After you have succeeded in planting this seed-thought in the child's mind, cultivate it. Do not neglect it, but return to it and emphasize the thought at another time, and gradually induce him to think of it in a positive manner. Tell an imaginary story which depicts the positive side of your seed-thought, and let him know it is of him you are thinking.
Always be positive—never negative. Always state the thing you want as it now is. Make it present tense—not even future. In suggestion there is no place for don't, can't or any other negative statement. Do not refer to the negative condition which you are striving to overcome. Do not say, "Your headache is better." Leave out the headache and say only, "You are better." A transitory term as—is becoming, or a future term as—you will be, or a questionable effort as—try to do, should not be used. Make your statement always positive, present tense, and completed. As for example: "This is mama's big, strong boy." "My boy always tells the truth." "My boy is strong and he is always kind." "John is a gentleman, he is kind to his sister." "Sarah loves her kitty and is kind and gentle with it."
The story of the Scotch wife will illustrate the effect of making negative statements. The husband was starting off on Saturday night to the village. John had a weakness, and knowing this the wife stood on the doorstep calling after him, "John, don't go near the saloon." "John, don't go near the saloon." "John, don't go near the saloon." With the best of intentions she kept repeating this as long as she could make him hear. John needed help, but if you will stop to think a moment you will see that the wife had continuously impressed upon his mind "the saloon," and, true to her fears, John returned home at a very late hour and in a sad condition.
Suggestion to be of value must get beyond the critical and analytical activity of the conscious mind and become placed in the sub-conscious. If the conscious mind denies the statement, either audibly or to itself, the sub-conscious is not influenced. The most profitable time to plant these positive seed-thoughts is just before the child "drops off to sleep."
The sub-conscious mind, which is influenced by the suggestion, never rests. It is the mind which controls the breathing, heart beat and other "sub-conscious action" of the body. It is working all the night through. If you fall asleep thinking in happy anticipation of some pleasure tomorrow you will awaken in the same happy, buoyant condition of mind. Often you have to think a moment to ascertain the reason for your happy mental condition, then you remember, "This is the day of the picnic." This shows how the sub-conscious has retained all through the night the thought which was placed there just before the conscious mind sleeps.
Take advantage of this fact and strive to place a positive, constructive thought upon the sub-conscious mind of your child just before sleep. It will be held and built into character and physical development all through the night.
Indirect Suggestion
This method is usually most effective because it is applied at times and in a manner which tends to overcome any tendency to negative influence of the conscious mind. All have seen the pitifully bashful child whose mother takes every opportunity to tell the visitors, in the child's hearing, how bashful she is. To the child she says: "My, you are the most bashful child I ever saw." The former statement made to the visitor, is a negative indirect suggestion; the latter, the statement to the child, is negative Direct Suggestion. Both of these tend to increase the child's bashfulness. They will never overcome it.
Indirect Positive Suggestions
Two parents are sitting in a living room talking; the child is playing in the next room, or even on the floor of this one. Without paying any attention and with the apparent intention of the child not hearing, the mother, in an undertone, says to the father: "Have you noticed how improved Sarah is of late; she is kind and thoughtful of her kitty, she loves it more and is so kind and gentle with it?" Father replies: "Isn't that nice; she is a dear, kind, gentle child." The parents go on talking about other things not noticing the little girl.