyouhear,to-morrowIOncondition,ofcourse,thatyoudojustwhatItellyoutodo,andthatyoudoitjustasIshowyou."

"Ah!Yousufferfromglaucoma,Madam.Icannotabsolutelypromiseacompletecureofthat;Iamnotquitesure.Butthatdoesnotmeanthatacureisim-possible,forIhaveseenalady,ofChalons-sur-Sa6ne,andanotherone,ofToul,cured."

"Well,Mademoiselle,asyouhavenothadanyner-vousattackssincethelasttimeyoucamehere,andbe-forethatyouusedtohavethemeveryday,youarecured.Nevertheless,comeandseemeonceinawhilesothatImaykeepyoumovingalongintherightdirec-tion."

80THECOVti"METHOD"

"Yourfeelingofoppressionwillvanishjustassoonasyourlesionshavedisappearedandwhenyouas-similateyourfoodproperly.Thatwillallcomeabout,ingoodtime,butdon'tputthecartbeforethehorse.Itisthesamewithoppressionaswithhearttrouble,bothgenerallydisappearprettyquickly."

Speakingtoachild(inaclearandcommandingvoice):"Shutyoureyes.Idonottalktoyouaboutlesionsoranythingofthekind;youwouldnotunder-

standit,anyway.Thepaininyourchestisgoingandyoudon'tfeellikecoughinganymore."

Toonewhocomplainsoffatigue:"Well,Ihavethesamecomplaint.TherearedayswhenI,too,amtiredofreceivingpeople;neverthelessIreceivethemalldaylong.Don'tsay:'Ican'thelpit.'Onecanalwaysriseaboveone'sself."

(Explanation.Theideaofbeingtiredbringsaboutthatlanguidfeelingoffatigue;but,theideaofhavingadutytoperformalwaysgivesusthenecessarystrengthtodoit.Thespiritcanandmustremainmasterofthe

animalnature.)

"Whatevermaybethecausethatpreventsyourwalking,itisgoingtodisappear,bitbybit,everyday.Youknowtheoldproverb:Heavenhelpsthosewhohelpthemselves.Standupforalittlewhile,severaltimeseachday,supportingyourselfbetweentwopeople.Donotsaytoyourself:'MykidneysaretooweaJc,Ican'tdoit/butsayaloudandwithafirmvoice:Ican,Ican,Ican."



"Afteryouhaverepeated'Everyday,ineveryway,Iamgettingbetterandbetter,'youadd:'Thepersonsthathavebeenfollowingme,donotfollowmenow;theycannotfollowmeanymore'."

"WhatIhavebeentellingyouisverytrue:Itisenoughforyoutothinkthatyouhavenomorepain,

M.COULATWORK81

forthepaintodisappear.Therefore,pleasedonotthinkthatitmightcomeagain;otherwiseitsurelywillcomeback."(Awomanmurmurs:'Whatpatiencehehas,whatawonderfullypainstakingman!')"

"Whateverwethinkcomestrueforus.Wemust,therefore,notthinkanythingdetrimentaltoourselves.

Think:Mytroubleisdisappearing,inthesamewayasyouthoughtthatyoucouldnotseparateyourhandswhenItoldyouthatyoucouldnot.Themoreoftenyousaytoyourself:'Iwillnot9themoreoftentheverycontrarythingcomestopass.Youmustthinkandsay:'Itisgoingaway.9Closeyourhandandthinkveryfirmly:'Icannotopenitanymore9andyouwillbeun-abletodoso.Tryitandyouwillseehowlittleyourwillhastodowiththematter."

(Explanation.Thisisthepivotingpointoftheen-tiremethod.Inordertomakesuggestionstoyourself,thewillmustbecompletelyeliminated.Workonyour

imaginationonly,foriftherebeconflictbetweenthewillandtheimagination,thewillisbeateneverytime.)

"Ah!to'wtiVandto'desire'isnotthesamething."

"Tobecomestrongerasyoubecomeoldermayseemtobeparadoxical,butitistrue."

(Acaseofdiabetes):"Continuetousealsothera-peutictreatments.Iamquitewillingtomakesugges*tionstoyou,butIdonotpromisetocureyou."(Note:Ihaveseendiabetescuredseveraltimesand,whatisstillmoreextraordinary,thealbumendiminishedand

evendisappearedcompletelyfromtheurineofcertainpatients.)

"Thisobsessionofyoursappearstobesomethingofarealnightmare;thepeopleyoudetestedarebecom-ingfriends;youaregoingtolikethemandtheywilllibyou."



82THECoue´"METHOD"

Then,requestinghispatientstoclosetheireyes,hegavethemthelittlesuggestivediscoursewhichyouwillfindinthetextfor"Practitioners."Thatlittledis-coursefinished,headdresseshimselfagaintoeachpa-tientseparately,sayingafewpleasantwordsregardingtheirindividualillnesses:

"You,mydearsir,areinpain,butItellyouthatfromthisdayon,that,whichcausesthepain,isgoingtodisappear.Nomatterwhetheritiscalledarthritisorwhetheritgoesbyanyothername,yourUnconsciousselfwilldothethingneedfultobanishthecause;andasthecauseisbeingremoved,littlebylittle,thepainalsowillvanishandinashorttimetherewillbenoth-ingleftofitbutthememory.,,

"Tourstomachdoesnotfunctionproperly,itismoreorlessdistended.Well!AsItoldyoujustnow,

yourdigestiveorgansaregoingtoworkbetterandbetter,thedistentionofyourstomachisalsogoingtodisappear,byandby.Asyourentiresystemregainsforceandelasticity,yourstomachwillbenefittherebyandslowlygetbackintoproperformtocarryout,moreandmoreeasily,themovementsnecessarytopassthenourishmentitcontains,intotheintestines.Atthesametimethepouchformedbytheenlargedstomachwilldiminishinsize;thefoodwillnolongerstagnateinthatpouchand,consequently,fermentationwilldis-appear."

"Toyou,Mademoiselle,Isaythatwhateverlesions

youmayhaveinyourliver,yourorganismisdoingwhateverisnecessarytocausethoselesionstohealup,moreandmoreeveryday.Bydegrees,thesymptomsfromwhichyounowsufferwilllessen,andfinallydis-appearentirely.Yourliverisgoingtofunction,moreandmoreinanormalway,secretinganalkalinebile

M.COV&ATWORK83

whichisnolongeracidulous,butrightinquantityandquality,sothatitwillpassintotheintestinaltractinpropercondition,andaidintestinaldigestion."

"Mychild,youjustlisten:Everytimeyoufeelan-otherattackcomingon,youwill,hearmyvoicesayingtoyou,withlightning-likerapidity:No,No,myfriend,youarenotgoingtohavethatattack!Itwillbegone



beforeitreallycomes.''

"IhavetoldyouandIrepeat,mydearsir,thatyourvaricosesoreisgoingtoheal.Fromthisdayonin-terlacinggranulationswillformatthebottomofyourulcerandgrowing,theywillgraduallyfilltheholenowexisting.Atthesametimetheledgeswillreapproacheachotherineverydirectionbothinheightandwidthuntiltheytouchandhealupaltogether."

"Youhavearupture,yousay.Well!Itcananditwillbecured.TourUnconsciousselfwillactinsuchawaythattherupturewhichexistsinyourperitoneumisgoingtohealupbydegrees.Theholewillgetsmallerandsmallereverydayuntilitiscompletelyclosedandyouhavenoruptureanymore."

"Andyou,mydearsir,whohaveglaucoma(oracataract,orsomesortofanaffectionoftheeyes),Itellyouthatfromthisdayon,thelesionswhichyouhaveinyoureyeswillbegintohealupandastheydosobydegrees,youwillnoticethatyoureyesaregettingbetterandbetterandyouwillbeabletoseefartherandmuchmoreclearly."

"Yousayyouhaveeczema(oranaffectionoftheskin).Thisaffectionwilldisappearrapidly;Isaidrapidly,youunderstandtThecausewhichbroughtaboutthisaffectionisgoingtovanishand,naturally,thecausebeingremoved,thesymptomswillvanishlike-

84THECOTJti"METHOD"

wise.Ifthereissmartingoritchingintheaffectedpartsyouwillnoticethatitlessensdaybyday.Ifthereisaslightdischarge,itwillalsobelessandlesseveryday;inshort,asyourskinpeelsoffintheformofscales,youwillfinditreplacedbyanewelasticskinofnaturalcolor."

Enteritis."Theintestinalinflammationwilldim-inishgraduallyandtheglairesandmembraneswhichsometimesaccompanyyourstools,willatthesametimebecomelessfrequentuntiltheystopaltogetherandyou

willbecured."

Anemia."Yourbloodisbecomingmoreandmorerich,redandabundantuntilithasimprovedtothenaturalstateofahealthyperson.Inthiswayyouranemiaandalltheannoyingconditionsthatfollowinitstrainwillhaveentirelyvanished.''

