THE POWER OF POSITIVE
THINKING
BELIEVE IN
YOURSELF
Have faith in your abilities! Without a humble but
reasonable confidence in your own powers, you cannot be successful or
happy. But with sound self confidence,
you can succeed. A sense of inferiority and inadequacy interferes with the
attainment of your hopes, but self confidence leads to self realization and
successful achievement.
The
greatest secret for eliminating the inferiority complex, which is another term
for deep and profound self doubt, is to fill your mind to overflowing with
faith. Develop a tremendous faith in God
and that will give you humble yet soundly realistic faith in yourself.
If your
mind is obsessed by thought of insecurity and inadequacy it is, of course, due
to the fact that such ideas have dominated your thinking over a long period of
time.
We build
up the feeling of insecurity or security by how we think. In our thoughts, we constantly fix attention
upon sinister expectations of dire events that might happen, the result will be constantly to feel insecure. And what is even more serious is the tendency
to create, by the power of thought, the very condition we fear.
Lack of
self confidence apparently is one of the greatest problems besetting people
today.
Everywhere you encounter people who are inwardly afraid, who shrink from
life, who suffer from a deep sense of inadequacy and insecurity, who doubt their
own powers.
Attitudes are
more important than facts. That is worth repeating until its truth grips
you. Any fact facing us, however
difficult, even seemingly hopeless, is not so important
as our attitude towards that fact.
They conquer
who believe they can. “Do the thing you fear and the death of fear is
certain”. Practise confidence and faith and your fears and
insecurities will soon have no power over you.
Following are ten simple, workable rules for overcoming
inadequacy attitudes.
1.
Formulate and stamp indelibly
on your mind a mental picture of yourself as succeeding. Hold this picture tenaciously.
2.
Whenever a negative thought
concerning your personal powers comes to mind, deliberately voice a positive
thought to cancel it out.
3.
Do not build up obstacles in
your imagination
4.
Do not be awe struck by other
people and try to copy them.
5.
Ten times a day repeat these
dynamic words : If God be for us, who can be against
us.
6.
Ten times each day practice
the following affirmation, repeating it out loud if possible. “I can do all things through God which
strengthened me.
7.
Make a true estimate of your
own ability. Then raise it ten
percent.
8.
Put yourself in God’s
hands. To do that simply state : “I am in God’s hands.”
9.
Remind yourself that God is
with you and nothing can defeat you.
Believe that you now RECEIVE power from him.
10.
Get a competent counselor to
help you understand why you do what you do.
A Peaceful
Mind Generates Power
The
essence of the secret lies in a change of mental attitude.
Silence is a healing, soothing, healthy practice. No man or woman of my acquaintance who knows
how to practice silence and does it has ever been sick to my
knowledge.
In
the circumstances of modern life with its acceleration of pace, the practice of
silence is admittedly not so simple as it was in the
days of our forefathers. A vast number of noise producing gadgets exist that
they did not know and our daily programme is more
hectic.
There is
a factor in the matter of inner peace which must be stated because of its
importance. Frequently I find that
people who are lacking in inner peace are victims of a self-punishment
mechanism. At some time in their
experience, they have committed a sin and the sense of guilt haunts them.
How To Have Constant Energy
How
we think we feel has a definite effect on how we actually feel physically. If your mind tells you that you are tired,
the body mechanism, the nerves, and the muscles accept the fact. If your mind is intensely interested, you can
keep on at an activity indefinitely.
By
supplying attitudes of faith to the mind, it can increase energy.
The
body is designed to produce all needed energy over an amazingly long period of
time. If the individual takes reasonable
care of his body from the standpoint of proper diet, exercise, sleep, no
physical abuse, the body will produce and maintain astonishing energy and
sustain itself in good health.
The natural state of the individual when body, mind, and spirit work
harmoniously is that of a continuous replacement of necessary energy.
Every great personality, who has demonstrated the
capacity for prodigious work has been a person in tune with the Infinite. Every such person seems in harmony with
nature and in contact with the Divine energy.
The effect of guilt and fear feelings on energy is widely recognized by
all authorities having to do with the problems of human nature.
Energy
drainage occasioned by fear and guilt is of such an amount as to leave little
power to be applied to a person’s job.
You must
eradicate fear and guilt before you will ever be able to sleep and regain your
strength.
Try Prayer
Power
Why
not try prayer power?
Experts in physical health and well being often utilize
prayer in their therapy, Disability, tension, and kindred troubles may result
from a lack of inner harmony.
People
are doing more praying today than formerly because they find that it adds to
personal efficiency. Prayer helps them to tap forces and to utilize strength not
otherwise available.
