Success Isn’t About Hard Work, It’s About What You Assume Is Normal
You Don’t Get What You Want—You Get What You Assume You’ll Receive
Most people think success is about how hard you work, how much you want it, or how many mindset hacks you do. But in reality, the biggest factor in whether you achieve your goals comes down to this:
You don’t get what you want—you get what you assume is normal.
This was me.
For years, I was trying to convince myself that my success was inevitable, that I deserved more money, more opportunities, more recognition. I was doing all the mindset work, visualizing, scripting, telling myself I was already the version of me who had everything I wanted… but deep down, I didn’t fully believe it.
Because at the end of the day, my subconscious didn’t assume success—it was trying to earn it.
I see this all the time with high-achievers. They set big goals and do all the “right” things to manifest or create them, but in the background, there’s this lingering thought:
I just want to know it’s working. I just want proof that my manifestation is coming. I just need some kind of confirmation that I’m on the right path.
That need for validation? That’s your subconscious not assuming your success is inevitable. It’s looking for permission to believe it’s possible.
The Difference Between Convincing & Assuming
This is where people trip up. It’s not the effort that’s the problem—it’s the energy behind it. Convincing yourself that you’re successful is a completely different frequency than assuming you are.
Convincing requires effort; assuming feels like a given.
Convincing seeks proof; assuming doesn’t need validation.
Convincing feels like mental gymnastics; assuming feels like confidence.
I’ve fallen into this trap so many times—trying to force myself to believe something before my brain was ready. But real shifts happen when you stop convincing and start recalibrating your normal—the assumptions you operate from without even thinking about it.
And because your subconscious isn’t working to get you what you desire—it’s working to keep you in the reality that feels familiar—you will always fall back to what feels normal.
That’s why some people seem to attract opportunities effortlessly while others feel like they’re constantly pushing against resistance. The people who rise fast and achieve massive success aren’t necessarily the smartest or the hardest workers. They’re just the ones whose internal assumptions make success non-negotiable.
Why You’re Stuck in the Same Patterns
If you’ve been hitting an invisible ceiling—whether it’s with income, leadership, visibility, or personal growth—it’s not because you’re doing something wrong. It’s because your subconscious assumes your current level is where you belong.
Here’s how this plays out in real life:
You want to make more money, but deep down, you assume earning big money requires working harder than you’re willing to.
You want to be more visible, but you assume that being seen will make you a target for judgment or criticism.
You want more leadership opportunities, but you assume leadership comes with more pressure, responsibility, and less freedom.
And because these assumptions are running on autopilot, your nervous system treats expansion as a threat—even when you consciously want it.
So what happens?
➡️ You subconsciously block opportunities or delay taking action.
➡️ You make moves, but with a level of stress and doubt that repels results.
➡️ You work twice as hard for half the results because your energy is in proving, not assuming.
Which brings me to my next point…
The Science of Assumptions & Success
Most of us know about the Law of Attraction—the idea that you attract what you focus on. But what’s even more powerful is the Law of Assumption:
Your subconscious beliefs create your external reality.
This isn’t just mindset fluff—there’s neuroscience behind it. Your brain’s Reticular Activating System (RAS) acts as a filter, determining what you notice and act on. It's wired to confirm what you already assume to be true (Yes Coach Lisa, 2023) (The Wanderlover, 2023).
💡 If you assume success is hard, you’ll only notice struggle.
💡 If you assume money comes easily, you’ll spot wealth-building opportunities.
💡 If you assume you belong in high-status spaces, you’ll carry yourself like someone who does—and the people around you will respond accordingly.
And the people around you will respond accordingly.
Assumptions are self-fulfilling prophecies
The Law of Assumption is deeply connected to self-fulfilling prophecies—the psychological phenomenon where expectations influence behavior in ways that make them reality (Thriveworks, 2023).
In a study on teacher expectations, students who were assumed to be high-achievers performed better—simply because their teachers treated them as if they were (PubMed, 2005).
In an experiment on sports performance, basketball players performed better when their coaches falsely believed in their abilities and unconsciously gave them more opportunities (PubMed, 2015).
In business and career studies, professionals who assume leadership positions—even before they have the title—are more likely to get promoted because they naturally embody leadership traits (Colin Scotland, 2023).
In other words, your internal assumptions act like a self-fulfilling prophecy—if you assume success, ease, and recognition are inevitable, your mind will seek out proof of that reality and steer you toward actions that reinforce it.
But if your default assumption is that success must be hard-won, delayed, or uncertain, you’ll unconsciously create resistance and reinforce struggle, even when opportunities are right in front of you.
This is why rewiring what you assume to be true about yourself and your potential is far more powerful than forcing surface-level mindset shifts. Your subconscious isn't responding to what you want—it’s responding to what you believe is already yours.
So, the question is: What does your subconscious assume is normal for you?
How to Shift Your Assumptions & Expand Your Success Capacity
1️⃣ Identify Your Default Assumptions
Your first step isn’t to “think positive” or force new beliefs—it’s to understand what your subconscious already assumes to be true.
Ask yourself:
What do I assume about money? (Ex: “Money requires hustle” vs. “Money flows to me effortlessly.”)
What do I assume about success? (Ex: “Success comes with pressure” vs. “Success gives me freedom.”)
What do I assume about my value? (Ex: “I have to prove my worth” vs. “I am inherently worthy.”)
Look at your patterns, not just your thoughts. Your subconscious reveals itself in the way you handle opportunities, challenges, and even compliments.
2️⃣ Upgrade Your "New Normal" One Step at a Time
You don’t have to instantly believe in wild success. Instead, shift your assumptions gradually by reinforcing what already feels slightly possible.
If your assumption is: “I have to work harder to earn more.”
Upgrade it to: “The more I focus on high-value tasks, the more I earn.”
Then shift to: “I make more money by doing less.”
Eventually: “Money comes to me effortlessly.”
Each step expands your subconscious comfort zone until your new reality feels obvious.
3️⃣ Reinforce Your Assumptions Until They Become Reality
Once you decide on your new normal, you need to train your subconscious to accept it.
Look for proof. If you assume money flows easily, find small moments where it already has. (A surprise refund? A gift? A raise?)
Make micro-decisions in alignment. If you assume success is easy, stop making choices from struggle. (Ex: Say no to overworking. Take the aligned risk.)
Rewire your nervous system. If success triggers fear, your body is rejecting it. Use breathwork, hypnosis & energetic recalibration to make expansion feel safe.
The Identity Shift That Makes Success Inevitable
(Exclusive Deep Dive)
If you’re ready to stop trying to convince yourself you’ll succeed and start assuming it’s already happening, you need to upgrade at the identity level.
The next deep-dive newsletter, The Identity Shift That Makes Success Inevitable, will cover:
✨ Why success is about who you are, not just what you do.
✨ How to identify the subconscious identity patterns blocking your next level.
✨ A high-status mindset shift to start embodying success today.
✨ How hypnosis is the perfect tool for "trying on" an identity before you fully step into it.
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Final Thoughts
If you feel like you’re constantly working toward success instead of living in it, your subconscious is running the wrong assumption.
You don’t need to “fix” yourself. You need to train your nervous system to assume success is normal.
And once you do?
Everything changes.
📩 Join the newsletter to get the next deep dive: The Identity Shift That Makes Success Inevitable.