"Everytimeyoubegintohavepainssayrightaway:Itpasses,itpasses.Sayitquickly,rapidly,likeabar-



rage-fire.Youmustlearnhowtouseautosuggestionandafterhavinghadafewlessons,youwillnotneedmeanymore,unlessyouthinkthatyouneedme."

"Theexperimentshavebeenverysuccessful.Ifyoudonotgetanysleep,itisbecauseyouaremakingef-forts.Itisenoughtosay:Iamgoingtosleep,Iamgoingtosleep,hummingitlikethesoundofaflyingbee.Ifthisprovesunsuccessfulitissimplybecauseyouarenotdoingitright."

"Allthatisperiodicalisself-acquired.Whenthetimearriveswhichiscalled'changeoflife,'allladieshaveonecomplaintoranother.Fromchildhoodtheyhavehearditsaid:AuntGertrudehasit,CousinMaryhasit,etc.,andtheyassumenaturallythattheytooaregoingtohaveit."

M.COVtiATWORK85

"Tosay:ProvidedIdonothaveneuralgia,isasmuchassayingthatyouexpecttohaveit.Donotgiveathoughttoanailmentofanykind,otherwisethatwhichyou'expect'andareafraidof,isgoingtohappen.''

"Youareconstipatedbecauseyouthinkyouare.Justthinkthecontraryandthecontrarywillhappen."

"Thesefearsandaversionsmustdisappear.Youhaveinyourselftheinstruments>tyourrecovery.Drive

themaway,letthemdroplikethecrumbsfromyourtable.Nobodyintheworldcanexerciseanyinfluenceonyou,unlessyoupermitit.Don'tcomenexttimetotellmethatyouarenotbetter,youwillbebetter.Anddonotuseyourwill,sapristi,donotevenusethewords:41will.9Iforbidyou(ifthereisanythingatalltoforbid)."

"Ifyouhaveabrokenbonegotothehospitalthismorning.Suggestiondoesnotre-setorrepairbrokenbones,butdirectsandcontrolstheorgans,muscles,nerves,etc."

"Doyoufollowyourdietforalbumenf"Patient:"Idonotlikethemilk-food."Mr.CouS:"Well,imaginethaiyoudolikeit.99

"Asregardsthoseitchings(youhavebeenherethreetimes)impressthethoughtonyourmindthattheywillnevercomebackagain.Ifyouareafraidthattheyaregoingtooccuragain,theysurelywill.Evenafteryouhaveimproved,continuetoseemefromtimetotimeinorderthatImayencourageyoutokeepyourselfin



therightdirection."

Patient:"Onemayforceone'sselftothink,doctort"Mr.CouS:"Noneedtoforceyourselftopracticethe

'method';thatcomesquitenaturally.Itisthesame

withme,youknow."

86THECoue´"METHOD"

Patient:"Icannotsay:'Icannot'whenIthink'Jcan9."

Mr.Cone:"DoasItellyou.It'sIwhogiveyoualesson,notyoutome."

Bronchitis:"Youhavebronchitisandaretakingthe

Valdatablets.That'sallrighttocalmirritation.Sug-gestionwillmakethecauseofirritationdisappear."

"Youhaveseenyourdoctoraboutit;followthediethehasprescribedforyou.Madam,youmustfollowthetreatmentprescribedbyyourdoctorandmakesug-gestionsatthesametime.Theonedoesnotpreventorprohibittheother;onthecontrary,Itooprescribeforyou."

"Thereisnohealerhere,butagentlemanwhoteachesyouwhattodotohealyourself."

Neuralgia:"Whateverthecausemaybeforyourheadaches,yourorganismwilldoallthatisnecessarytomakethatcausedisappearbydegreesand,ofcourse,inthesamemeasureasthecausedoesdisappear,yourneuralgiawillbelessfrequentandlessviolentuntil,inthenearfuture,itwillhavevanishedaltogether.Youfeel,bytheway,everytimeIpassmyhandacrossyourforehead,ittakesawaysomeofthepain;andinamoment,whenyouopenyoureyes,youwillfindthatyouareentirelyfreefromit."

Patient:"Isuffocate,especiallyinhotweather."Mr.Coue:"Youhaveseenyourdoctort"Patient:"I

haveseensixdoctors.Theysaiditisnervousness,buttheydidnothingforit."Mr.Coue:"Yes,itisner-vousness,butwearegoingtohelpyoutogetridofit."



M.COVtiATWORK87

AftereverybodyhasthusbeenpassedinreviewMr.Cou6tellshispatientstoopentheireyes,andsays:4'YouhaveheardtheadviceIhavejustgivenyou.Well!Inordertotransformmysuggestionsintoreali-ties,hereiswhatyoumustdo:Aslongasyoulive,everymorningbeforerising,andeveryeveningassoonasyouareinbed,closeyoureyesandrepeat,twentytimes,withyourlips(thisisindispensable)andcount-ingmechanicallyonastringwithtwentyknotsinit,thefollowingphrase:Everyday,ineveryway,Iamgettingbetterandbetter.

"Donotthinkofanythinginparticularasthewords:'ineveryway9applytoeverything.Makethisautosuggestionwithconfidence,withfaith,withthecer-taintythatyouaregoingtoobtainwhatyoudesire.Thegreaterthefaithofthepatient,thegreaterandthemorerapidwillbetheresults.

"Moreover,ifatanytimeduringthedayornightyoufeelanyphysicalormentaldiscomfort,saytoyour-selfthatyouwillnotconsciouslycontributetowardit,

butthatyouaregoingtocompelittodisappear.Thenisolateyourselfasmuchaspossibleandpassyourhandacrossyourforehead,ifitissomethingmental,oroverthepainfulpart,ifitissomethingphysical,andrepeatwithextremerapidity,movingthelips:Itpasses,itpasses,itpasses"aslongasisnecessary.Withalittlepracticethementalorphysicaldiscomfortwilldisap-pearintwentytotwenty-fiveseconds.Repeatagainwhenevernecessary.

"Inthisaswellasinotherautosuggestionsitisnec-essarytoactwithequalconfidence,equalfaith,andaboveallwithouteffort."

Mr.Cou6saysfurther:"Ifformerlyyouhavebeeninthehabitofmaking,unconsciouslytoyourself,badauto-suggestions,nowknowingwhatIhavetaughtyou,youmustnotletthosebad,unconsciousautosuggestionsoccuragain.A©4itiaspiteofallIhavesaidand

DigitizedbyVjOOQIC

88THECOVti"METHOD"

done,youstillpersistinmakingthem,thenyouhaveonlyyourselvestoblameandhadbetterstrikeyourbreastandsay:'Meaculpa,meaculpa,meamaximaculpa'."

Now,ifagratefuladmireroftheworkandofthefounderofthel'method"maybepermittedtosayafewwords:



SinceMr.Gouetellsusthatitistheimaginationwhichmakesusactandthatthisisthebasisofhis"method,"Iwouldliketoadd:Thepillarsofhisstructurearethethousandsofcuresobtained;andthecrowningpart,themostmagnificentlycrowningpart,ishisnobleadmission,thepowerisinyou,ineachofyou,constitutingnotonlyanimmensebenefitforsuffer-inghumanity,butalsoatributetoitscreator.

Henceforth,eachcanadaptthis"method"tohisownpersonalcreed.Ifwearereligious,itwillhelpustoremoveobstacleswhichweunconsciouslybelievetoex-istbetweenGodandourselves.Andforbelieversaswellasskeptics,free-thinkersandheathen,theConemethodteachesushowtodeliverourselvesfrommentalorphysicalpainthatisunjustified,byuseofthesimpleyetmarvelousprocessofCou6:Itpasses!

Asforthosewhorejectthe"method,"ignorantofthesecretofitsforce,Iwillaskonequestion:"Doyoualsorejectelectriclightbecauseyou(aswellasthegreatestandmostlearnedprofessors)donotknowthesecretofthepowerofelectricityt"

Oh!Now,youdonftknow,youcannotknowwhatthisblessedmethodcandoandwilldotorestoreyoumentallyandphysically.Butinlivingandpractisingit,youwillknowit.Itissuretohelpyoutogainthevictory,themasteryofyourself.

B.Vs...OER.

ExtractsfromLetterstoM.Cou6

(Thisconcernsayoungladywho,becauseofextra-ordinarynervousness,hadfailedinherexaminationsin1915.Thegreatnervousnesshavingdisappearedundertheinfluenceofautosuggestion,shepassedsuc-cessfully,winningthesecondplace,amongmorethantwohundredcompetitors.)

August,1916.

ThefinalresultsoftheEnglishsecondaryCertificatehavebeenpostedonlythesetwohoursbutIhastentoinformyouofthefact,atleastsofarasitconcernsme.Ipassedtheoralexamswithflyingcolorsandscarcelyfeltatraceofnervousness,whichformerlycausedmesuchintolerablesensationsofnauseabeforeexaminationsbegan.DuringtheselattertestsIwasastonishedatmyowncalm,whichgavethosewholistenedtometheimpressionofperfectself-possessiononmypart.Inshort,theverytestswhichImost



feared,contributedmosttomysuccess.TheJuryplacedmesecond,andIaminfinitelygratefulforyourhelpwhichundoubtedlygavemeanadvantageovertheothercandidate,etc.