“Prayer is the
greatest power available to the individual in solving his personal
problems. Its power astonishes
me.”
It is
important to realise that you are dealing with the
most tremendous power in the world when you pray. You would not use an old-fashioned kerosene
lamp for illumination.
.
Following are ten rules for getting effective results from prayer :
·
Set aside a few minutes every
day. Do not say anything. Simply practise thinking about God. This will make your mind spiritually
receptive.
·
Then pray orally, using
simple, natural words. Tell God anything that is on your mind. Do not think you must use stereotyped pious
phrases. Talk to God in your own
language. He understands it.
·
Pray as you go about the
business of the day, on the subway or bus or at your desk. Utilise minute
prayers by closing your eyes to shut out the world and concentrating briefly on
God’s presence. The more you do this
every day the nearer you will feel God’s presence.
·
Do not always ask when you
pray, but instead affirm that God’s blessings are being given, and spend most of
your prayers giving thanks.
·
Pray with the belief that
sincere prayers can reach out and surround your loved ones with God’s love and
protection.
·
Never use a negative thought
in prayer. Only positive thoughts get
results.
·
Always express willingness to
accept God’s will. Ask for what you
want, but be willing to take what God gives you. It may be better than what you ask
for.
·
Practice the attitude putting
everything in God’s hands. Ask for the
ability to do your best and to leave the results confidently to
God.
·
Pray for people you do not
like or who have mistreated you.
Resentment is blockade number one of spiritual
power.
·
Make a list of people for
whom to pray. The more you pray for
other people, especially those not connected with you, the more prayer results
will come back to you.
How To Create Your Own Happiness
Who
decides whether you shall be happy or unhappy? The answer – you
do!
A
television celebrity had as a guest on his programme
an aged man. It was so naïve, so apt, that the audience roared with
laughter. They loved him. The celebrity was impressed, and enjoyed it
with the others. Finally he asked the old man why he was so happy. “you must have a wonderful secret of happiness”
“No,”
replied the old man, “I haven’t any great secret. It’s just as plain as the nose on your
face. When I get up in
the morning. he explained, “I have two
choices-either to be happy or to be unhappy, and what do you think I do? I just
choose to be happy, and that’s all there is to it.”
Children
are more expert in happiness than adults. The adult who can carry the spirit of
a child into middle and old age is a genius, for he will preserve the truly
happy spirit with which God endowed the young.
Out of
the happiness habit comes happy life because we can cultivate a habit, we therefore have the power to create our own
happiness.
The
happiness habit is developed by simply practicing happy thinking. Make a mental list of happy thoughts and pass
them through your mind several times every day.
While
dressing or shaving or getting breakfast, say aloud a few such remarks as the
following : I believe this is going to be a wonderful
day. I believe I can successfully handle
all problems that will arise today. I feel good physically, mentally,
emotionally.
I once
knew an unhappy sort of fellow who always said to his wife at breakfast : This is going to be another tough day, it might
turn out pretty well. But things really started going badly with him, which was
not surprising, for if you visualize and affirm an unhappy outcome, you tend
thereby to create just that type of condition.
So affirm happy outcomes at the start of every day, and you will be
surprised at how often things will turn out so.
If
happiness is determined by our thoughts it is necessary to drive off the
thoughts which make for depression and discouragement.
Stop
Fuming And Fretting
Many
people make life unnecessarily difficult for themselves by dissipating power and
energy through fuming and fretting.
We need to stop fuming and fretting and get
peaceful if we are to have power to live effectively.
A first
step is to reduce your pace or at least the tempo of your pace. We do not realise
how accelerated the rate of our lives has become, or the speed at which we are
driving ourselves.
This is
impossible to have peace of soul if the pace is so feverishly accelerated. God won’t go that fast. He will not endeavor to keep up with you.
To attain this efficient state of living, the practice of thinking
peaceful thoughts is recommended. Every day we perform a series of acts designed
to care for the body properly.
At least
once in every twenty-four hours, preferably in the busiest part of the day,
deliberately stop whatever you are doing for ten or fifteen minutes and practice
serenity.
In
attaining emotional control, the daily practice of healing techniques is of
first importance. Emotional control cannot be gained in any magical or easy
way. You cannot develop it by merely
reading a book, although that is often helpful.
The only sure method is by working at it regularly, persistently,
scientifically, and by developing creative faith.
Following is a technique consisting of six points
:
I. Sit relaxed in a chair.
Completely yield yourself to the chair. Starting with your toes and
proceeding to the top of your head, conceive of every portion of the body as
relaxing. Affirm relaxation by saying : “My toes are relaxed-my fingers-my facial
muscles”.
