I just read a fascinating book, Outwitting the Devil, by Napoleon Hill. He wrote the famous, Think and Grow Rich, a best-seller on personal growth and success published in 1937. Outwitting the Devil was completed in 1938, but only published recently in 2011 due to concerns that it would be too controversial.

In the book, Napoleon Hill has a dialogue with the Devil in which he questions and forces the Devil to share his secrets about how he holds power over people. Through this dialogue, we learn what tools are used by the Devil to prevent us from reaching our personal goals, and more importantly, what we must do to overcome the power of the Devil.

One of the main principles of success Napoleon Hill talks about is mastery over self. Hill suggests that in order to have control over self, we need to start with mastery over our desire for food. Our appetite for food is most frequently responsible for our lack of self discipline.

Hill states that most people are so weak in self discipline that they consume too much rich foods that overwork the digestion and elimination organs. He goes on to say that the vast quantity and combination of foods most people consume cause the body to “dispose of it by converting the food into deadly toxic poisons.” Furthermore, “these poisons clog and stagnate the body sewer system until it slows down in its work of elimination of waste matter”, causing constipation and eventually, physical sluggishness and mental irritability.

Hill believed that eating wisely means a clean body sewer, a sound body and a brain that functions properly. “It is just as important to eliminate the waste matter of the body and the unused portion of food as it is to take the right amount and the correct combinations of foods.” Sure sounds like Napoleon Hill would agree with cleansing and the benefits of an internal cleanse like Lemonade Cleanse To Go.
Although cleansing has been popular in various cultures and religions over the centuries because of the health benefits, it’s interesting to see it in a self-help book as a component of personal success. Napoleon Hill seems so spot on and ahead of his time.

Those who are familiar with the benefits of internal cleansing recognize the importance of eliminating toxins and waste build up from your colon and how a clean colon contributes to improved energy level and overall improved health. But it’s interesting to see it discussed in the 1930s.

What I found fascinating in this book was that even though it was written in 1938, all the concepts and principles are still so relevant now. As a country, we are struggling with obesity more than ever. Clearly, we have not mastered the important area of self control of our diet.

I love reading personal growth books. Oftentimes, a great description can clearly and succinctly describe a situation or feeling I can really relate to, and lead to clearer understanding of why I’m not successful in certain situations. Perhaps if I had more mastery over myself and my desire for food….

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