Mile.V.,ProfessorattheLyceum.

Nancy,August,1917.

ItiswiththegreatestpleasurethatIwritethistothankyoufrommyheartforthegreatbenefitIhavederivedfromyourmethod.BeforeIwenttoyouIhadgreatdifficultyinwalking,evensoshortadistanceasonehundredyards,withoutbecomingbreathless,whilenowIcangomileswithoutfatigue.Severaltimesaday,veryeasily,andin40minutes,IwalkfromtheruedeBord-de-l'EautoruedeGlacisaboutfour

90THECOVti"METHOD"

kilometres.Theasthma,fromwhichIsufferedsomuch,hasdisappearedalmostcompletely.Pleaseac-ceptmostsincerethanksfromyoursgratefully,

PaulChenot,RuedeStrasbourg141.

Haute-Saone,May,1918.Idon'tknowhowtothankyou.ThankstoyouIcansaythatIamalmostentirelycured,butmerely

waitedforcompletecurebeforeexpressingmygratitudetoyou,butwillwaitnolonger.Iwasafflictedwithtwovaricoseulcers,oneoneachfoot.Theoneonmyrightfoot,whichwasasbigasmyhand,isentirelyhealed.Itseemedtodisappearasifbymagic.ForweeksIhadbeenconfinedtomybed.Shortlyafterthereceiptofyourlettertheulcerhealed,sothatIwasabletogetup.Theoneontheleftfootisnotentirelyhealedyetbutwillbesoon.EverynightandeverymorningIrepeatthephrase,asdirected,withcompleteconfidence.ImustalsotellyouthatmylegswereashardasstoneandIcouldnotbeartheslightesttouchonthem.NowIcanpressthemwithouttheleastpain

andIcanwalkagain.Whatjoy!

MadameLigny,Maileroncourt-Charette.

NB.ItisnoteworthythatthisladyhasneverseenMr.Owe";itwasduetoaletter,whichthelatterwroteheronthe15thofApril,thatsheobtainedtheresultsmentionedabove1inherletterofMay3rd.,__

Pont-4-Mousson,February,1920..



Iwritetoexpressmywholeheartedgratitudetoyou,for,thankstoyou,Ihaveescapedtherisksofadangerousoperation.More:youhavesavedmylife.Yourmethodofautosuggestion,alone,hasdonewhatmedicinesandtreatmentscouldnotdoforthatterribleintestinalobstruction,fromwhichIhadsufferedfor19days.FromthemomentIbegantofollowyourin-structionsandappliedyourexcellentprinciples,mysystemfunctionedquitenaturally.

MadameS.

LETTERS91

Saint-Die,February,1920.

IdonotknowhowtothankyouenoughforthejoyandhappinessIhaveinbeingcured.Formore

thanfifteenyearsIsufferedfromasthma.EverynightIalmostsuffocated.Thankstoyoursplendidmethod,andespeciallysinceIhadtheprivilegeofbeingpresentatoneofyoursittings,theseattackshavedisappearedasifbymagic.Itistrulyamiracle,forallthedoctorswhoattendedme,assuredmethattherewasnocureforasthma.

Mme.V.

Sens,June,1920.

IhavebeenwaitingtowriteyouuntilIhadseentheuncleofmyhusband,ProfessorM.,physician-in-chiefoftheTenonHospital.Hewasgreatlyastonishedtoseehisnephewinsuchexcellenthealthafterthelatterhadbeensufferingfromsuffocatingasthmaticattackseverynightforfifteenyears.Wehadtriedeverything.Allthegreatmedicallightshadtreatedhim,buttheentiremedicalsciencewasunabletohelphim.Youalone,dearsir,havesucceededwhereevery-bodyandeverythingelsefailed.Yes,myhusbandisnowwell.Heisnotyetcompletelycured,butonemustnotforgetthathisdiseaseisoffifteenyears'standing.

Dr.J.,whowasamazedattheresultsobtainedbyyourmethod,hasundoubtedlywrittentoyou,andDr.M.desiresverymuchtomakeyourpersonalacquaintance;hehasbeenaprofessorandmemberoftheFacultyfortwentyyears.Heishappy,veryhappy,thathisnephewisalmostentirelycured.WheneveryougoagaintoParishewillbegreatlypleasedtoseeyou.Dr.B.,also,callsfromtimetotimeonhisex-patient;itwasaftertryingeverythingpossiblethatI



wenttoyou,

Mme.M.

92THECOTJti"METHOD"

Vincennes,May,1920.

Iamwritingtoyouwithallmyhearttothankyouforhavingbroughttomyknowledgeanewtherapeuticmethod;awonderfulinstrumentwhichseemstoactlikethemagicwandofafairy,since,thankstothesimplestmeans,itbringsaboutthemostextraordinaryresults.

FromthefirstIhadalivelyinterestinyourex-perimentsand,aftermyownpersonalsuccesseswithyourmethod,Ieagerlyapplyitateveryopportunity

andhavesincebecomeaferventandenthusiasticadept.

Dr.Vachet.

Tout,May,1920.

DuringeightyearsIhavesufferedfromdisplace-mentofthewomb.Havingusedyourmethodofauto-suggestionforfivemonths,Iamnowcompletelycuredandreallydonotknowhowtothankyousufficiently.

Mme.Soulier,PlaceduMarche.

Paris,April,1920.Ihavesufferedhorriblyforelevenyearswithoutinterruption.EverynightIhadattacksofasthma.Isufferedalsofrominsomniaandgeneralweaknesswhichmadeoccupationofanykindimpossible.Men-tallyIwasdepressed,restlessandworried,seeingmountainswheretherewerebutmole-hills.Ihadtakenanyamountoftreatmentswithoutsuccessandevenhadundergone,inSwitzerland,theremovalofthe

spongybonesofthenose,likewisewithouteffect.InNovember1918,Ibecameworseinconsequenceofagreatsorrow.WhilemyhusbandwasatCorfu(asanofficeronboardabattleship)Ilostouronlyson,insixdays,frominfluenza.Hewasalovelychildoftenyears,andthesunshineofourlife.Aloneandover-whelmedwithsorrow,Ireproachedmyselfbitterlyfornothavingbeenabletoprotectandsaveourtreasure.



LETTERS93

Iwasnearlyinsaneandwantedtodie.Whenmyhus-bandreturned(inFebruary),hetookmetoanotherdoctor,whoprescribedvariousremediesalongwiththewatersofMont-Dore.IspentthemonthofAugustatthatplacebutonmyreturntheattacksofasthmarecurred,asbefore.Irealized,withdespair,thatIwasgoingfrombadtoworseineveryrespect.AtthatcriticaltimeIhadthepleasureofmeetingyou.Al-thoughIhardlyexpectedanygoodfromit,IattendedyourconferencesduringthemonthofOctoberandIamveryhappytosaythatbytheendofNovemberIwascured.Insomnia,depression^gloomythoughtshavedisappearedasifbymagic.Iamnowwell,strong,andfullofcourage.Withmyphysicalhealthrestored,Ihavealsorecoveredmymentalequilibriumand,ifitwerenotfortheineffaceableeffectofthelossofmychildwhichkeepsmymother-heartstillbleeding,I

wouldsaythatIamentirelywelland,sofaraspos-sible,happy.IwishtogoodnessIhadmetyoube-fore.Mychildwouldthenhaveknownacheerfulandcourageousmother.

Athousandthanks,Mr.Coue.Thankyouagainandagain.

Mostgratefullyyours,

E.I.,RuedeLille.

January,1920.IcannowtakeupagainthestrugglewhichImain-tainedforthirtyyears,untilexhausted.Ifoundinyou,lastAugust,wonderfulandprovidentialhelp.ReturningtoourdearLorraine,Iarrivedillandwithaheartfullofsorrow.IdreadedtheshockwhichIwouldfeelatthesightofallthefuinsanddistress.Iwentawaycomfortedandingoodhealth.Iwasal-mostinsaneunfortunatelyIamnotreligious.Ilongedforsomeonetohelpandcomfortme.ByaluckychanceImetyouatmysister'sandyougavemetheveryhelpandconsolationIsought.Inowworkwith

94THECOUti"METHOD"

newspiritandsuggesttomyunconsciousselftore-



establishmyphysicalequilibrium.IhavenodoubtthatIshallregainmyformergoodhealth.Ihaveal-readynoticedsomeimprovement.Youwillbetterun-derstandmygratitudewhenItellyouthat,sufferingfromdiabetesandarenalcomplication,Ihavehadseveralattacksofglaucoma;butmyeyesarenowre-coveringslowly.Myeyesighthasinthemeantimebe-comealmostnormalandmygeneralhealthismuchbetter.

Mile.Th.,ProfessorattheYoungLadies'College

ofCh...s.

