How the State Akin to Sleep Technique Helps You Overcome Manifestation Resistance
As the year winds down, many people begin reflecting on what they’ve created, and what still feels just out of reach. If you’ve been working with manifestation techniques but keep hitting resistance, you’re not alone. One of the most common blocks people experience is the tension between what they want and what their mind believes is possible.
One technique that has helped me a lot with working through this resistance is the State Akin to Sleep (SATS) technique. This method, popularized by Neville Goddard (a New Thought author known for his teachings on how your imagination creates your reality which is the foundation of the Law of Assumption), uses the drowsy state before sleep to bypass the conscious mind and impress your subconscious mind.
Below, I’ll talk about why resistance shows up, how your conscious and subconscious mind actually work, and how to use SATS effectively to shift your inner world and eventually, your outer results.
Understanding the Conscious and Subconscious Mind in Manifestation
The Conscious Mind
Your conscious mind is:
Selective
Personal
Generates ideas and impresses them onto the subconscious mind
It filters experiences through your self-concept and beliefs. For example:
“I’m Alison. I’m a woman.”
This is also the part of your mind that generates ideas and problem-solves. It acts as a gatekeeper to the subconscious mind.
If your conscious mind doesn’t believe a new idea is possible, it won’t allow it to reach the subconscious.
The Subconscious Mind
Your subconscious mind is:
Non-selective
Accepts ideas and gives expression and form to them
It does not know the difference between something imagined and something experienced. Whatever the subconscious accepts as true, must be given expression in your 3D world. This is why changing your inner state shifts your outer reality.
Your conscious mind impresses, and your subconscious expresses.
Why Resistance Happens in Manifesting
Resistance occurs when there is a disagreement between your conscious mind and your subconscious mind.
Examples:
You imagine abundance, but your mind says, “That’s not realistic.”
You visualize being in a loving relationship, but you don’t feel worthy of having one.
This mismatch creates resistance.
That’s where SATS comes in.
What Is the State Akin to Sleep?
Neville Goddard emphasized that the drowsy state right before sleep is one of the most powerful windows for manifestation. When you enter this space between wakefulness and sleep, your conscious mind has its guard down. This makes the subconscious mind far more receptive.
SATS works because:
Your body is relaxed
Your mind is quiet
You bypass resistance
You impress new assumptions with less effort
This is one of the most effective ways to align your subconscious with what you actually want to create.
How to Use SATS
1. Get Clear on Your Desired Outcome
Before you start, know exactly what it is you want and define your aim.
2. Create a Short Imaginal Scene that is between 5–10 Seconds long
Your imaginal act should imply your desire is already fulfilled.
Examples:
Someone congratulating you
You telling someone your manifestation is complete
A short scene that shows the end result
If you’re manifesting a new job, imagine a loved one saying, “I’m so proud of you, congratulations!”
Be sure the scene elicits the feeling of already having what you desire. This is key, as feeling is the language of the subconscious mind.
3. Engage Your Senses
To make the scene feel real:
See the environment
Hear the words
Feel the emotions
Notice textures, smells, or subtle details
Your subconscious responds to vivid sensory impressions.
Enter the Drowsy State
Choose a position that allows for you to get into a drowsy state, but one that’s not too comfortable (this way you won’t fall asleep).
You can:
Take slow, deep breaths
Count backwards from 100
Let your body fully soften
5. Loop Your Scene
Once you’re in the drowsy state, loop your scene until it feels real. When the scene feels real, you’ve planted the seed.
The subconscious must express what it accepts as true.
Tips for Making SATS Easier
If you fall asleep quickly, try practicing during the day.
Set an alarm an hour before your usual wake-up time (this is one of those windows where you are naturally already in the State Akin to Sleep).
Use the moments right before sleep and right after waking. These periods naturally place you in SATS. However, if you find it’s too hard not to fall asleep, I’d recommend doing it during the day to start off.
Try to keep your imaginal scene short and simple. One misconception with manifesting is that it’s necessary to construct this long scene of how we are going to get our desire and this isn’t the case. All that is necessary is feeling the feeling of already having what you want. It sounds too good to be true and too simple, but it’s true.
With repetition, you’ll find it becomes easier to drop into the state and impress your subconscious.
If You’re Experiencing No Movement in Your Manifestations
If you’ve been trying to manifest something for a long time with little to no results, I’d love to help you through the work I specialize in.
We can do this through:
I help you understand why your manifestations haven’t materialized yet, what you specifically need in order to successfully manifest, and how to dissolve blocks that most people aren’t consciously aware of.
If you’re ready to finally shift what has always felt just out of reach, I’d love to support you.
Final Thoughts
The State Akin to Sleep technique is a very effective way to work through resistance and bring your conscious and subconscious mind into alignment. With consistent practice, SATS can help you embody the feelings of your desired reality, and open the door to receiving it.
Happy manifesting, and happy holidays!
