Following was inspired by True or false: "Thinking is the only activity which the spirit possesses" - Charles F Haanel? it shall serve, both, as a reply and a topic to collaborate on. I should start with saying that I disagree with the statement above, that thinking is the only activity which spirit possesses, and here is why...

Mind and heart synchronicity

I think, therefore I am not. Only when the mind is silent, I am. - BTS.

It has been proven that heart has its own consciousness.

Far more than a simple pump, as was once believed, the heart is now recognized by scientists as a highly complex system with its own functional “brain.”

And not only that,

Compared to the electromagnetic field produced by the brain, the electrical component of the heart’s field is about 60 times greater in amplitude, and permeates every cell in the body. The magnetic component is approximately 5000 times stronger than the brain’s magnetic field and can be detected several feet away from the body with sensitive magnetometers. ~ http://www.mindfulmuscleblog.com/heart-has-consciousness/

Now just think,.. could that be the missing piece in attempts of many failing manifestations? People learn about power of mind and power of thought. But without mixing that thought with an emotion, it is just an empty thought.

And could it be that the subconsciousness as we know it, is in fact consciousness of Heart? Since heart is so much more powerful than brain, thoughts alone are not able to reach it. A thought is merely an application for a job, but Heart chooses only the one that's special (mixed with emotion) to it.

Quoting the text above once more

the electrical component of the heart’s field is about 60 times greater in amplitude, and permeates every cell in the body.

When you mix a thought with emotion of fear or love or other, you can get instant shivers or goose bumps as it gets to your heart, which then resonates this throughout your entire body outward piercing through every cell of your body.

Electromagnetic fields are always vibrating; they always spread out into space indefinitely.

So to control your vibrational level cannot be done solely with your thoughts. Because brain alone doesn't have the ability to create such strong vibrations. You perhaps heard at least once in your life, and if not here it is...

If your heart ain't in it, take yourself out of it

When one meditates (the mind takes conscious effort to shut itself down) you silent your mind and you can feel the universe with your heart. We think with mind, we feel with heart. Mind and heart work together in synchronicity.

So when you think a positive thought, brain creates a small electromagnetic vibration of positive nature. Upon mixing with emotion of love (in this case), it gets picked up by heart, which then magnify this vibration proportionally. And since it permeates your whole body and your cells are "charged" with this electromagnetic vibration, you then take what we call "Inspire action". That, as we know, is almost effortless.

A little bit on accessing Higher self

As long as you're using your mind, you will create vibrations of duality. Either negative or positive. When you silent your mind, you'll become neutral.

Also, I think when people say they go to their higher self for guidance, they miss the whole point of going there. They use judgmental request for help or assistance in life which only mind can create, and use their heart to magnify this request. So in response to that the universe will always answer whatever question you ask.

In other words, if you ask for help with a wrongly formulated request, the universe (neutrally, without any intentions to make your situation improve or worsen) will answer it. But the answer is appropriate to the question asked. However this never really 'help' to resolve one's troubles.

And as long as people are going to be asking for direction, help, assistance, they will **STAY ATTACHED TO THE VIBRATIONS OF THE SITUATION THEY ARE ASKING HELP FOR, because the answer will be of the vibrations appropriate to the question asked.

The point I believe people miss when accessing their higher self, is not to ask for help. It is to get in touch with it in neutral state. And from the state of neutrality see their life, the world, the universe. They will learn a powerful lesson of being unaffected, non-attached. And as they see things from this point of view, the "problems", "struggles" or "addictions" both positive or negative will lose their grasp on people's soul. One's soul will no longer be prisoner, it will be free. And whatever endeavor one decides to take on from that moment on, he will have a truly free choice. Not a choice conditioned by strings and attachments which are NOT KNOWN, and thus cannot be avoided or stopped from influencing one's decision.

What this neutral point of view does is you are then able make a choice and not get attached to it. You can walk away from it any moment and never look back. It will be impossible for any FEAR to hold you prisoner to it. Because in state of neutrality, there's no fear neither is there love. Choose to love someone and they give you bad vibe? No problem, because you are free soul now. Just walk away, find someone who vibrates with you equally or as you'd like them to vibrate. No heart broken, nor rivers of tears, no feelings hurt.

When you learn to see life neutrally, you stop being dependent on attachments. You will free yourself and can be happy, if you choose to, forever without anything ever influencing you in the less than positive way.

Edit Additionally, I'd like to add this to the universe answering your requests. The universe is like a mirror, standing in front of it is like asking a question. And the universe (mirror) will reflect back the answer. This would also confirm saying that the answer to any question is within the question asked just seen from a different perspective.

"Look at your question and you will see the answer"

When I said the universe does not have any intentions, it is exactly like a mirror. It has no intentions either, it just reflects back. Intentions of help are embodied in your questions. Those are your intentions of help, and the universe just mirrors back you an answer. You may see the intentions within the answer. But it would be misleading to think, that mirror put that intentions in it. That the mirror is not biased. It doesn't want, nor desire.

This may further lead to understanding why creation, or all there is, or the source...take so many forms. Because it cannot create various wants and desires that we create through our perceptions of all there is on its own. But creation has no ability to judge its own creations, so it can only reflect back neutrally. Further experiencing endless number of situations.

Because oneness cannot see itself through duality. And although it may see its dual parts, it will still perceive them as one.

I'll stop here, because I can see the snow ball is rolling and getting bigger than I initially intended.