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Hillary Silver
If you're someone who's done a lot of personal growth work and feel like you know a lot, but you're still stuck, this episode is for you. I've spent over two decades researching and studying human behavior and relationships, psychology and how the mind works, trauma healing, subconscious belief work, and more. But the most powerful shift I've ever had did not come from any of that. It came from an obscure and tiny 85 page book written in 1910, the Science of Getting Rich by Wallace Wattles. It's not actually about money, and what it is about might just be the thing you've been missing too. So today I'm sharing the profound lessons I took from this book, why it hit me so hard and even contributed to me quitting being a therapist and how you can apply the ideas in how you live so that you can start creating what you want no matter what your current circumstances look like. Hi, it's Hillary. Welcome to the Hillary Silver Podcast. Thanks for tuning into the conversation today. If you haven't already, it would mean so much to me if you'd take a minute to just click that five star rating on your podcast app, leave a review and subscribe so you never miss one of my episodes. And if you're enjoying this podcast, please consider sharing it with a friend because if you like it, then they will probably like it too. So let's get into it. Don't be fooled by this tiny little book. Every sentence is packed with meaning. Reading it requires your full attention or you risk missing something amazing. Because literally every sentence and every word is loaded with brilliance. It turned my world upside down in the best possible way and it cracked something open to me that nothing else had. Not years of therapy and not even all the therapy training that I went through. In fact, when I read it back in 2016, I kind of got mad because after all that work, this little book showed me what we all really just need to do. And it's to stop digging into our past, reliving, rehashing, and looking backwards, but to simply just go forward. Mastering our mind. That realization shifted everything. It completely changed how I think about myself and how the world actually works. And it was the tipping point for for me in realizing that I no longer believe in the therapy model at all. So today I want to share the five big lessons that I took from this book and why I still treat it like a personal bible. Literally. It's on my desk and I have a copy on my nightstand just in case I need inspiration. And I'll even read you Some of my favorite lines, because, honestly, I just couldn't say it any better myself if I tried. So the first core concept that Wallace Wattles shares is that there is this stuff, that stuff called the thinking stuff from which all things are made. That's a quote. That's how he describes what some might call God or source or spirit or the universe. And what it is is this intelligent, creative energy that permeates everything around us. It's not just around us, it's responding to us always. Every thought you have impresses itself upon this thinking substance. And from that impression, a corresponding form begins to take shape. It's kind of like magic, but it's not actually. So. You're not just thinking within your own head. You're thinking into the field of creation. And that means you're in a constant, active relationship with it. This was, for me, the best explanation of how we manifest things in our life. It helped me understand manifesting something that I had actually been doing a lot of since I was very little, but didn't know it, and I didn't understand what I was doing. Which leads me to the next idea, which is that what we think is the origin of everything we experience. We are not here to manage and deal with our reality. We are here to create it. And you do that by thinking what you want to think. You literally think things in into creation. So he says, and this is a quote, a man's way of doing things is the direct result of the way he thinks about things. To do things the way you want to do them, you will have to acquire the ability to think the way you want to think. It sounds simple and basic, but it explains everything. Your actions, your habits, your results. They all flow from your thoughts. Which wasn't necessarily new information for me because I'd been been helping people manage their thoughts and choose better thoughts for years. But here's what made this next level for me, and bear with me, because this is pretty complex. He makes the distinction between thinking what we want to think, which is thinking truth, versus thinking thoughts that are a reaction to appearances. He says to think truth regardless of appearances is the hardest work in the world. And I could not agree more. The hardest thing is to believe something is true before the world gives you proof it is the hardest work there is. And this is another quote. Every appearance in the visible world tends to produce a corresponding form in the mind which observes it. And unless you consciously hold the truth in your mind, you will start thinking what you see. And instead of thinking what you desire. Holy Shit, this just blew my mind. And I was like, oh, my God, yes, this is it. So what follows is this the third idea that I took from the book. Your thoughts aren't just passive ideas floating in your head. They are instructions. They are blueprints for creation. They go out into the thinking stuff, that energy field. And that field begins organizing around what you hold in your head, your mind. So when you keep your mind aligned with the truth of what you desire, not the appearance of your current reality, you begin to create a new experience. This is how we rise above circumstance, overcome all odds, and consciously choose for ourselves who we are and what we want for ourselves. Unfortunately, we do it backwards. When we try to change our actions without changing our thoughts, when we try to fix our circumstances without fixing our perspective, when we try to create things, but we don't think with clarity or consistency or even the belief that it's possible. That's why we stay stuck. And that's why the healing work, the therapy, the effort doesn't move us forward. That's because we're still thinking according to appearances. We're thinking what, what we see