The lullaby method · Neville Goddard, in his own words
What is the lullaby method?
The lullaby method is readers' name for a technique Neville Goddard taught in Five Lessons. In the drowsy state before sleep, you assume the feeling of the wish fulfilled and repeat a short phrase that implies it, such as “Thank you” or “Isn't it wonderful”, over and over like a lullaby. He gave it for times when you cannot hold an imagined scene.
The name comes from readers, but the word is his: “repeat the phrase over and over like a lullaby.” In the lectures the phrase he uses is “Thank you, Father.”
In Neville's words
Verbatim from the restored lecture transcripts and his books. A lecture link plays only the quoted passage.
“A most effective way to embody a desire is to assume the feeling of the wish fulfilled and then, in a relaxed and drowsy state, repeat over and over again like a lullaby, any short phrase which implies fulfillment of your desire, such as, “Thank you, thank you, thank you” as though you addressed a higher power for having given you that which you desired.”
“When you have your phrase in mind, lift the cloud. Let the cloud ascend by simply inducing the state that borders on sleep. Simply begin to imagine and feel you are sleepy, and in this state assume the feeling of the wish fulfilled. Then repeat the phrase over and over like a lullaby. Whatever the phrase is, let it imply that the assumption is true, that it is concrete, that it is already a fact and you know it.”
“Or if I felt thankful because I thought someone was instrumental in bringing my desire to pass, I could say, “Thank you,” and repeat it with feeling over and over again like a lullaby until my mind was dominated by the single sensation of thankfulness.”
“A most effective way to embody a desire is to assume the feeling of the wish fulfilled and then, in a relaxed and sleepy state, repeat over and over again, like a lullaby, any short phrase which implies fulfillment of our desire, such as “Thank you” as though we addressed a higher power for having done it for us.”
“Now, we are told the most wonderful prayer ever uttered, you find in the book of John, the 11th chapter. He stands at the gate of death, and he raised his eyes and said, Thank you, Father, that thou hast heard me. I knew that you always hear me. Well, I can't deny that the depth of my own being is hearing what I am doing, what I am inwardly saying. So I can truly say, Father, thank you. He certainly heard what I said.”
“If I heard it, and I and my Father are one, can I not now say to my inner being, Thank you, Father? You heard it, because I heard it. For if we know that he hears all that we ask of him, then we know we have already obtained the request made of him.”
How he describes doing it
In order, as he lays it out in Five Lessons.
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Choose a phrase of no more than three words that implies your wish is already realized. Make it up in your own words.
“There should not be more than three words. Something that implies the desire is already realized. “Isn’t it wonderful”, or “Thank you,” certainly imply that. These are not all the phrases you could use. Make up out of your own vocabulary the phrase which best suits you. But make it very, very short and always use a phrase that implies fulfillment of the idea.”
Five Lessons 1948, ch. 2, Assumptions Harden Into Fact
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If you cannot hold an imagined scene, condense the wish into that phrase instead.
“If you cannot concentrate on an act, if you cannot snuggle into your chair and believe the chair is elsewhere, just as though elsewhere were here, then do this: Reduce the idea, condense it to a single, simple phrase like, “Isn’t it wonderful.” or, “Thank you.” or, “It’s done.” or, “It’s finished.””
Five Lessons 1948, ch. 2, Assumptions Harden Into Fact
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Get drowsy by imagining that you feel sleepy, assume the feeling of the wish fulfilled, then repeat the phrase over and over like a lullaby.
“When you have your phrase in mind, lift the cloud. Let the cloud ascend by simply inducing the state that borders on sleep. Simply begin to imagine and feel you are sleepy, and in this state assume the feeling of the wish fulfilled. Then repeat the phrase over and over like a lullaby. Whatever the phrase is, let it imply that the assumption is true, that it is concrete, that it is already a fact and you know it.”
Five Lessons 1948, ch. 2, Assumptions Harden Into Fact
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Keep repeating it until the one feeling, such as thankfulness, fills the mind.
“A most effective way to embody a desire is to assume the feeling of the wish fulfilled and then, in a relaxed and sleepy state, repeat over and over again like a lullaby, any short phrase which implies fulfillment of your desire, such as, “Thank you, thank you, thank you, ” until the single sensation of thankfulness dominates the mind. Speak these words as though you addressed a higher power for having done it for you.”
Five Lessons 1948, ch. 5, Remain Faithful to Your Idea
Common questions
What phrase should I use?
Any very short phrase that implies the wish is fulfilled. He gave examples and said to make up your own.
““Isn’t it wonderful”, or “Thank you,” certainly imply that. These are not all the phrases you could use. Make up out of your own vocabulary the phrase which best suits you.”
Five Lessons 1948, ch. 2, Assumptions Harden Into Fact
Do I have to say it out loud?
No. In At Your Command he wrote that the words are not a magic formula.
““Thank you father” is not, as it is used by many today, a sort of magical formula. You need never utter aloud the words, “Thank you, father.””
At Your Command 1939, ch. 4, Chapter 3
Is the feeling more important than the words?
Yes. He said the feeling he means is acceptance that the wish is fulfilled.
“When I speak of feeling I do not mean emotion, but acceptance of the fact that the desire is fulfilled. Feeling grateful, fulfilled, or thankful, it is easy to say, “Thank You,” “Isn’t it wonderful!” or “It is finished.” When you get into the state of thankfulness, you can either awaken knowing it is done, or fall asleep in the feeling of the wish fulfilled.”
Five Lessons 1948, ch. 6, Questions and Answers
Can I use it without naming a wish?
Yes. In the question period of Five Lessons he gave “Isn't it wonderful!” on its own, without asking what is wonderful.
“Rather, repeat over and over again, “Isn’t it wonderful!” Suspend judgment as to what is wonderful. Catch the one sensation of the wonder of it all and things will happen to bear witness to the truth of this sensation.”
Five Lessons 1948, ch. 6, Questions and Answers
Has anyone used it?
The Law and the Promise prints a letter from one of his students, who said this phrase each night while falling asleep.
“I would say over and over to myself as I fell asleep, ‘Isn’t it wonderful! Something marvelous is happening to me now!’ And as I fell asleep I would feel the way I would expect to feel under such circumstances.”
The Law and the Promise 1961, ch. 7, Moods
Where does “Thank you, Father” come from?
In the lectures he takes it from the prayer in John 11.
“Now, we are told the most wonderful prayer ever uttered, you find in the book of John, the 11th chapter. He stands at the gate of death, and he raised his eyes and said, Thank you, Father, that thou hast heard me. I knew that you always hear me. Well, I can't deny that the depth of my own being is hearing what I am doing, what I am inwardly saying. So I can truly say, Father, thank you. He certainly heard what I said.”
How to Really Pray lecture, at 7:34 Play 40 s
All 2 lectures on the lullaby method
Feel After Him
Running time 46:33Neville Goddard identifies God with the human imagination, citing Paul's address to the Athenians in Acts 17. He explains that imagining creates reality, and that one should feel after this indwelling God by assuming the feeling of the wish fulfilled. The lecture covers the mechanics of assumption, the importance of mental diet, and the idea that all objective reality originates from what is first imagined.
How to Really Pray
Running time 16:14Neville Goddard explains prayer as a radical change of attitude, not begging. He teaches that repentance means shifting one's state of consciousness by imagining a scene that implies a wish is fulfilled, then giving thanks. He illustrates this with a personal story of securing a ship passage by imagining walking up a gangplank.
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We owe the practice to Neville Goddard (1905–1972). Feelingfield is independent and is not affiliated with or endorsed by his estate.