II. Think of your mind as the surface of a lake in a storm,
tossed by waves and in tumult. But now
the waves subside, and the surface of the lake is placid and
unruffled.
III. Spend two or three minutes thinking of the most
beautiful and peaceful scenes you have ever beheld.
IV. Repeat slowly, quietly, bringing out the melody in each,
a series of words which express quietness and peace.
a Tranquility b Serenity c
Quietness
Think of other such words and repeat
them.
V. Make a mental list of times in your life when you have
been conscious of God’s watchful care and recall how, when you were worried and
anxious. Then recite aloud “So long thy power hath kept me, sure it STILL will lead me on.”
VI. Repeat the following, which has an amazing power to
relax and quiet the mind “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is
stayed on thee”. Repeat this several
times during the day. This is the best known medicine for taking tension from
the mind.
Expect
The Best And Get It
A law
recognized alike by psychology and religion, namely,
change your mental habits to belief instead of disbelief. Learn to expect, not to doubt.
A major
key to success in this life, at attaining that which you deeply desire, is to be
completely released and through all there is of yourself into your job or any
project in which you are engaged. In other words, whatever you are doing, give
it all you’ve got. Give every bit of
your self. Hold nothing back. Life
cannot deny itself to the person who gives life his all. But most people, unfortunately, don’t do
that. In fact, very few people do, and
this is a tragic cause of failure, or, if not failure, it is the reason we only
half attain.
Let
me give you four words as formulation of great law-FAITH POWER WORKS
WONDERS.
I Don’t
Believe In Defeat
If
you are thinking thoughts of defeat, I urge you to rid yourself of such
thoughts, for as you think defeat you tend to get in. Adopt the “I don’t believe in defeated”
attitude.
Do
the following prayer
v
“I believe I am always
divinely guided.”
v
“I believe I will always take
the right turns of the road.”
v
“I believe god will always
make a way where there is no way.”
Please say the following line aloud
: “I don’t believe in defeat.
Continue to affirm that until the idea dominates your subconscious
attitudes”.
How To Break The Worry Habit
Why
should we take the worry problem thus seriously.? The
reason is clear “Anxiety is the great modern plague.” and “fear is the most
disintegrating enemy of human personality” and “worry is the most subtle and
destructive of all human diseases.
A
scientific expert on length of life made a study of some 450 people who lived to
be one hundred years of age. He found
that these people lived long and contended lives for the following reasons : (I) They kept busy (2) They used moderation in all
things (3) They ate lightly and simply
(4) They got a great deal of fun out of life. (5) They were early to bed and
early up. (6) They were free from worry and fear,
especially fear of death. (7) They had
serene minds
and faith in God.
Here are some points of worry-breaking formula
:
a) Say to yourself – Worry is just
a very bad mental habit. And I can
change any habit with God’s help.
b) You become a worrier by practicing worry. You can become free of worry by practicing
the opposite and stronger habit of faith.
c) Pray, using this formula : I place this day, my life, my loved ones, my
work in the Lord’s hand.
d) Practise saying something positive concerning everything about
which you have been talking negatively.
e) Never participate in a worry conversation.
f) Cultivate friendship with hopeful people. Surround yourself with friends who think
positive, faith producing thoughts and who contribute to a creative
atmosphere. This will keep you
re-stimulated with faith attitudes.
Power
To Solve Personal
Problems
There are 10 simple suggestions as concrete technique to
use generally in solving your problems
:
1.
Believe that every problem
there is solutions
2.
Keep calm. Tension blocks the flow of thought
power. Your brain cannot operate
efficiently under stress. Go at your
problem easy like.
3.
Don’t try to force an
answer. Keep your mind relaxed so that
the solution will open up and become clear.
4.
Assemble all the facts
impartially, impersonally, and judicially.
5.
List these facts on
paper. This clarifies your thinking
bringing the various elements into orderly system. You see as well as think. The problem becomes objective, not
subjective.
6.
Pray about your problem,
affirming that God will flash illumination into your mind.
7.
Believe in and seek God’s
guidance.
8.
Trust in the faculty of
insight and intuition.
9.
Go to church and let your
subconscious work on the problem as you attune to the mood of worship. Creative
spiritual thinking has amazing power to give “right”
answers.
10.
If you follow these steps
faithfully, then the answer that develops in your mind, or comes to pass, is the
right answer to your problem.
How To Use Faith In Healing
In
the prevention of sickness and in healing mind and body, do not fail to draw
upon one of the greatest resources available to you – The faith that heals.