Ireadmythesiswithsuccessandhavebeenawardedthehighestmark,togetherwiththecongratulationsoftheJury.Ofallthesehonorsalargeshareisduetoyou,andIdonotforgetit.MyonlyregretisthatyouwerenotpresenttohearyournamereferredtowithwarmandsympatheticinterestbysodistinguishedaJury.YoumayrestassuredthatthedoorsoftheUni-versityhavebeenthrownwideopentoyourteaching.

Donotthankme,please,forIoweyoufarmorethanyouoweme.

CharlesBaudouin,ProfessorattheInstitutJ.J.Rousseau,Geneva.

Paris,March,1920.

Iadmireyourundauntedcourageandamsurethatitwillhelptogivetomanymindsanintelligentandusefuldirection.ImustconfessthatIpersonally

havebenefittedbyyourteaching,andamapplyingittomypatients,also.AttheClinicwetrytoapplyyourmethodcollectively,andhavealreadyobtainedvisibleresults.

Dr.BertiUon,

LETTERS95

Bruxelles,March,1920.

Ihavereceivedyourkindletterandalsoyourveryinterestinglecture.Iamgladtoseethatyoumakearationalfusionbetweenheteroandautosuggestion;Inoteparticularlythepassageinwhichyousaythatthewillmustnotinterveneinautosuggestion.Thatiswhatanumberofteachersandusersofautosuggestion,



includingagreatmanyphysicians,donotunderstand.Iconsiderthat,likewise,anabsolutedistinctionshouldbemadebetweenautosuggestionandthetrainingof

thewil1-Dr.vanVelsen.

Cesson-Saint-Brieuc.IwonderwhatyoumustthinkofmetForgottenyoutNever!BestassuredthatIshallalwaysthinkofyouwithdeepandgratefulaffection.Imusttellyouthatyourteachingsaremoreandmoreeffectivewithme;Idonotpassadaywithoutusingautosugges-tionwithincreasedsuccess,andblessyoueveryday;yourmethodisthetrueone.ThankstoitIcontrolmyselfbettereverydayIassimilateyourdirectionsandfeelmyselfstronger.Iamsurethatyouwouldhavedifficultyinrecognizinginme,soactiveinspiteof66years,thepoorcreaturewhowassooftenailingandwhoisonlynowbeginningtofeelwell,thankstoyouandtoyourguidance.MaytheLordblessyou,mydearsir,foritisthesweetestthingtodogoodtoothers.Youaredoingmuchgood;IdoalittleandIthankGodforit.

lime.M.

Richemont,June,1920.Amfeelingbetterandbettersincefollowingyourmethodofautosuggestion.Iaskyoutopleaseacceptmymostsincerethanks.Thelesionofthelungshasdisappeared,theheartisbetterandthereisnomorealbumen;inshortIamfeelingfine.

Mme.Lemaitre.

96THECOVti"METHOD'

Madrid.

Yourbookletandyourlecturehaveinterestedus

verymuch.Forthegoodofhumanityitwouldbede-sirabletohavethemprintedinseverallanguages,sothattheymightreacheveryraceandcountryandthusmakehappyagreaternumberofunfortunatepeople,whosufferbecausetheyareusingwronglythismightyandalmostdivinefacultywhichwecallimaginationandwhichismostimportanttoman,asyouaffirmandprovesoclearlyandjudiciously.IhadalreadyreadmanybooksonthewellandIhavealsoquiteanar-senalofformulae,thoughts,aphorisms,etc.Yourteach-



ingisconclusive.Idonotthinkthatanyoneeverbe-forecondensedsointelligentlytheseformulasinto"compressedtabletsofself-confidence,''asIcallyourhealingphrases.

DonEnriqueC.

FROMLETTERSTOMmb.EMILELEON,

DiscipleofM.Cone.

Paris.

ForsometimeIhavebeenwantingtowriteandthankyoumostsincerelyforhavingbroughttomyknowledgethismethodofautosuggestion.Thankstoyourgoodadvicetheattacksofnerves,towhichIwassubject,haveentirelydisappeared,andIamcertainthatIamcompletelycured.Moreover,Ifeelmyselfsurroundedbyasuperiorforcewhichisanunfalteringguidewhichaidsmetoovercome,withease,thedif-ficultiesoflife.

Mme.F.,4,ruedeBougainville.

LETTERS97

Paris.

Amazedattheresultsobtainedbypractisingauto-suggestionasyontaughtme,Iwishtothankyouwithallmyheart.ItisnowayearsinceIwascompletelycuredofarticularrheumatismoftherightshoulder,whichbotheredmeforeightyears,andalsoofchronicbronchitisfromwhichIhadsufferedstilllonger.NumerousdoctorsdeclaredthatIwasincurable,butthankstoyourtreatment,Iamagaininperfecthealthandhavetheassuranceofpowertoconserveit.

Mme.L.T.4,rueduLaos.

Paris,June17,1920.

ImusttellyouoftheexcellentresultswhichMr.Cou6'smethodhasproducedinmycase,andthankyouforyourvaluablehelp.Ihavealwaysbeenanaemicandconsequentlyinpoorhealth,butafterthedeathofmyhusbandIgrewstillworse.Mykidneysdidnotact,ICouldnotstanduprightAndsufferedfromnerv-ousnessandaversions.AllhavedisappearedandI



amadifferentperson.Therearenomorepains,Ihavemoreenduranceandammorecheerful.Myfriendshardlyknowme.Iintendtospreadthenewsofthiswonderfulmethodwhichissoclear,sosimple,sobene-ficial,andexpecttheverybestresultsformyselffromitscontinueduse.

M.L.D.

Paris,October3,1920.

Icannotfindwordstothankyousufficientlyforteachingmeyoursplendidmethod.Whathappinessyouhavebroughttome.IthankGodwhoguidedmetomakeyouracquaintance;youhavecompletelytrans-formedmylife.FormerlyIsufferedterriblyateachmonthlyperiodandwasobligedtostayinbed;nowitisquiteregularandpainless.Itisthesamewithmy

98THEC0U6"METHOD"

digestion;Iamnolongerobligedtoliveonmilk,asIusedtoandtherearenomorepains,atwhichIamveryhappy.Myhusbandisastonishedtofindthat,whentraveling,Iamfreefromheadaches,whilefor-merlyIhadtotaketabletsallthetime.Now,thankstoyou,dearmadame,Ihavenoneedofmedicineanymore.ButIdonotforgettorepeattwentytimesev-erymorningandeveningthephrasewhichyouhave

taughtme:'Everyday,ineveryway,Iamgettingbetterandbetter.'

B.P.

Paris.

IamdelightfullysurprisedattheresultswhichIhaveobtained,andamstillobtainingdaily,byuseoftheexcellentmethodwhichyoutaughtmeofconsciousautosuggestion.Iwasmentallyandphysicallysick.

NowIamwellandalmostalwaysinhighspirits.My,depressionhasgivenwayto'constantcheerfulnessandIcertainlydonotcomplainofthechange.Sapristi!HowwretchedIusedtobe.Iwasunabletodigestanything,whateveritwas;nowIdigesteverythingandtheintestinalfunctionsarenatural.Moreover,Isufferedfrominsomniaandnowthenightsarenotlongenough.Icouldnotworkatall;nowIamcapableofdoingallkindsofhardwork.Ofallmyailmentsnothingremainsbutanoccasionalslighttouchofrheu-



matism,butIamsurethatbythecontinueduseofyoursplendidmethodthatalsowilldisappearasevery-thingelsedid.Icannotfindproperwordstoexpressmydeepgratitudetoyou.

Mme.Friry,BoulevardMalesherbes.

FBOMLETTERSTOMlle.KAUFMANT

DiscipleofM.Coue´.

Nice,1918.

FeelingbetterandbettersinceIhavefollowedthemethodofautosuggestionwhichyoutaughtme,Icon-sideritmydutytothankyoumostheartily.Iamnowqualifiedtospeakofthegreatandundeniablead-vantagesofthismethod,asitaloneputmeontheroad

torecovery.Myillnessconsistedofalesioninthelungs,whichcausedspittingofbloodandinadditionIhadnoappetiteforanything,vomiteddaily,becameamereskeletonandsufferedfromobstinateconstipa-tion.Thespittingofbloodlessenedalmostimmediate-lyandsoonstoppedentirely;thevomitingceased,con-stipationdisappeared,myappetitecamebackandintwomonthsIgainedtwelvepounds.

Inthepresenceofsuchresults,observednotonlybymyparentsandfriendsbutalsobythedoctorwhoat-tendedmeforseveralmonths,itisimpossibletodenythegoodeffectsofautosuggestionandImustdeclare

publiclythatIowemyreturntolifetoyourmethod.

TouareauthorizedtousemynameifIcanbeofservicetoothers.WithdeepgratitudeIbegtoremain,yoursmostgratefully

JeanneGilli,15AvenueBorriglione.

