The Nature of the Force
The force not magnetic in its nature - Subtle
current of thought waves - Thoughts are things - Our thoughts affect
ourselves as well as others - Change of appearance following change
of occupation - Thought the greatest force in the world - "I can and
I will" vs. "I can't" - Practical instruction not transcendental
discourse - The adductive power of thought - Fear thought the root
of injurious thinking.
To the minds of most people, the term Personal Magnetism conveys
the idea of a current radiating from the person of the magnetic
individual, drawing to him all those within the radius of his
magnetic force. This idea, whilst on the whole erroneous, still
contains within it the germ of the real truth. There is a current of
attracting force radiating from man, but it is not a magnetic force
in so far as the term "magnetism" implies some connection with the
lodestone or electricity. The human magnetic current, whilst bearing
some resemblance to these two familiar forces in its effects, has no
real connection with them so far as is concerned its origin or
intrinsic nature.
That which we call Personal Magnetism is the subtle current of
thought-waves, or thought-vibrations, projected from the human mind.
Every thought created by our minds is a force of greater or lesser
intensity, varying in strength according to the impetus imparted to
it at the time of its creation. When we think, we send from us a
subtle current, which tables along like a ray often far removed from
us by space, a forceful thought will go on its errand charged with a
mighty power, and will often bear down the instinctive resistance of
the minds of others to outside impressions, whilst a weak thought
will be unable to obtain an entrance Trance to the mental castle of
another, unless that castle be but poorly guarded. Repeated thoughts
along the same lines sent one after the other, will- often effect -
an entrance where a single thought-wave, although much stronger,
will be repulsed. It is an exhibition of a physical law in the
Psychical world, and exemplifies the old saying about steady
dripping wearing away a stone.
We are all influenced much more than we are aware by the thoughts
of others. I do not mean by their opinions but by their thoughts. A
great writer on this subject very truly says: "thoughts are things."
They are things, and most powerful things at that. Unless we
understand this fact, we are at the mercy of a mighty force, of
whose nature we know nothing, and whose very existence many of us
deny. On the other hand, if we understand the nature and laws
governing this wonderful force, we can master it and render it our
instrument and assistant. Every thought created by us, weak or
strong, good or bad, healthy or unhealthy, sends out its vibratory
waves, which affect, to a greater or lesser extent all with whom we
come in contact, or who may come within the radius of our thought
vibrations. Thought waves are like the ripples on a pond caused by
the casting in of a pebble, they move in constantly widening
circles, radiating from a central point. Of course, if an impulse
projects the thought waves forcibly toward a certain object, its
force will be felt more strongly at that point.
Besides affecting others, our thoughts affect us, not only
temporarily, but also permanently. We are what we think ourselves
into being. The biblical statement that "as a man thinketh in his
heart, so is he," is literally correct. We are all creatures of our
own mental creating. You know how easy it is to think yourself into
a "blue" state of mind, or the reverse, but you do not realized that
repeated thought upon a certain line will manifest itself not only
in character (which it certainly does), but also in the physical
appearance of the thinker. This is a demonstrable fact, and you have
but to look around you to realize it. You have noticed how a man's
occupation shows itself in his appearance and general character.
What do you suppose occasions this phenomenon? Nothing more or less
than that thought. If you’ve have changed your occupation, your
general character and appearance kept pace with your changed habits
of thought. Your new occupation brought out a new train of thought,
and "Thoughts take form in Action." You may have never taken this
view of the matter, but it is true nevertheless, and you may find
ample proof of its correctness by merely looking around you.
A man who thinks Energy manifests Energy. The man, who thinks
Courage manifests courage. The man who thinks, "I can and I will,"
"gets there", while the "I can't" man "gets left." You know that to
be true. Now, what causes the difference? Thought - just plain
thought. But why? - Just because it cannot help itself. Action
follows as the natural result of vigorous thinking. You think in
earnest, and action does the rest. Thought is the greatest thing in
the world. If you do not know it now, you will before you are
through with this course of lessons. You may say that this is no new
thing to you - that you know all about "making up your mind," and
all that sort of thing, long ago. Then why did you not put it into
practice and make something of yourself? I will tell you the
trouble. You thought "I Can't" instead of "I Can." Now, I am going
to change that "I Can't" into a big "I Can" and a bigger "I Will."
That is what I am here for, and I intend to "make you over," before
I am through with you. I suppose that you thought I would give you
an elaborate, transcendental discourse on things away up in the
clouds, and hoped that I would tell you how to charge yourself up
with a lot of magnetism, so that you would be able to light the gas
with the tips of your fingers, or draw everybody to you like a piece
of steel to a magnet, now, didn't you? Well, I am not. But I intend
to tell you how you can generate in yourself a force, compared with
which magnetism is weak; a force that will make a man of you; a
force that will make you realize the I AM within you; a power that
will enable you to be a man of strong personal qualities; a man of
influence; a successful man. I will tell you how you can acquire
that which you have been calling Personal Magnetism, providing you
will start at it in earnest. It is worth working for, and when you
feel your new strength developing within you, you would not exchange
your newfound knowledge for a fortune.
Why you feel a little stronger already, I don't you? Of course
you do. I never have talked five minutes to a class of students as
you do. I never have talked five minutes to a class of students
about "I Can and I Will" and about the I AM within them without
their throwing back their shoulders, raising their heads, taking a
long breath, and looking me square in the eyes as a man or woman
should. It was "thought manifesting itself in action." Do you see
the point? I had planted the little seed of self-knowledge, and it
had begun to sprout.
Before I conclude this lesson, I wish to direct your attention to
one other very important thing about thought, and that is the
Adductive Power of Thought. Pay attention to this; please as it is
of the highest importance. Avoiding all attempts at a scientific
explanation, and keeping away from technical terms, I will state the
matter concisely thus: Thoughts attract like thoughts; the good
thought attracts other good thoughts; the bad thought, the bad;
thought of strength, likewise; thoughts of discouragement and doubt
follow the rule, and so on through the entire gamut of thoughts.
Your thought attracts to it the corresponding thought of others
and increases your stock of that particular kind of thought. Do you
see the point? Think Fear thoughts, and you draw to yourself all the
Fear thought in that neighborhood. The harder you think it, the
greater supply of undesirable thought flocks to you. Think "I am
Fearless," and all the courageous thought force within your radius
will move towards you, and will aid you. Try it. That is, try the
latter. Don't think Fear thought.
Fear and Hate are the parents of all the vile thoughts. I will go
into this matter with you at greater length in subsequent lessons,
but let me urge upon you now, with all the earnestness of which I am
capable, to tear out those wile seeds - Fear and Hate. Tear them out
by the roots. They spoil the whole garden and breed a host of other
weeds, such as Worry, Doubt, Timidity, Lack of Self Respect,
Jealousy, Spite, Malice, Envy, Slander and Morbid Ideas. I am not
trying to preach you a sermon, but I know that these vile thoughts
are hindering your progress, and you will realize it, too, if you
will stop to thinking for a moment. Open the blinds, and let the
pure sunshine of Bright, Cheerful and Happy thoughts pour in, and
the microbes of Doubt and Despair and Failure will leave, and seek
more congenial quarters.
If you were my dearest friend, and I knew that this message would
be my last on earth, I would shout to you, as loud as my vocal
organs would permit: "Let Go of Fear and Hate Thoughts."
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