Following are some practical suggestions :
·
Pray for the doctor. Realise that God
uses trained human instrumentality to aid.
His healing powers.
·
Whatever you do, do not
become panicky or filled with fear, for if you do, you will send out negative
thoughts and therefore destructive thoughts in the direction of your loved one
when he requires positive and healing thoughts to assist him.
·
It is also important that
harmony prevails in the family, that is a spiritual
harmony.
·
Form a picture in your mind
of the loved one as being well. Visualise him in perfect health. Picture him as radiant with the love and
goodness of God.
When
Vitality Sags, Try This Health Formula
Since irritation, anger, hate, and resentment have such
a powerful effect in producing ill-health, what is the antidote ?
A
consistent application of following suggestions can produce feelings of well
beings :
1.
Remember that anger is an
emotion, and an emotion is always warm, even hot. Therefore, to reduce an emotion, cool it.
2.
Say aloud to yourself : Don’t be a fool.
This won’t get me anywhere, so skip it.
3.
Make a list of everything
that irritates you. No matter how
inconsequential it may be or how silly each is, list it just the same. The purpose in doing this is to dry up the
tiny rivulets that feed the great river of anger.
4.
Make each separate irritation
a special object of prayer. Get a
victory over each, one at a time.
5.
Train yourself so that every
time you feel the surge of anger you say : Is this
really worth what it is doing to me emotionally?
6.
When a hurt feeling situation
arises, get it straightened out as quickly as possible. Don’t brood over it for a minute longer than
you can help.
7.
Apply grievance drainage to
your mind. That is, open your mind and
let the grievance flow out. Go to
someone you trust and pour it out to him until not a vestige of it remains
within you. Then forget it.
8.
Simply start praying for the
person who has hurt your feelings.
Continue this until you feel the malice fading away.
9.
Before you have forgiven a
person that many times you will be free of resentment.
Inflow
Of New Thoughts Can Remake
You
“The greatest
discovery of new generation is that human beings can alter their lives by
altering their attitudes of mind.” As you think, so shall you be. So flush out all old, tired, worn-out
thoughts. Fill your mind with fresh, new
creative thoughts of faith, love, and goodness.
By this process you can actually remake your life.
Relax For
Easy Power
Here are some rules for taking the hard way out of your
job. Try these proven methods for
working hard easily. They will help you
to relax and have easy power :
a) Don’t get the idea that you are Atlas carrying the world
on your shoulders.
b) Determine to like your work. Then it will become a pleasure, not drudgery.
c) Plan your work- work your plan. Lack of system produces that I’m swamped’
feeling.
d) Don’t try to do everything at once. That is why time is spread out.
e) Get a correct mental attitude, remembering that ease or
difficulty in your work depends upon how you think about it.
f) Become efficient in your work. “Knowledge is power”. It is always easier to do a thing right.
g) Practise being relaxed.
h) Discipline yourself not to put off until tomorrow what
you can do today.
i) Pray about your work.
You will get relaxed efficiency by so doing.
How To Get People To Like You
You
may hear someone say :
“I don’t care whether people like me or not”. But whenever you hear anyone say that, just put it down as a fact that he is not really
telling the truth.
Here are 10 practical rules for getting the esteem of
others. The soundness of these
principles has been demonstrated innumerable times. Practise them until
you become expert at them and people will like you.
1.
Learn to remember names. Inefficiency at this point may indicate that
your interest is not sufficiently outgoing.
A man’s name is very important to him.
2.
Be a comfortable person so
there is no strain in being with you-be an old-shoe, old-hate kind of
individual.
3.
Acquire the quality of
relaxed easy-goingness so that things do not ruffle
you.
4.
Don’t be egotistical.
5.
Cultivate the quality of
being interesting so that people will want to be with you and get something of
stimulating value from their association with you.
6.
Study to get the “scratchy”
elements out of your personality, even those of which you may be unconscious.
7.
Drain off your
grievances.
8.
Practice liking people until
you learn to do so genuinely.
9.
Never miss an opportunity to
say a word of congratulation upon anyone’s achievement, or express sympathy in
sorrow or disappointment.
10.
Get a deep spiritual
experience so that you have something to give people that will help them to be
stronger and meet life more effectively.
Give strength to people and they will give affection to you.
How To Draw Upon That Power
This power is constantly available. If you open to it, it will rush in like a
mighty tide. It is there for any body
under any circumstances or in any condition.
This tremendous inflow of power is of such force that, in its inrush, it
dives everything before it, casting out fear, hate, sickness, weakness, moral
defeat, scattering them as though they had never touched you, refreshing and
re-strengthening your life with health, happiness and goodness.