Nice,March»1919.Iconsideritasacreddutytoexpresstoyoumydeepgratitudeforhavingtaughtmeyourmethodof

autosuggestionfromwhichIderivedsuchgreatbenefits.Thankstoyou,dearmadame,Isuffernolongerfromthosefrequentandagonizingpalpitationsoftheheart

99



100TEECOUti"METHOD"

whichmademefeelattimesthatitwasabouttostopbeating.IhavealsoregainedmyappetitewhichIhadlostformonths.AsahospitalnurseIhavetothankyouforthealmostmiraculousrecoveryofoneofmypatientswhowasseriouslyafflictedwithtuberculosisandvomitedmuchblood.Hisfamilyandmyselffearedthattheworstmighthappenatanymomentwhenmercifulheavensentyoutohim.Afteryourveryfirstvisitthespittingofbloodceased,hisappetitereturnedand,afteryouhadmadeafewmorevisitstohissick-bed,alttheorgansgraduallyresumedtheirnormalfunctions.Finallywehadthepleasantsurpriseofseeinghimarriveonedayatyourprivateclinicwhere,beforethosepresent,hehimselftoldthestoryofhiswonderfulcure,ascribingittoyourpersonalin-tervention.IthankyoufromtheverybottomofmyheartGratefullyyours,A.Eettner,26,AvenueBorriglione.

Iiverdun,August30,1920.FromdaytodayIhaveputoffwritingtothankyouforthecureofmylittleSylvain.Iwasindespairwhenthedoctorstoldmethattherewasnothingmoretobedone,excepttogivehimachancebysendinghimtothesanatoriumatArcachonorJuicoot,nearDun-kirk.IwasabouttosendhimtherewhenMme.Col-lardadvisedgoingtoseeyoufirst.Feelingskepticalaboutit,IhesitatedbutnowIhavetheproofofyourscience;mySylvainhascompletelyrecovered.Henoweatswithgoodappetite,hispimplesandglandsarecompletelycuredand,mostextraordinaryofall,sinceourfirstvisittoyou,hehasnotcoughedanymore,

notevenonce.SincelastJunehehasgainedsixpounds.Icanneverthankyouenoughandwillpro-claimpubliclythebenefitsreceivedfromyourtreat-ment.

Mme.Poirson.

LETTERS101

Nancy,November4,1920.

HowcanIprovetoyoumyheartfeltgratitude?You,Mademoiselle,havesavedmylife.Ihadheart-diseasewhichcausedmeterriblesufferingfromin-cessantattacksofsuffocation;theyweresoviolentthatIhadnorest,dayornight,notwithstandingdailyin-jectionsofmorphine.Allfoodcausedinstantvomit-



ing.Isufferedalsofromviolentpainsinmyhead,whichbecamesoswollenthatIlostmysight.Iwasinterribleplight,mywholeorganismbeinginamostlamentablestate;therewasanabscessontheliver;mydoctortriedeverythinginhispower:lettingblood,scarifiedcupping,needle-pricks,poultices,ice,andev-erypossiblemedicine,withoutresult.Finallyhead-visedmetoconsultyou.

Afteryourfirstvisitstheheartattacksdiminishedinviolenceandbecamelessfrequent;soontheyceasedentirely.Iwasabletorestand,tomygreatrelief,couldsoonsleepthroughoutthenight,withoutwaking.Thepainsintheliverceased.Ibegantoenjqymyfoodagainanddigesteditperfectly,experiencingoncemoreafeelingofhungerwhichIhadnotknownformonths.Thepainsintheheadstoppedandmyeyesarequitecured,sothatIamnowabletobusymyselfalittle,manually.EachtimeyoupaidmeavisitIfeltbetter,myorgansgraduallyresumingtheirnormalfunctions.Iwasnottheonlyonetoobservethewon-derfulimprovement;thedoctorwhocametoseemeeveryweekfoundmeverymuchbetterand,finallyre-coverycame.Iwasabletogetupafterhavingbeen

confinedtobedforelevenmonths.Irosewithouttheleastdiscomfort,evenwithoutdizziness,andattheendofanotherfortnightIwentoutforawalk.Iamin-debtedtoyoualoneformyrecoveryandthedoctorcandidlyadmitsthat,forallthegoodhismedicineshaddoneme,Imightjustaswellhavetakennoneatall.Afterhavingbeengivenupbytwodoctorsitisapleasureindeedtobealiveandwellagain.Myre-

102THECOUtil"METHOD"

coveryissocompletethatIcannoweatmeatandalsotakeapoundofbreaddaily.HowcanIthankyou?Irepeat,itistoyourgoodsuggestionsthatIowemylife.

JeanneGrosjean.

Nancy,November16,1920.

Personallythescienceofautosuggestionwhich,indeed,Iconsiderentirelyasasciencehasbeenofgreatbenefittome;myinterestinitcontinues,par-ticularly,becauseIfindittobethemeansofexercis-ingtruecharity.

In1915,whenforthefirsttimeIwaspresentatoneofMr.Cou6'slectures,IconfessIwasentirely



skeptical;butinthefaceoffactsrepeatedahundredtimesinmyverypresence,Ihadtobowbeforetheevidenceandrecognizethatautosuggestiondoesact,al-thoughofcourseindifferentdegrees,onorganicdis-eases.Strangely,theonlycasesinwhichIhaveknownittof&il(andthosewereveryrare)wereofanervousnaturesuchasneurastheniaandimaginarymaladies.

ItisneedlesstotellyouagainthatMr.Cou6insists,likeyourself,butevenmorestrongly,onthispoint:'thathedoesnotperformanymiracles,thathedoesnotcureanybody,butthatheonlyteachespeopletocurethemselves.'Iconfessthat,onthispoint,Iamstillalittleincredulous;forifMr.Cou6doesnotactuallycurepersonally,heismostdecidedlyapower-fulaidtorecovery.Heputsheartandnewcourageintothesickandafflictedandteachesthemnevertodespair.Hehasanupliftinginfluenceandguidesthemtomoralheightshithertobeyondthemandwhich,intheireverydaymaterialism,theyneverevencon-ceivedof.

ThedeeperIgointothestudyofautosuggestion,thethebetterIamabletounderstandthedivinelaw6t

confidenceandlovewhichChristtaughtus:Lovethy

¦DigitizedbyVjOOQIC

LETTERS103

neighborasthyself;givehimalittleofyourheartandofyourmoralforce;helphimriseifhehasfallen;healhimifheissick.Thatisthe'GiftofGod'of

whichJesusspeakstothegoodSamaritan.Autosug-gestionisabeneficialandcomfortingscienceanditsapplication,frommyChristianpointofview,tendstomakeusbetterunderstandthatweareallthechildrenofGod,thatweallhavewithinusunsuspected,un-dreamedofforceswhich,rightlydirected,servetoelevateusmorallyandtohealusphysically.Thosewhodonotknowyourscienceorhavemerelyaslightinklingofit,shouldnotpassjudgmentunlessanduntiltheyhavewitnessedthemagnificentresultsob-tainedbyautosuggestion,andthegreatgooditdoes.

M.L.D.



AllforEveryone

ByMm.BmiliLLon,discipleofMr.CouS.

Ifyouhavebeenprivilegedtoenjoyaninestimablygreatbenefit,andonethatiswithinthereachofaU,althoughmostareignorantofit,isitnotanabsoluteandurgentduty,foryouwhodoknow,tospreadthatknowledgebroadcasttParticularlywheneveryonewholearnsofitcanappropriatetohimselfitsamaz-ingbenefits,asistrueoftheCou6"method."

Torelievepainiswonderful,verywonderful;buthowmuchmorewonderfulisittoguidethose,whonowsuffer,intofullenjoymentofanewlife!

LastApril,atParis,wehadthepleasureofavisitfromMr.Cou6;herearesomegleaningsfromhistalks:

QuestionofaTheist:"FromareligiouspointofviewIconsideritunworthytobelievethattheEternalwouldletourobediencetoHiswilldependonatrick,ormechanicalprocesswhatMr.Cou6callsconscious

autosuggestion."

Answer*."Whetherwewishtobelieveitornot,itistruethatourimaginationalwaysoverrulesourwillwhenthelatterisinconflictwiththeformer.Butwecanleadtheimaginationintotherightpathasin-dicatedbyourreasonbyconsciouslyemployingthemechanicalprocesswhichnowwesooftenemployun-consciouslytoleadusthewrongway."

Athoughtfullistenersaid:"Yes,itistrue;consciousautosuggestionhasinitthepowertofreeusfromob-

105

106THECoue´"METHOD"

stacles,createdbyourselves,whichactlikeaveilplacedbetweenGodandourselves;asarag,suspendedoverawindow,preventsthesunfromshiningintoaroom.

Question:Howcanweinducesufferers,whoarenearanddeartous,tomakegoodautosuggestionswhichwouldfreethemfrompaint

Answer:Donoturgeorlecturethemaboutit.Sim-plyremindthemthatIrecommendthattheymakeauto-suggestions,withthecertaintythattheywillobtaintheresulttheywant.



