Until thought is linked with purpose there is no intelligent
accomplishment. With the majority the bark of thought is allowed
to "drift" upon the ocean of life. Aimlessness is a vice, and such
drifting must not continue for him who would steer clear of
catastrophe and destruction.
They who have no central purpose in their life fall an easy prey to
petty worries, fears, troubles, and self-pityings, all of which are
indications of weakness, which lead, just as surely as deliberately
planned sins (though by a diff route), to failure, unhappyness, and
loss, for weakness cannot persist in a power-evolving universe.
A man should conceive of a legitimate purpose in his heart, and set
out to accomplish it. He should make this purpose the centralizing
point of his thoughts. It may take the form of a spiritual ideal, or
it may be a worldly object, according to his nature at the time
being. Whichever it is, he should steadily focus his thought-forces
upon the object he had set before him. He should make this purpose
his supreme duty and should devote himself to its
attainment, not allowing his thoughts to wander away into ephemeral
fancies, longings, and imaginings. This is the royal road to self-
control and true concentration of thought. Even if he fails again and
again to accomplish his purpose--as he must until weakness is
overcome--the strength of character gained will be the measure of his
true success, and this will form a new starting point for future
power and triumph.
Those who are not prepared for the apprehension of a great purpose,
should fix the thoughts upon the faultless performance of their duty,
no matter how insignificant their task may appear. Only in this way
can the thoughts be gathered and focused, and resolution and energy
be developed. Once this is done, there is nothing which may not be
accomplished.
The weakest soul knowing its own weakness, and believing this truth--
that strength can only be developed by effort and practice--will,
thus believing, at once begin to exert itself. And, adding effort to
effort, patience to patience, and strength to strength, will never
cease to develop and will at last grow divinely strong.
As the physically weak man can make himself strong by careful and
patient training, so the man of weak thoughts can make them strong by
exercising himself in right thinking.
To put away aimlessness and weakness and to begin to think with
purpose is to enter the ranks of those strong ones who only recognize
failure as one of the pathways to attainment. Who make all conditions
serve them, and who think strongly, attempt fearlessly, and
accomplish masterfully.
Having conceived of his purpose, a man should mentally mark out a
straight pathway to its achievement, looking neither to the right nor
left. Doubts and fears should be rigorously excluded. They are
disintegrating elements which break up the straight line of effort,
rendering it crooked, ineffectual, useless. Thoughts of doubt and
fear can never accomplish anything. They always lead to failure.
Purpose, energy, power to do, and all strong thoughts cease when
doubt and fear creep in.
The will to do springs from the knowledge that we can do. Doubt and
fear are the great enemies of knowledge, and he who encourages them,
who does not slay them, thwarts himself at every step.
He who has conquered doubt and fear has conquered failure. His every
thought is allied with power, and all difficulties are bravely met
and overcome. His purposes are seasonably planted, and they bloom and
bring forth fruit that does not fall prematurely to the ground.
Thought allied fearlessly to purpose becomes creative force. He who
knows this is ready to become something higher and stronger than a
bundle of wavering thoughts and fluctuating sensations. He who does
this has become the conscious and intelligent wielder of his mental
powers.
accomplishment. With the majority the bark of thought is allowed
to "drift" upon the ocean of life. Aimlessness is a vice, and such
drifting must not continue for him who would steer clear of
catastrophe and destruction.
They who have no central purpose in their life fall an easy prey to
petty worries, fears, troubles, and self-pityings, all of which are
indications of weakness, which lead, just as surely as deliberately
planned sins (though by a diff route), to failure, unhappyness, and
loss, for weakness cannot persist in a power-evolving universe.
A man should conceive of a legitimate purpose in his heart, and set
out to accomplish it. He should make this purpose the centralizing
point of his thoughts. It may take the form of a spiritual ideal, or
it may be a worldly object, according to his nature at the time
being. Whichever it is, he should steadily focus his thought-forces
upon the object he had set before him. He should make this purpose
his supreme duty and should devote himself to its
attainment, not allowing his thoughts to wander away into ephemeral
fancies, longings, and imaginings. This is the royal road to self-
control and true concentration of thought. Even if he fails again and
again to accomplish his purpose--as he must until weakness is
overcome--the strength of character gained will be the measure of his
true success, and this will form a new starting point for future
power and triumph.
Those who are not prepared for the apprehension of a great purpose,
should fix the thoughts upon the faultless performance of their duty,
no matter how insignificant their task may appear. Only in this way
can the thoughts be gathered and focused, and resolution and energy
be developed. Once this is done, there is nothing which may not be
accomplished.
The weakest soul knowing its own weakness, and believing this truth--
that strength can only be developed by effort and practice--will,
thus believing, at once begin to exert itself. And, adding effort to
effort, patience to patience, and strength to strength, will never
cease to develop and will at last grow divinely strong.
As the physically weak man can make himself strong by careful and
patient training, so the man of weak thoughts can make them strong by
exercising himself in right thinking.
To put away aimlessness and weakness and to begin to think with
purpose is to enter the ranks of those strong ones who only recognize
failure as one of the pathways to attainment. Who make all conditions
serve them, and who think strongly, attempt fearlessly, and
accomplish masterfully.
Having conceived of his purpose, a man should mentally mark out a
straight pathway to its achievement, looking neither to the right nor
left. Doubts and fears should be rigorously excluded. They are
disintegrating elements which break up the straight line of effort,
rendering it crooked, ineffectual, useless. Thoughts of doubt and
fear can never accomplish anything. They always lead to failure.
Purpose, energy, power to do, and all strong thoughts cease when
doubt and fear creep in.
The will to do springs from the knowledge that we can do. Doubt and
fear are the great enemies of knowledge, and he who encourages them,
who does not slay them, thwarts himself at every step.
He who has conquered doubt and fear has conquered failure. His every
thought is allied with power, and all difficulties are bravely met
and overcome. His purposes are seasonably planted, and they bloom and
bring forth fruit that does not fall prematurely to the ground.
Thought allied fearlessly to purpose becomes creative force. He who
knows this is ready to become something higher and stronger than a
bundle of wavering thoughts and fluctuating sensations. He who does
this has become the conscious and intelligent wielder of his mental
powers.