LESSON XX. CONCENTRATION REVIEWED

In bringing this book to a close, I again want to impress youwith the inestimable value of concentration, because those thatlack this great power or, rather that fail to develop it, willgenerally suffer from poverty and unhappiness and their life'swork will most often be a failure, while those that develop anduse it will make the most of life's opportunities,

I have tried to make these lessons practical and I am sure thatmany will find them so. Of course the mere reading of them willnot do you a great deal of good, but, if the exercises arepracticed and worked out and applied to your own individual case,you should be able to acquire the habit of concentration in suchmeasure as to greatly improve your work and increase yourhappiness.

But remember the best instruction can only help you to the extentto which you put it into practice. I have found it an excellentidea to read a book through first, and then re-read it, and whenyou come to an idea that appeals to you, stop and think about it,then if applicable to you, repeat it over and over, that you willbe impressed by it. In this way you can form the habit of pickingout all the good things you read and these will have a wonderfulinfluence on your character.

In this closing chapter, I want to impress you to concentrate onwhat you do, instead of performing most of your workunconsciously or automatically, until you have formed habits thatgive you the mastery of your work and your life powers andforces.

Very often the hardest part of work is thinking about it. Whenyou get right into it, it does not seem so disagreeable. This isthe experience of many when they first commence to learn how toconcentrate. So never think it a difficult task, but undertake itwith the "I Will Spirit" and you will find that its acquirementwill be as easy as its application will be useful.

Read the life of any great man, and you will generally find thatthe dominant quality that made him successful was the ability toconcentrate. Study those that have been failures and you willoften find that lack of concentration was the cause.

"One thing at a time, and that done will

Is a good rule as I can tell."

All men are not born with equal powers, but it is the way theyare used that counts. "Opportunity knocks at every man's door."Those that are successful hear the knock and grasp the chance.The failures believe that luck and circumstances are againstthem. They always blame someone else instead of themselves fortheir lack of success. We get what is coming to us, nothing moreor less. Anything within the universe is within your grasp. Justuse your latent powers and it is yours. You are aided by bothvisible and invisible forces when you concentrate on either "todo" or "to be."

Everyone is capable of some concentration, for without it youwould be unable to say or do anything. People differ in the powerto concentrate because some are unable to Will to hold thethought in mind for the required time. The amount ofdetermination used determines who has the strongest will. Noone's is stronger than yours. Think of this whenever you goagainst a strong opponent.

Never say "I can't concentrate today." You can do it just theminute you say "I will." You can keep your thoughts fromstraying, just the same as you can control your arms. When onceyou realize this fact, you can train the will to concentrate onanything you wish. If it wanders, it is your fault. You are notutilizing your will. But, don't blame it on your will and say itis weak. The will is just the same whether you act as if it wereweak or as if it were strong. When you act as if your will isstrong you say, "I can." When you act as if it were weak you say,"I can't." It requires the same amount of effort, in each case.

Some men get in the habit of thinking "I can't" and they fail.Others think "I can" and succeed. So remember, it is for you todecide whether you will join the army of "I can't" or "I can."

The big mistake with so many is that they don't realize that whenthey say "I can't," they really say, "I won't try." You can nottell what you can do until you try. "Can't" means you will nottry. Never say you cannot concentrate, for, when you do, you arereally saying that you refuse to try.

Whenever you feel like saying, "I can't," say instead, "I possessall will and I can use as much as I wish." You only use as muchas you have trained yourself to use.

An Experiment to Try. Before going to bed tonight, repeat, "I amgoing to choose my own thoughts, and to hold them as long as Ichoose. I am going to shut out all thoughts that weaken orinterfere; that make me timid. My Will is as strong as anyone'selse. While going to work the next morning, repeat this over.Keep this up for a month and you will find you will have a betteropinion of yourself. These are the factors that make you asuccess. Hold fast to them always.

Concentration is nothing but willing to do a certain thing. Allforeign thoughts can be kept out by willing that they stay out.You cannot realize your possibilities until you commence todirect your mind. You then do consciously what you have beforedone unconsciously. In this way you note mistakes, overcome badhabits and perfect your conduct.