Question:Howcanoneexplainsatisfactorily,toone'sselfandtoothers,thisphenomenonthatthemererepetitionofthesamewords:"Iamgoingtosleep,""Itpasses"etc.,hasthepowertoproducethedesiredeffect,andsopowerfullythattheresultisacertaintyt

Answer:Therepetition,ofthesamewordsforcesustothinkthem,andwhenwethinkthemtheybecometrueforusandtransformthemselvesintoreality.

Question:Howisonetoconserveself-masteryasapinwardpowert

Answer:Tobemasterofyourselfitisenoughtothinkthatyouaremaster;andinordertothinkit,youmustrepeatitoften,butwithoutanyeffort.

Question:Andhowisonetokeepone'slibertyofoutwardactivityt

Answer:Self-masteryappliesjustasmuchphysical-lyasitdoesmentally.

Questioner:Wecannotescapetroubleorsadness,can

we,ifwedonotdoasweshould?Itwouldnotbejustandautosuggestioncannot,andoughtnottopre-ventjustsuffering.

ALLFOBEVERYONE107

Mr.Coue(veryseriouslyandaffirmatively):Cer-

tainlyandassuredlyitoughtnottobeso,butitoftenis,atanyrateforatime.

Question:Whydidthatpatient,nowcured,havethoseincessantandterribleattacks?

Answer:Heexpectedthoseattacks;hefearedthem;henceheprovokedthem.Ifthisgentlemanwillmakeuphismindfirmlythatheisnotgoingtohaveanymoreattacks,hewillnothavethem.Butifhecon-tinuestothinkthathewillhavethem,hecertainlywillhavethem.

Question:Inwhatdoesyour"method''differfromotherst

Answer:Thedifferenceinmy''method''is:thatitisbasedontheprinciplethatitisnotthewillwhichrulesus,buttheimagination.Thatisitsfundamental

Question:Willyougivemeasummaryofyour



"method''forMme.E.,whoiswritinganimportantworkonthesubject?

Answer:Icangiveyouasummaryofmymethodinafewwords:Contrarytothecommonbeliefitisnotourwillwhichmakesusact,butourimagination(whichisanunconsciousbeing).Ifitoftenhappensthatwedoactaswewill,itisbecausewethink,atthesametime,thatwecan.Ifthatbenotso,wedoexact-lythecontraryofwhatwewilledtodo.Forexample:Themoreapersonafflictedwithinsomniadeterminestosleep,themoreexcitedhegets;themoreyoutrytorememberanamewhichyouseemtohaveforgotten,themoreelusiveitis.Itonlycomesbacktoyourmindif,insteadofthinking"Ihaveforgotten/9youreplace

108THECOVtiMETHOD

thatthoughtby"Iknowit,Iknowit,Irememberit."Themorewestrivetosuppressaburstoflaughter,themoreviolentlythelaughterexplodes.Themoreaper-sonlearningtorideabicyclewillstoavoidanobstacle,thestraighterherunsrightintoit.

Wemust,therefore,endeavortodirectourimagina-tionwhichatpresentdirectsus.Inthiswayweeasilybecome,physicallyandmentally,mastersofour-selves.HowarewetoarriveatthisresultfBythepracticeofconsciousautosuggestion,whichisbasedonthisprinciple:Everyidea,firmlyimplantedinourminds,tendstobecometrueforusandtorealizeitself.

Thus,ifwedesiresomethingphysicalormental,wecanobtainit,soonerorlater,providedwerepeatrapid-lyandoften,thatthethingisgoingtohappen,orisnotgoingtohappen,accordingastowhetheritissome-thingdesirableorundesirable.

Everythingisprovidedforinthegeneralformulatobeusedmorningandnight:Everyday,ineveryway,Iamgettingbetterandbetter.

Question:Forthosewhoaresadorwhoareindis-tresst

Answer:Aslongasyouthink"Iamsad,"youcan-notbegay;andinordertothinksomethingitisenoughtosay,withouteffort:"Ithinkthisthing,"etc.Painordistress,nomatterhowviolentitmaybe,willdis-appear.ThatIcanaffirmpositively.

Aman,bentwithrheumatism,arrives,painfullydragginghimselfwiththehelpoftwocanes.Hisfaceshowsadullexpressionofpain.Astheroomisfill-



ingupMr.CouSentersand,afterquestioningthisman,saystohim:"Well.Yousayyouhavebeensufferingfromrheumatismforthirty-twoyearsandyoucannot

ALLFOEEVERYONE109

walk.Don'tbeafraid.Itisnotgoingtolastthatlongagain."Then,afterthepreliminaryexperiments:"Shutyoureyesandrepeatrapidly,veryrapidly,mov-ingyourlips,thewordsitisgoing...itisgoing"(atthesametimeMr.Cou6passeshishandalongthelegsofthepatientforabouttwentyseconds)."Nowyoudonotsufferanymore,getupandwalk!"Thesickmanrisesandwalks."Faster,faster,stillfaster!Now,sinceyouarewalkingsowell,run,mydearsir,run!"Andthepatientrunsjoyously,almostasifhehadrecoveredhisyouth(tothegreatastonishmentofhimselfandthatofthemanypersonspresent(atthe

clinicofDr.Berillon,April27th,1920).

Aladydeclares:Myhusbandsufferedfromsuffocat-ingattacksofasthmaformanyyears;indeed,hehadsuchdifficultyinbreathingthatwefearedafatalissue.Hisdoctorhadgivenhimup.HewasalmostentirelyoaredofhistroubleafterasinglevisittoMr.Cou6.

AyoungwomancomestothankMr.Cou6,withdeepgratitude.Herphysician,Dr.Vachet,whowaswithherintheconsultingroom,statedthatshehadsufferedalongtimefromcerebralanemia.Hehadbeenun-abletocheckthisdiseasebytheusualremedies,butit

haddisappearedentirely,asifbymagic,withtheuseofconsciousautosuggestion.

Anotherperson,whoasaresultofhavingoncesuf-feredafracturedlegandcouldneitherwalknorevenlimpalongwithoutpain,wasabletowalknormallyatonce.Nomorepainandnomorelimping.Thehallthrillswithinterestandjoyousshoutsfromgratefulpeople,relievedorcured.

110THECOVti"METHOD"

Adoctor:"AutosuggestionisthegreatPowerofHealing/'HereliesonthegeniusofCou6.

Aformermagistrateexclaimsenthusiastically:"Icannotputmyappreciationintowords1Ithinkitis



admirable!"

Asocietywoman,overexcitedbythedisappearanceofhersufferings,exclaims:"Oh!Mr.Cou6,onewouldliketokneeltoyou...YouarethegoodGod..."Anotherlady,herselfalsoverymuchimpressed,setherfellowhearerright,bysaying:"No,Hisambas-sador.''

Anoldlady:"Itisdelightfultobeable,evenwhenoneisagedandfragile,toreplaceafeelingofgeneralweaknessandillhealthbyoneofrefreshmentandgeneralwell-being.ThemethodofMr.EmileCou6can,Iaffirm,forIhaveexperienceditmyself,bringaboutthatindescribablyhappyresultwhichisallthemorecompleteandlasting,asitreliesontheallpower-fulforcewhichiswithinus."

Atrulysympatheticvoicecalledhimbythemodestnamehepreferstothatof"master"i.e.,ProfessorCou6.

Ayoungwoman,likewiseveryenthusiastic,says*"Mr.Cou6goesstraighttohismark,attainsitsurely

anddelivershispatient.Heraisesgenerosityandknowledgetothehighestpitchbyleavingtothepatienthimselfthemeritofhisowndeliverance,teachinghimatthesametimetheuseofamostmarvelouspower."

Aliteraryman,requestedtowritealittleepitomeofthebeneficial"method",refusedabsolutelyandstated

ALLFOREVERYONE111

emphaticallythatthesimplephrase,"itpasses/9istheepitome,sincebyitsuse,accordingtothe"method,"itcausesallsufferingtodisappear.Andthemanythousandsofsickfolkswhohavebeenrelievedorcuredwillnotcontradicthim.

Aladywhohassufferedmuchdeclares:"Inre-read-ingthe'method'moreandmoreIfinditsuperior

tothemorelengthywritingswhichithasinspired.Truly,thereisnothingtobeaddedandnothingtobetakenawayfromthe'method.'Itremainsonlytospreadit.Ishalldothatineverywaypossible."

InconclusionIwillsay:AlthoughMr.Coup'smod-estycauseshimtoanswereveryone:

"Ihavenomagneticfluid...Ihavenoinfluence...Ihavenevercuredanybody...Mydisciplesobtainthe



sameresultsasmyself..."

