The great Caruso shouts down throat issues
This past week I began re-reading a mind-power classic by Joseph Murphy, The Power of Your Subconscious Mind. If you’re not familiar with it, you should be. It is one of the all-time great treatises on mental potential.
Written in the 1960s it became Dr. Murphy’s most famous work on the extraordinary abilities we have, and how to gain conscious control over them through simple techniques.
I’ve read a number of his books and they all employ the same method. He will speak to certain principles and then illustrate them with real-life tales, generally plucked from the lives of those around him or who studied under him.
Because he developed a huge following, he was able to reference an endless stream of these tales of mental derring do — which makes for thrilling reading.
These real-life transformations are what make a Joseph Murphy book so compelling! They are the apps that make it useful. And because he is liberal with the stories — the way my Dad is with salt — you come across one every couple of pages.
Caruso’s tale
Early on in The Power of Your Subconscious Mind, I came across this passage below that I have to share with you:
Most of the great scientists, artists, poets, singers, writers, and inventors have a deep understanding of the workings of the conscious and subconscious minds. One time Caruso, the great operatic tenor, was struck with stage fright. He said his throat was paralyzed due to spasms caused by intense fear, which constricted the muscles of his throat. Perspiration poured copiously down his face. He was ashamed because in a few minutes he had to go out on the stage, yet he was shaking with fear and trepidation. He said, “They will laugh at me. I can’t sing.” Then he shouted in the presence of those behind the stage, “The Little Me wants to strangle the Big Me within.”
He said to the Little Me, “Get out of here, the Big Me wants to sing through me.”
By the Big Me, he meant the limitless power and wisdom of his subconscious mind, and he began to shout, “Get out, get out, the Big Me is going to sing!”
His subconscious mind responded releasing the vital forces within him. When the call came, he walked out on the stage and sang gloriously and majestically, enthralling the audience.
Caruso’s reaction to his plight is instructive to the ninnies of the world. (Here I am speaking only to myself — the ninny I am when I allow fear to intrude. Please don’t feel I am slighting the other ninnies of the world.) Caruso deserves an operatic song in praise of his boldness in attacking what would have set many another performer back.
He did several things that beg to be noted —
- He refused to accept it!
- He spoke to the problem directly — in front of other people! He could easily have stifled himself for fear of ridicule from those around him.
- He addressed the issue as you would Mini-Me, Dr. Evil’s clone (Austin Powers).
- He invoked his Greater Self (Big Me).
- As a grand finale he finished by shouting out his intention! (Again, in front of people — this fearlessness to address his throat spasms as an internal struggle, regardless of what others would think, impresses me to no end.)
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