The fact is that it contains the very simple exposition of a
magnificently humanitarian work, founded on a theory which may
appear childish just because it is within the scope of everyone. And
if everyone puts it into practice, the greatest good will proceed from
it.
After more than twenty years of indefatigable work, Emile Coué
who at the present time lives at Nancy, where he lately followed the
work and experiments of Liébault, the father of the doctrine of
suggestions, for more than twenty years, I say, Coué has been
occupied exclusively with this question, but particularly in order to
bring his fellow creatures to cultivate _autosuggestion._
At the beginning of the century Coué had attained the object of his
researches, and had disengaged the general and immense force of
autosuggestion. After innumerable experiments on thousands of
subjects, _he showed the action of the unconscious in organic
cases._ This is new, and the great merit of this profoundly, modest
learned man, is to have found a remedy for terrible ills, reputed
incurable or terribly painful, without any hope of relief.
As I cannot enter here into long scientific details I will content
myself by saying how the learned man of Nancy practises his
method.
The chiselled epitome of a whole life of patient researches and of
ceaseless observations, is a brief formula which is to be repeated
morning and evening.
It must be said in a low voice, with the eyes closed, in a position
favourable to the relaxing of the muscular system, it may be in bed,
or it may be in an easy chair, and in a tone of voice as if one were
reciting a litany.
Here are the magic words: _"Every day, in every respect, I am
getting better and better"._
They must be said twenty times following, with the help of a string
with twenty knots in it, which serves as a rosary. This material detail
has its importance; it ensures mechanical recitation, which is
essential.
While articulating these words, _which are registered by the
unconscious,_ one must not think of anything particular, neither of
one's illness nor of one's troubles, one must be passive, just with the
desire that all may be for the best. The formula _"in every respect"_
has a general effect.
This desire must be expressed without passion, without will, with
gentleness, _but with absolute confidence._
For Emile Coué at the moment of autosuggestion, _does not call in
the will in any way, on the contrary;_ there must be no question of
the will at that moment, but the _imagination,_ the great motive
force infinitely more active than that which is usually invoked, the
imagination alone must be brought into play.
"Have confidence in yourself," says this good counsellor, "believe
firmly that all will be well". And indeed all is well for those who
have faith, fortified by perseverance.
As deeds talk louder than words, I will tell you what happened to
myself before I had ever seen M. Coué.
I must go back then to the month of September when I opened M.
Charles Baudouin's volume. At the end of a substantial exposition,
the author enumerates the cure of illnesses such as enteritis, eczema,
stammering, dumbness, a sinus dating from twenty years back which
had necessitated eleven operations, metritis, salpingitis, fibrous
tumours, varicose veins, etc., lastly and above all, deep tubercular
sores, and the last stages of phthisis (case of Mme. D----, of Troyes,
aged 30 years, who has become a mother since her cure; case was
followed up, but there was no relapse). All this is often testified to
by doctors in attendance on the patients.
These examples impressed me profoundly; _there_ was the miracle.
It was not a question of nerves, but of ills which medicine attacks
without success. This cure of tuberculosis was a revelation to me.
Having suffered for two years from acute neuritis in the face, I was
in horrible pain. Four doctors, two of them specialists, had
pronounced the sentence which would be enough, of itself alone, to
increase the trouble by its fatal influence on the mind: "Nothing to
be done!" This "nothing to be done" had been for me the worst of
autosuggestions.
In possession of the formula: "Every day, in every respect . . .", etc., I
recited it with a faith which, although it had come suddenly, was
none the less capable of removing mountains, and throwing down
shawls and scarves, bareheaded, I went into the garden in the rain
and wind repeating gently _"I am going to be cured,_ I shall have no
more neuritis, it is going away, it will not come back, etc. . . ." The
next day I was cured and never any more since have I suffered from
this abominable complaint, which did not allow me to take a step out
of doors and made life unbearable. It was an immense joy. The
incredulous will say: "It was all nervous." Obviously, and I give
them this first point. But, delighted with the result, I tried the Coué
Method for an oedema of the left ankle, resulting from an affection
of the kidneys reputed incurable. In two days the oedema had
disappeared. I then treated fatigue and mental depression, etc., and
extraordinary improvement was produced, and I had but one idea: to
go to Nancy to thank my benefactor.
I went there and found the excellent man, attractive by his goodness
and simplicity, who has become my friend.
It was indispensable to see him in his field of action. He invited me
to a popular "séance." I heard a concert of gratitude. Lesions in the
lungs, displaced organs, asthma, Pott's disease (!), paralysis, the
whole deadly horde of diseases were being put to flight. I saw a
paralytic, who sat contorted and twisted in his chair, get up and walk.
M. Coué had spoken, he demanded confidence, great, immense
confidence in oneself. He said: "Learn to cure yourselves, you can
do so; I have never cured anyone. The power is within you
yourselves, call upon your spirit, make it act for your physical and
mental good, and it will come, it will cure you, you will be strong
and happy". Having spoken, Coué approached the paralytic: "You
heard what I said, do you believe that you will walk?" "Yes."--"Very
well then, get up!" The woman got up, she walked, and went round
the garden. The miracle was accomplished.
A young girl with Pott's disease, whose vertebral column became
straight again after three visits, told me what an intense happiness it
was to feel herself coming back to life after having thought herself a
hopeless case.
Three women, cured of lesions in the lungs, expressed their delight
at going back to work and to a normal life. Coué in the midst of
those people whom he loves, seemed to me a being apart, for this
man ignores money, all his work is gratuitous, and his extraordinary
disinterestedness forbids his taking a farthing for it. "I owe you
something", I said to him, "I simply owe you everything. . . ." "No,
only the pleasure I shall have from your continuing to keep well. . . ."
An irresistible sympathy attracts one to this simple-minded
philanthropist; arm in arm we walked round the kitchen garden
which he cultivates himself, getting up early to do so. Practically a
vegetarian, he considers with satisfaction the results of his work.
And then the serious conversation goes on: "In your _mind_ you
possess an _unlimited_ power. It acts on matter if we know how to
domesticate it. The imagination is like a horse without a bridle; if
such a horse is pulling the carriage in which you are, he may do all
sorts of foolish things and take you to your death. But harness him
properly, drive him with a sure hand, and he will go wherever you
like. Thus it is with the mind, the imagination. They must be
directed for our own good. Autosuggestion, formulated with the lips,
is an order which the unconscious receives, it carries it out unknown
to ourselves and above all at night, so that the evening
autosuggestion is the most important. It gives marvelous results."
When you feel a physical pain, add the formula _"It is going
away . . .",_ very quickly repeated, in a kind of droning voice,
placing your hand on the part where you feel the pain, or on the
forehead, if it is a mental distress.
For the method acts very efficaciously on the mind. After having
called in the help of the soul for the body, one can ask it again for all
the circumstances and difficulties of life.
There also I know from experience that events can be singularly
modified by this process.
You know it to-day, and you will know it better still by reading M.
Baudouin's book, and then his pamphlet: _"Culture de la force
morale",_ and then, lastly, the little succinct treatise written by M.
Coué himself: _"Self Mastery."_ All these works may be found at M.
Coué's.
If however I have been able to inspire in you the desire of making
this excellent pilgrimage yourself, you will go to Nancy to fetch the
booklet. Like myself you will love this unique man, unique by
reason of his noble charity and of his love for his fellows, as Christ
taught it.
Like myself also, you will be cured physically and mentally. Life
will seem to you better and more beautiful. That surely is worth the
trouble of trying for.