Icansayinallsincerity:"Instructedastheyarebythispriceless'method'theyattempttofollowtheirmasterandinstructor,andwhen,insomefardistantfuture,thethrillingvoiceoftheauthoriscalledtoahighersphereandcannolongerteachthemherebe-low,the'method/hiswork,willcontinuetocontributeiqhelping,consolingandcuringthousandsandthousandsofhumanbeings.Itwillbeimmortal,andwillbecommunicatedbygenerousFrancetotheentireworld...forthemanofletterswasright.Heknewhowtoexpressinoneappropriatewordthistrue,sim-pleyetmarvelousaidinconqueringpain:Itpasses!Thereistheepitome."

SOMENOTESONTHETBIPOFMB.Coue´TOPABIS:OCTOBER1918.

ThedesirethattheteachingsofMr.CouLinParis,lastOctober,shouldnotbelosttoothers,hasinducedmetowritethemdown.Wewillnotmentionatthistimethegreatnumberofmentalandphysicalsuffererswho,underhistreatment,haveseentheirtroublesandpainslessenanddisappear,butlimitourselvestoasim-plestatementofafewofhisteachings:

Question:HowisitthatIdonotobtainbetterre-sultsinspiteofusingyourmethodandformula?

Mr.CouS:Becausethereis,probablyintheback-

groundofyourmindanunconsciousdoubt,orbecauseyoumakeefforts.Rememberplease,thateffortsarede-terminedbythewQX.Ifyoubringthewillintoplayyourunaseriousriskofbringingtheimaginationintoplayatthesametime,butinoppositiontoyourwish,thusbringingaboutjustthereverseofwhatyoudesire.

Question:Whatarewetodowhensomethingtroublesus?

Answer:Ifsomethingoccurstotroubleyou,repeatatonce:"No,thatdoesnottroublemeataH,notatall;ifanythingitisratheragreeable,tome."Lashort,

theideaistowoikyourselfintoagoodframeofmind,ratherthanintoabadone.

Question:Aretheprelimiqjpyexperimentsindis-pensableifthqyhurttheprideofthesubject?Answer:No,theyarenotindispensable,buttheyare

U2



ALLFOBEVERYONE113

extremelyuseful.Althoughtheymayseemchildishtosomepeople,theyare,onthecontrary,veryserious.Indeed,theyprovethreethings:

(1)Thateveryideawehaveinourmindsbecomestrueforusandhasatendencytotransformit-selfintoaction.

(2)Thatwhenaconflictoccursbetweentheimagina-tionandthewill,itisalwaystheimaginationwhichgainstheupperhand;andinthatcasewedopreciselythecontraryofwhatwewanttodo.

(3)Thatitiseasytoplantinourminds,withoutanyeffort,theideawhichwewishtohavethere,sincewehavebeenabletothinksuccessivelyandwithouteffort,first"Icannot"andthen

"Icm."

Thepreliminaryexperimentsshouldnotberepeatedathome;alone,oneisoftenunabletoputone'sselfintotherightphysicalandmentalcondition;youriskfailureandinthatcaseyourself-confidenceisshaken.

Qi+estion:Whenoneisinpainonecannothelpthink-ingofone'strouble.

Answer:Don'tbeafraidtothinkofit;onthecon-trary,thinkofit,butsaytoit:"Iamnotafraidofyou.'9Ifyouenter*homesomewhereandadogsud-

denlyjumpsatyoubarking,lookstraightintoitseyesanditwillnotbiteyou.Butifyouareafraidandturnyourbackitwillsoonbury'itsteethinyourleg.

Question:Butifonehastobeataretreat?Answer:Thenretreatstepbystep,goingbackwards,facingthedog.

Question:HowcanwerealizewhatwedesiretAnswer:Byrepeatingoftenwhatyoudesireforin-

114THECOVti"METHOD"

stance:"Iamgainingpoise/'andyouwill;"Mymemoryimproves/'anditcertainlywillimprove;"Iamabletocontrolmyselfabsolutely/'andthereisnoquestionbutthatyouwill.



Ifyoutellyourselfthecontrary,itisthecontrarywhichisgoingtohappen.Whatyoutellyourselfper-sistentlyandveryrapidly,comestopass(providedofcourse,thatitissomethingnatural.)

AFewTestimonials.

Oneyoungladytoanother:"Howsimpleitallis!Thereisnothingtoaddtoit;heseemstobeinspired.Don'tyouthinktherearesomehumanbeingswhoradiateinfluence?"

AneminentParisiandoctorsaidtoanumberofotherphysiciansaroundhim:"IhavecompletelyadoptedtheideasofMr.Cou6."

Apolyteohhician,knownasaseverecritic,saysofMr.Cou6:"Heisapower."

Yes;heisapowerforgood;withoutmercyforthebadautosuggestionsofthe"defeatist"type,butin-defatigablyactive,painstakingandsmiling,heisatalltimesreadytohelpeveryonetodevelophisorherper-

sonality.Finallyheteachesthemhowtocurethem-selves;thesearethebeneficialcharacteristicsoftheCouS"method."

Howcouldonefailtodesire,fromtheverybottomofone'sheart,thatallmightunderstandandseizethegoodnewswhichMr.Cou6brings.Itistheawakening,possibleforeveryone,ofthepersona}powertobehealthy,successful«pdhappy.Itis,ifyouconsent,thefulldevelopmentofapowerwhichmaytransformyourwholel|f©.4

ALLFOEEVERYONE115

Therefore,itistheprivilegeandthedutyoftheini-tiatedtospread,byeverypossiblemeans,theknowl-edgeofthiswonderful"method/'thehappyresultsofwhichhavebeenrecognizedandtestifiedtobymanythousandsofpersons.Suchtestimonywillteachotherthousandsofpeoplewhosuffer,whoareinpainandin

tears,readytodespair.Helpthemalltogetthebene-fitsofthispractice.

Then,thinkingofFrance,triumphantbutbruised;ofherdefenders,victoriousbutmutilated;ofallthephysicalandmentalsufferingcausedbythewar;maythosewhohavethepower("thegreatestpowerevergiventomanisthepowerofdoinggood"Socrates)seetoitthatthisinexhaustiblesourceofmentalandphysicalforcewhichtheCoue"method"putswithin



thereachofeveryone,becomesthepatrimonyoftheentirenationand,throughit,ofallhumanity.

Mme.EmileLeon,Collaborator,atParis,ofMr.CouL

Conclusion

Whatconclusionistobedrawnfromallthist

Theconclusionisaverysimpleoneandcanbeex-pressedinafewwords:Wepossessinourselvesanin-calculableforcewhichisoftenprejudicialtous,ifwehandleitunconsciously.If,onthecontrary,wedirect

itinaconsciousandwisemanner,itgivesusthemas-teryofourselvesandenablesus,notonlytosaveour-selvesfromphysicalandmentalillsandailments,butalsotohelpothers;andtoliveincomparativehappi-nessunderanyandallconditions.

Lastbutnotleast,suggestionandautosuggestionshouldbeusedforthemoralregenerationofthosewhohavestrayedfromtherightpath.

EMILECoue´.

117

118

HowtoPracticeConsciousAutosuggestion

Everymorningonawakeningandeveiyeveningassoonasyouareinbed,closeyoureyes,andwithoutfix-ingyourattentiononwhatyousay,pronouncetwentytimes,justloudenoughsothatyoumayhearyourownwords,thefollowingphrase,usingastringwithtwentyknotsinitforcounting:

"Daybyday,ineveryway,Iamgettingbetterandbetter."



Thewords:"Ineveryway"beinggoodforanythingandeverything,itisnotnecessarytoformulatepar-ticularautosuggestions.

Makethisautosuggestionwithfaithandconfidence,andwiththecertaintythatyouaregoingtoobtainwhatyoudesire.

Moreover,ifduringthedayornight,youhaveaphysicalormentalpainordepression,immediatelyaf-firmtoyourselfthatyouarenotgoingtoconsciouslycontributeanythingtomaintainthatpainordepres-sion,butthatitwilldisappearquickly.Thenisolateyourselfasmuchaspossible,closeyoureyes,andpassyourhandacrossyourforeheadifyourtroubleismental,orovertheachingpartofyourbodyifyourtroubleisphysical,andrepeatquickly,movingyourlips,thewords:"Itpasses,itpasses/9etc.Continuethisaslongasmaybenecessary,untilthementalorphysicalpainhasdisappeared,whichitusuallydoeswithintwentyortwenty-fiveseconds.Beginagainev-erytimeyoufinditnecessarytodoso.

Likethefirstautosuggestiongivenabove,youmustrepeatthisonealsowithabsolutefaithandconfidence,butcalmly,withouteffort.Repeattheformulaaslitaniesarerepeatedinchurch.

EmileCovt.

SUGGESTEDLIST

OFSTANDARDWORKSONAUTOSUGGESTION,PSYCHOLOGYANDOTHERALLIEDSUBJECTS.