instead of seeing what we choose to think. This is when I realized and began saying, oh, my gosh. That old phrase, seeing is believing, is backwards. We have to first believe, and only then will we start seeing. And then this leads me to the next big takeaway of the book for me, that we go first. It's not enough to want something with every ounce of your being. You have to become the version of you who already has it before you will ever get it. You have to think the thoughts of someone who's already living the life you want before you actually have it. I know that's like super, like, heady, but he says this is another quote. Thought is the only power which can produce tangible riches from the formless substance. This is the foundation of the book. Your outer world is. Is simply a reflection of your inner world. You don't hustle your way to joy or love or success or fulfillment. You live it internally first, and then you act from that energy. When I finally got this, I stopped operating like someone trying to work hard for success, and I started embodying someone who already had the success I wanted. This was everything for me. And from there, the action was easy. The success was natural. That's really the shift. You don't get rich by working harder. You get rich by thinking richer. It's like, just mind blowing. And by the way, another reminder, this is not about money and getting rich at all. It's about really becoming who you need to be, thinking how you want to think so that you can then impress upon the universe and influence the universe to deliver all that it is that you desire. And so finally, for anyone who struggles with feeling undeserving of love, happiness, success, or receiving anything that you really want, he says, and this is another quote, the very best thing you can do for the whole world is to make the most of yourself. Waddles says that pursuing personal wealth and success is not a selfish endeavor, but a responsibility. How's that? By doing so, individuals not only enhance their own lives, but also uplift others, fostering a more prosperous and progressive society. By achieving our own success, we set a precedent and provide a tangible example for others to follow. This perspective positions personal development and wealth accumulation and acts of service to humanity, demonstrating the possibilities available to us all. Oh my God. All of that in this tiny little 85 page book. Again, why every sentence is so jam packed with meaning. So now I'm going to read a full quote that I come back to again and again. Got to put my glasses on. So he says to think what you want to think is to think truth, regardless of appearances. Every man has the natural and inherent power to think what he wants to think, but it requires far more effort to do so than it does to think thoughts which are suggested by appearances. To think according to appearance is easy. To think truth, regardless of appearances, is laborious and requires the expenditure of more power than any other work man is called upon to perform. There is no labor from which most people shrink, as they do from that of sustained and consecutive thought. It is the hardest work in the world. This is especially true when truth is contrary to appearances. Every appearance in the visible world tends to produce a corresponding form in the mind which observes it. And this can only be prevented by holding the thought of truth. Ah, I just love this book and I hope that you will read it because I want it to be as life changing for you as it's been for me. That is the work and that is the power. If you want to become a master of your life, then you must become a master of your mind. When you change your mind, you absolutely change your life. Period. This is the work that I do in my Ready for Love program for my single high achieving women who have everything they want in life and accept the loving, supportive relationship they've always wanted. They learn to change the way they think about themselves and what is possible for them. And they begin walking through life with different internal dialogue. And they manifest the true equal partner. They've always wanted someone to share their life with, something that they actually struggled to think and believe and know was possible before successful in other areas of their lives because they were able to think that way in those parts of their lives. You can have everything that you want my friends. It starts with you. So if you are single and you are high achieving and you want to learn more about Ready for Love, just apply to speak with us. I'll put the links in the show notes. You can also watch my free masterclass. It's about 3035 minutes. I'll also put the link there so you can learn more about what we do. If this resonated, hit like drop a comment. Please share with me and subscribe. Hit and definitely check out my episode on how I changed my brain in 90 days. It pairs perfectly with this episode and I'll see you next time.
Podcast Summary: The Hilary Silver Podcast – “This Book Changed How I Think & Live”
Release Date: June 27, 2025
Introduction
In the episode titled “This Book Changed How I Think & Live,” hosted by Hilary Silver, listeners are taken on a transformative journey exploring how a seemingly obscure 85-page book profoundly influenced Hilary’s approach to life, therapy, and personal growth. Hilary Silver, a former psychotherapist with over two decades of experience in studying human behavior, relationships, and psychology, delves deep into the timeless wisdom of Wallace Wattles' Science of Getting Rich. This episode is particularly tailored for individuals who have engaged in extensive personal growth work yet find themselves feeling stuck despite their efforts.
The Catalyst: Wallace Wattles' Science of Getting Rich
Hilary begins by emphasizing that her most significant personal shift didn’t stem from years of therapy or advanced training. Instead, it was the result of discovering Science of Getting Rich by Wallace Wattles, published in 1910. She describes the book as "not actually about money," but rather about mastering the mind to create the life one desires.
Hilary Silver (00:00): "The most powerful shift I've ever had did not come from any of that. It came from an obscure and tiny 85-page book written in 1910, the Science of Getting Rich by Wallace Wattles."