You have at times been in a position that required courage andyou were surprised at the amount you showed. Now, when once youarouse yourself, you have this courage all the time and it is notnecessary to have a special occasion reveal it to you. My objectin so strongly impressing this on your mind is to make you awarethat the same courage, the same determination that you show atcertain exceptionable times you have at your command at alltimes. It is a part of your vast resources. Use it often andwell, in working out the highest destiny of which you arecapable.

Final Concentration Instruction. You now realize that, in orderto make your life worthy, useful and happy, you must concentrate.A number of exercises and all the needed instruction has beengiven. It now remains for you to form the highest ideal that youcan in the present and live up to that ideal, and try to raiseit. Don't waste your time in foolish reading. Select somethingthat is inspiring, that you may become enrapport with those thatthink thoughts that are worth while. Their enthusiasm willinspire and enlighten you. Read slowly and concentrate on whatyou are reading. Let your spirit and the spirit of the authorcommune, and you will then sense what is between the lines--thosegreat things which words cannot express.

Pay constant attention to one and one thing only for a given timeand you will soon be able to concentrate. Hang on to that thoughtceaselessly until you have attained your object. When you work,let your mind dwell steadily on your task. Think before you speakand direct your conversation to the subject under discussion. Donot ramble. Talk slowly, steadily and connectedly. Never form thehurry habit, but be deliberate in all you do. Assume staticattitudes without moving a finger or an eyelid, or any part ofyour body. Read books that treat of but one continuous subject.Read long articles and recall the thread of the argument.Associate yourself with people who are steady, patient andtireless in their thought, action and work. See how long you cansit still and think on one subject without interruption.

Concentrating on the Higher Self. Father Time keeps going on andon. Every day he rolls around means one less day for you on thisplanet. Most of us only try to master the external conditions ofthis world. We think our success and happiness depends on usdoing so. These are of course important and I don't want you tothink they are not, but I want you to realize that when deathcomes, only those inherent and acquired qualities and conditionswithin the mentality--your character, conduct and soulgrowth--will go with you. If these are what they should be, youneed not be afraid of not being successful and happy, for withthese qualities you can mold external materials and conditions.

Study yourself. Find Your Strong Points And Make Them Stronger AsWell As Yo Weak Ones And Strengthen Them. Study yourselfcarefully and you will see yourself as you really are.

The secret of accomplishment is concentration, or the art ofturning all your power upon just one point at a time.

If you have studied yourself carefully you should have a goodline on yourself, and should be able to make the proper interiorre-adjustments. Remember first, last, and always, Right thinkingand right Living necessarily results in happiness, and it istherefore within your power to obtain happiness. Anyone that isnot happy does not claim their birthright.

Keep in mind that some day you are going to leave this world andthink of what you will take with you. This will assist you toconcentrate on the higher forces. Now start from this minute, toact according to the advice of the higher self in everything youdo. If you do, its ever harmonious forces will necessarily insureto you a successful fulfilment of all your life purposes.Whenever you feel tempted to disobey your higher promptings, holdthe thought

"My-higher-self-insures-to-me-the-happiness-of-doing-that-which-best-answers-my-true-relations-to-all-others."

You possess latent talents, that when developed and utilized areof assistance to you and others. But if you do not properly usethem, you shirk your duty, and you will be the loser and sufferfrom the consequences. Others will also be worse off if you donot fulfil your obligations.

When you have aroused into activity your thought powers you willrealize the wonderful value of these principles in helping you tocarry out your plans. The right in the end must prevail. You canassist in the working out of the great plan of the universe andthereby gain the reward, or you can work against the great planand suffer the consequences. The all consuming fires aregradually purifying all discordant elements. If you choose towork contrary to the law you will burn in its crucible, so I wantyou to learn to concentrate intelligently on becoming in harmonywith your higher self. Hold the thought:"I-will-live-for-my-best. I-seek-wisdom, self-knowledge,happiness-and-power-to-help-others. I-act-from-the-higher-self,therefore-only-the-best-can-come-to-me. The more we becomeconscious of the presence of the higher self the more we shouldtry to become a true representative of the human soul in all itswholeness and holiness, instead of wasting our time dwelling onsome trifling external quality or defect. We should try to securea true conception of what we really are so as not to over valuethe external furnishings. You will then not surrender yourdignity or self respect, when others ignorantly make a display ofmaterial things to show off. Only the person that realizes thathe is a permanent Being knows what the true self is.