The Power of Thought
Chapter 6
RIGHT THOUGHT AND A RIGHT ATTITUDE
THE BASIS OF SUCCESS AND PROSPERITY
THOSE who succeed possess a certain type of mind. It is true that
they have ambition, vision and driving power, capacity for work,
and a strong will. Also they never spare themselves, and, in addition,
they seize each opportunity when it comes. But their principal cause
of success is their type of thinking. They think in terms of success
and achievement, abundance and prosperity. The life tends, in course
of time, to express the type of thought habitually dwelt upon. If
we think consistently in terms of success and prosperity, then,
sooner or later, we express these things to a greater or lesser
degree in our life. That is to say, according to our ability, we
achieve the greatest success possible in our case. We cannot all
be at the top of the tree, but we can each rise to the best position
for which our particular genius fits us. Except in the case of those
peculiar people who think they can do anything and everything, whereas
they can do nothing properly, we can all accomplish much more than
we could ever believe possible. There are abilities hidden within
us that are undreamed of. Our capabilities seem to increase as our
responsibilities grow greater. Life calls on us for higher achievement,
and lo! the power and ability are forthcoming, in a way that is
surprising to ourselves and, probably, still more so to our friends.
I have purposely conversed with a great number of unsuccessful people.
By unsuccessful people I mean those who though sober and hard-working
and who want to get on, always sink to the bottom, no matter how
much one may help them, and in spite of splendid opportunities put
in their way. In all of them I have found the same type of thought-habit.
They think in terms of penury and failure. Because of this, all
their actions and decisions, unknown to themselves, are of such
a kind as to bring about penurious conditions and failure. Men of
equal abilities are not equally successful. One may appear to be
lucky, while the other may appear to be most unlucky: but I am convinced
that the cause of the difference is to be found in the mind. The
one has a fixed idea of success and achievement which acts as a
centre around which his thoughts, both conscious and subconscious,
revolve; while the other has a fixed idea or fear of failure, around
which his thoughts continually turn. The one is energised and inspired
to successful achievement, while the other's efforts are undermined
and his energies sapped by a hidden idea or fear of failure and
ruin.
Now, while it is true that one may be born with a successful type
of mind, while another may inherit a failure type, yet it does not
necessarily follow that the latter must always remain a failure.
His type of mind can be changed. In order that this may be accomplished
he does not have to enlist the services of an expensive mental specialist
or practitioner; he does it himself, by a change of thought. By
changing his thought he gradually transforms the fixed idea of failure
into one of success. The attitude of the mind is changed and the
thoughts are trained to flow in a new direction. This, in time,
changes the whole man, so that he rises like a cork in water, instead
of sinking like a stone: he comes to what to him is the top of his
profession, or calling, instead of gravitating to the bottom. He
finds that there is plenty of room at the top, simply because so
few ever use their mind in a constructive way. He becomes one of
the favoured few, simply because be uses his mind as a creative
instrument and not merely for the purpose of doing routine work.
It must not be forgotten that true success is based on service.
It is only by our co-operative help of the world that we can ever
find happiness, and this is in itself true success. Money and fame
are useless if they fail to bring happiness and satisfaction. Service
and co-operative helpfulness bring the truest and most lasting success.
Combined with efficiency they make us indispensable in our particular
branch or calling. Sooner or later quality of character tells its
own story. Those who rise rapidly, laughing at such things as service,
integrity, etc., generally go down later in ruin and dishonour.
Therefore, our thoughts should be not merely of success and achievement,
but of service and helpfulness. We should not think so much of "what
shall I get out of it", as "how helpful can I be",
for all solid success is based upon the extent of our helpfulness
to the community. The more helpful we are, the more indispensable
we become, therefore, the greater the reward, as a rule.
Apart from all this, the fact remains that thinking in terms of
success and achievement, at the same time maintaining a consciousness
of abundance and prosperity, tends to attract these things to us.
The mind is creative to a degree undreamed of by most people, and
our thoughts attract things to us after their kind--opportunities
for achievement and more abundant circumstances on the one hand,
or failure and lack on the other.
The inner cause of successful achievement, then, is in the mind.
Instead of allowing it to wander anywhere it pleases, we have to
train it to think constructively. While others are spending their
spare time foolishly we must, on the contrary, compel the mind to
think positively in terms of achievement. We can hold an ideal in
the mind continuously, around which the thoughts will revolve, naturally
and easily. Constructive thinking such as this compels us to work
and strive, while other people waste their time in pleasure. It
is no hardship, however, but a great joy. It arouses our enthusiasm,
after which every task becomes comparatively easy. Sooner or later,
just when we are ready for it, opportunity comes our way, just as
surely as the rising and setting of the sun. The law is infallible.
When we are ready the opportunity appears.
In closing this chapter may I give one word of warning. Success
is liable to become our master and we its slave. Therefore, it is
important that we choose the highest form of success, if we can.
As a rule, however, we have no choice, because our ambition is,
as it were, born in us. We have in mind the case of a poor boy with
only a country elementary school education, who is now an ordained
missionary, apparently an utterly impossible feat for one in his
position. Whether he chose his calling or whether his calling chose
him it is impossible to say, but in either case, his life of toil,
self sacrifice and service, though it means weariness, fever, poverty
and derision by the world, will bring him the truest satisfaction.
He is most truly successful who finds his success in service and
in trying to make the world a better place for others to live in.
Then it does not matter if his success does become his master and
he its slave, for such slavery becomes the highest joy and gives
the greatest satisfaction.
These are the treasures that no money can buy and which ever elude
those who seek them through the acquirement of riches and fame.
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