Core Concepts Explored
Hilary outlines five pivotal lessons from Wattles' book, each serving as a cornerstone for her personal and professional transformation.
Thinking Substance: The Foundation of Creation
Wattles introduces the concept of "thinking stuff"—an intelligent, creative energy synonymous with notions like God, the universe, or spirit. This "thinking stuff" responds to every thought, shaping forms and realities accordingly.
Hilary Silver (02:15): "Wallace Wattles describes it as this intelligent, creative energy that permeates everything around us. Every thought you have impresses itself upon this thinking substance."
Insight: Understanding that thoughts actively create reality empowered Hilary to recognize her innate ability to manifest her desires, a concept she had unintentionally practiced since childhood.
Thoughts as the Origin of Experience
According to Wattles, “a man's way of doing things is the direct result of the way he thinks about things.” Essentially, our actions, habits, and outcomes are direct manifestations of our thoughts.
Hilary Silver (05:30): "Your actions, your habits, your results. They all flow from your thoughts."
Insight: This principle underscored the importance of aligning one’s thoughts with desired outcomes rather than being swayed by external appearances.
Thoughts as Instructions
Hilary elaborates on how thoughts are not passive but serve as blueprints for creation. By maintaining a consistent and clear thought pattern aligned with one's desires, individuals can transcend their current circumstances.
Hilary Silver (08:45): "Your thoughts… are instructions. They go out into the thinking stuff, that energy field. And that field begins organizing around what you hold in your head."
Insight: This realization highlighted the necessity of internal alignment before attempting external changes, shifting the focus from external efforts to internal mastery.
Believing Before Seeing
One of the most profound takeaways is the idea that belief precedes reality. Wattles posits that “seeing is believing” should be inverted to “believing is seeing.”
Hilary Silver (12:10): "That old phrase, seeing is believing, is backwards. We have to first believe, and only then will we start seeing."
Insight: This concept emphasizes the power of belief in shaping one’s perception and eventual reality, advocating for a mindset shift where belief leads to manifestation.
Becoming Before Having
Finally, Wattles stresses the importance of embodying the desired state before it materializes. One must think and act as if they already possess what they seek.
Hilary Silver (15:50): "You don’t get rich by working harder. You get rich by thinking richer."
Insight: By internalizing the qualities and mindset of the person they aspire to be, individuals can naturally attract and achieve their goals without forced effort.
Personal Transformation and Professional Application
These lessons not only reshaped Hilary’s personal worldview but also led her to pivot from her career in therapy. She now incorporates these principles into her programs, such as the "Ready for Love" program for single, high-achieving women. By teaching clients to align their thoughts with their desires, Hilary facilitates profound personal transformations, enabling them to manifest fulfilling relationships and success effortlessly.
Hilary Silver (25:00): "When I changed my mind, I absolutely changed my life. Period. This is the work that I do in my Ready for Love program… They learn to change the way they think about themselves and what is possible for them."
Program Highlights:
Conclusion
Hilary Silver’s episode underscores the transformative power of aligning one’s thoughts with their desired reality. By embracing the teachings of Wallace Wattles' Science of Getting Rich, Hilary not only redefined her personal and professional life but also provides actionable insights for listeners to do the same. The episode serves as a compelling reminder that true change begins within, and by mastering our thoughts, we can create the lives we envision.
Hilary Silver (40:00): "You don't hustle your way to joy or love or success or fulfillment. You live it internally first, and then you act from that energy. When you change your mind, you absolutely change your life."
Listeners are encouraged to explore Science of Getting Rich themselves and consider how its timeless principles can be integrated into their journeys toward personal and professional fulfillment.
Key Quotes:
Understanding Thought Creation:
“Every thought you have impresses itself upon this thinking substance.” — Hilary Silver (02:15)
Alignment of Thoughts and Actions:
“Your actions, your habits, your results. They all flow from your thoughts.” — Hilary Silver (05:30)
Belief Precedes Reality:
“We have to first believe, and only then will we start seeing.” — Hilary Silver (12:10)
Embodiment Before Achievement:
“You don’t get rich by working harder. You get rich by thinking richer.” — Hilary Silver (15:50)
Transformation Through Mindset:
“When you change your mind, you absolutely change your life.” — Hilary Silver (40:00)
Further Engagement:
For listeners seeking to delve deeper into the concepts discussed, Hilary recommends reading Science of Getting Rich and exploring her other episodes, particularly “How I Changed My Brain in 90 Days,” which complements the ideas presented in this episode.
If you found this summary insightful, consider subscribing to The Hilary Silver Podcast, leaving a five-star rating, and sharing it with friends who are on their personal growth journeys.