Describing the power of thought can feel like trying to explain the color red to someone who has never seen color. What would you say? How do you describe red without referencing another visual experience?

As my awareness continues to grow, I notice more and more examples that align with what I am learning about thought. But has anything truly changed in the external world?

Or is it more likely that my heightened awareness now allows me to recognize and take advantage of opportunities that were always present?

Most people have experienced this phenomenon. For example, when you buy a new car—let’s say a Toyota Sequoia—you suddenly start seeing Toyota Sequoias everywhere. They didn’t suddenly appear; you simply became aware of them.

This is why thought is so powerful. Thought shapes awareness, and awareness determines what we notice and what we believe is possible. As awareness expands, we begin to see connections, opportunities, and resources that previously went unnoticed.

This idea reminds me of the phrase, “When the student is ready, the teacher appears.” The teacher was not absent before; rather, the student’s awareness shifted. That internal change—recognizing a desire to learn and grow—opens the door to new understanding and guidance.

Haanel takes this concept even further by stating that thought itself is creative. Thought doesn’t just help us recognize opportunity; it plays an active role in shaping experience.

As awareness grows, thought moves from passive observation to intentional creation, influencing both perception and outcome.

With this understanding, my study of thought no longer feels theoretical. I find myself watching for the evidence of creative thought at work—in small moments and in more obvious results—and I can’t wait to see how continued awareness shapes what unfolds next.