ADLER,Dr.Alfred.-TheNeuroticConstitution$5.00

ARNOLD-FOSTER,M.L.StudiesinDreams2.00

BALDWIN,JamesM.MentalDevelopmentinthe

ChildandtheRace4.00

BAUDOUIN,Charles.SuggestionandAutosuggestion3.50

BETTS,G.H.TheMindandItsEducation1.90

BRIDGER,A.E.MindsinDistress'.1.25

BRILL,Prof.A.A.FundamentalConceptionsof

Psychoanalysis2.50



BROOKS,C.Harry.ThePracticeofAutosuggestion

bytheMethodofcEmileCou61.25

BROWN,H.AdvancedSuggestion3.50

BROWN,W.PsychologyandPsychotherapy.3.00

CORIAT,IsadorH.RepressedEmotions2.00

DEWEY,J.HumanNatureandConduct.2.25

DREVER,J.PsychologyofEveryDayLife2.50

EDSON,D.O.GettingWhatWeWant2.25

FIRTH,V.M.MachineryoftheMind1.25

FREUD,Prof.Sigmund.DelusionsandDreams.With

anIntroductionbyDr.G.StanleyHall3.00

InterpretationofDreams6.25

FRINK,H.W-MorbidFearsandCompulsions6.00

GENTILE,G.TheoryofMindasPureAct4.00

HEALY,W<MentalConflictsandMisconduct3.00

119

120THECOUti"METHOD"

HOBHOUSE,L.T.MindinEvolution4.40

HOLLINGWORTH,H.L.VocationalPsychology3.00JAMES,WPsychology;AdvancedCourse,2Volt*8.00

Psychology;BrieferCourse,1voL2.50

TalkstoTeachersonPsychology2.00

CollectedEssaysandReviews3.75

JUNG,C.G.PsychologyoftheUnconscious7.00

KITSON,H.D.HowtoUseYourMind1.50

KULPE,Oswald.OutlinesofPsychology4.00

LAY,W.Man'sUnconsciousSpirit2.00

LAWRENCE,D.H.Psychoanalysisandthe



Unconscious1.50

LEVY,P.E.RationalEducationoftheWill2.00

MARSHALL,H.R.MindandConduct1.75

MERCIER,Chas.SanityandInsanity2.50

MOLL,Dr.AlbertHypnotism2.50

MUNSTERBURG,Hugo.-Psychology:Generaland

Applied2.50

MYERSON,A.-FoundationsofPersonality2.25

PIERCE,P.OurUnconsciousMindandHowtoUseIt3.00

PRINCE,M.TheUnconscious3.00

QUACKENBOS,J.D.BodyandSpirit2.25

RUSSELL,B.A.W.AnalysisofMind4.00

SEASHORE,C.E.PsychologyinDailyLife2.25

STEKEL,Dr.Wfflielm.TheBelovedEgo2.50

STOUT,G.RAnalyticPsychology;2Vols7.00

TANSLEY,A.G.TheNewPsychologyandItsRela-tionofLife4.00

TITCHENER,E.B.AnOutlineofPsychology2.25

ExperimentalPsychology.

Vol.1,QualitativeExperiments:Pt1Student'sManual2.60

SUGGESTEDLISTOPBOOKS121

Pt2Instructor'sManual3.50

Vol2,QuantitativeExperiments:

Pt1Student'sManual2.60

Pt.2Instructor'sManual3.50

ABeginner'sPsychology1.25

TRIDON,A.-Psychoanalysis,Sleep,andDreams2.00



VARENDONCK,Dr.J.ThePsychologyofDay

Dreams.IntroductionbyProf.SigmundFreud6.00

WATTS,Frank.EchoPersonalities1.80

WHITE,W.A.MechanismsofCharacterFormation..2.75WUNDT,W.M.LecturesonHumanandAnimal

Psychology3.50

EthicalSystems2.50

CoueLeagueofAmerica

InFrance,andvariouscountriesofEuropewheretheearliestbenefitofMr.Coue'sclinicswasnaturallyfelt,

therecameanearlydemandforanorganizationtounitethosewhoweresympatheticwiththiswonderfulwork,andtheLorraineSocietyofAppliedPsychologyresulted;andnow,inAmerica,averygreatinteresthasdevelopedwhichisdemandingaformoforganization.Inthisbusydaymanyofthebestthingsslipintothebackgroundofourthought,andarepracticallylosttous.Itmustnotbesowiththis.Theneedissogreatandthe"Method"soscientific,practicalandefficientthatweshouldmakethemostofit,forourselvesandothers.TheremotenessofFranceandthedifferenceoflanguageseemedtomakeaseparateorganizationdesirableinthiscountryandthereforeanumberofpersonshaveunitedinforming

the"Coue´LEAGUEOFAMERICA."Anyonemaybecomeamemberofthe"LEAGUE"byregisteringhisorhernameandaddress,thusexpressinganinterestintheCoueIdealofSELFMASTERYbyAUTOSUG-GESTION.

Thisisnotprimarilyanorganizationofthesickorthosewhohavebeencuredthoughallsuchareofcoursewelcomedbutanywhoseeinthe"method"anoppor-tunityofbenefittingpracticallyandactuallyinsoul,mindandbody,areinvitedtounitewiththe"Coue´LEAGUEOFAMERICA."Thatsuchbenefitiswithinthereachofallwill,Ithink,berealizedbyanywhogivereason-

ablethoughttothislittlebook.

122



COUtiLEAGUEOFAMERICA123

Thosewhoreadthisvolumewithcare,willrealizethatMr.Coueismerelyintroducingandout-liningaverylargesubject.Muchhasbeenwrittenuponthesubjectalready,andtherewilldoubtlessbepresentedinthefuturemanyvolumes,lectures,discussions,etc.Appendedtothisannouncementwillbefoundabibliographyofworksnowexisting.Wewillbegladtofurnishanyonewithcopiesofthesebooksatcurrentprices.WealsoplantokeepthemembersoftheLeagueintouchwiththeadvancewhichmaybemadeinthesubjectinfutureworks.

Acourseoflecturesisnowbeingpreparedwhichpromisestobehelpful.Thelecturesaredesignedtoex-tendtheprinciplesofMr.Coueintoseveralfieldsofin-terestwhicharemerelysuggestedinthislittlevolume,butarenotcarriedoutinanydetail.Informationastothiscourseoflectureswillbefurnishedonrequest.

Itisourconviction,thatthismovement,initiatedbyMr.Coueisdestinedtohavewideinfluenceanduseful-ness.TheLEAGUEthroughitsofficerswillbegladto

answersuchquestionsasmayariseinthemindsofanyofitsmembers.

A.S.VanOrden,Secretary.

Ramsey,NewJersey.

EnrollmentCard

Date192......

Idesiretobeenrolledasamemberofthe

Coue´LEAGUEOPAMERICA

andtoreceivealladditionalinformationissuedbythe

LEAGUEforthebenefitofmembers.IwilldowhatIcantoincreasepopularknowledgeanduseofthe"CouLMethod."

Name

Address



Vocation

MailtoA.S.VanOrden,Secretary,Ramsey,N.J.

125

APPLICATIONFOBMEMBERSHIP

inthe

SOCIfiTfiLOBBAINEDEPSYCHOLOGIE

APPLIQUfiE.

MainOffice:

Mr.Govt,Presidentrat186rueJeanned'Arc,Nancy

Ihavethepleasuretoremitenclosedthesumof

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(5Francs)oraSocialMember(10Francs)oftheS.L.P.A.IamtoreceivefreeofchargetheBulletinsoftheSocietyandtobeadmittedfreeofcharge,totheconferencesorganisedbytheSociety.

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Insert5FrancsifyouwishtobeanactiveMember,or10FrancsifyouprefertobeaSocialMember.

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THELORRAINESOCIETYOPAPPLIEDPSYCHOLOGY

SuggestionAutosuggestionHypnotism

PRESIDENTSOFHONOR:MM.Dr.Berillon,*,Medecin-chefdudispensaireplda-

gogique,Paris.JBoirac,*frectcurdel'Acad&nie(dead).Dr.Burlureaux,O*,ancienprofesseurauVal-de-

Gracc

MEMBERSOFHONOR:Dr.MacAllan,London.M.Baudouin,professeuraHnstitutJ.-J.Rousseau,

Geneva.Grand-DueBorisdeRussie.Dr.CharlesdeBlois,sanatoriumdeTrois-Rivieres,

Canada.

MM.Bovet,directeurdeHnstitutJ.-J.Rousseau,

Geneva.Claparede,professeurdepsychologicarUniversiti,

Geneva.Dr.CostedelaGrave,Paris.Dr.Dumont,Nancy.Dr.BernardGlueck,NewYork.Dr.Joire,*fpr&identdelaSoci6tLuniverselle

d'Etudespsychiques,Lille.MM.Mengin,C*,mairedeNancy.

PaulMerouze,sous-pr6fetdeNeufchiteau.Dr.MontaguS.Monier-Williams,London.Rev.O'Flaberty,Edinburgh.Dr.PaulDamade,Brussels.E.Reymond,Winterthur(Switzerland).Dr.Stumper,Esch(Luxemburg).Dr.Vachet,Vincennes.Dr.VanVelsen,Brussels.

self mastery through conscious auto suggestion

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