|
YOU CANNOT TEACH a subject to others unless you are familiar
with it yourself. And, the longer you teach it, the more proficient
you become.
I have lectured on subjects relating to self-improvement in most of
the principal cities in this country and Canada. After a lecture I
often hope that my listeners have gained as much from the talk as I
have from giving it.
Explaining principles to others fixes them more firmly in your own
mind. You may read about a certain theory and be impressed with it
at the time but, unless you make use of it, it will soon be
forgotten. Talking about it will have a tendency to fix it in your
consciousness so that it will be ever ready for use.
Using what you have learned so far in this book will forever keep
you from want. Moreover, it will keep you supplied with an abundance
of worldly goods. But this knowledge will be of little good unless
you make use of it.
Provide yourself with everything you have been hoping for: a fine
home, lots of money, etc. Then, instead of permitting others to
become envious over what you have, show them how they may acquire
what they want.
Some readers of this book will become so enthusiastic they will try
to force its teachings on their friends and relatives. This will do
no good and will make them unpopular.
Many people have such negative minds they will not believe that by
merely reading a book their circumstances can be changed. They will
declare that others' wealth was acquired through sheer good luck.
Tell them about the book, if you wish, and offer to lend it to them,
if they want to read it; but go no further. If they are really
enthusiastic (and not jealous) over your progress, they will gladly
ask to read the book; or, better still, they can buy a copy to have
as their very own.
Frank Barry was an ordinary fellow. He had a job and was able to
provide food, shelter and clothes for his wife and child. Then he
read one of my books and took its principles to heart. Soon he was
able to earn more money than he had been earning and to move into a
much better apartment.
A friend of Barry asked him what had happened to enable him to
improve his circumstances so dramatically. Frank liked this man and
spent much time virtually giving him a course in positive thinking
and how to change his circumstances through the establishment of
correct mental images.
The effect of this teaching was not immediately noticeable upon
Barry's friend, but it was on Frank Barry. His thoughts went back to
his circumstances before he learned the facts and to what had
happened since he began to apply the power of right thinking.
"If positive thinking could do what it has already done for me, why
can't it continue to improve my condition until I can move my family
into the home of our dreams, with everything necessary to go with
it?"
There was no negative answer to this question. Frank Barry continued
to climb until today he is vice-president of the company for which
he works. He is living in a most modern home of his own; he has a
maid and gardener, and he is now setting his sights even higher.
Here is a specific case of one man's helping himself by helping
another.
Or, consider another case, of two brothers, married and living close
to each other. Their circumstances were about the same, and both of
them were negative as to their outlook on life.
One brother became acquainted with positive thinking and how it can
affect one's life. He practiced it and soon bettered his condition
quite materially.
"Bunk!" exclaimed the other brother with much disgust. "You just
happened to get a few good breaks," this critic continued.
"I have the answer to all of your problems. If you ever want it,
come by and I'll give it to you," the fortunate brother said.
Several months went by before the negative brother took advantage of
the offer made by his more successful brother. However, seeing his
brother continuing to climb, he finally realized that more than luck
was involved. There must be a more substantial reason.
Reluctantly, and with much humility, the negative brother approached
his more successful one.
"You win, what is it?" he asked him.
For over two hours, he got a lesson in the difference between
negative and positive thinking and how his life could be changed.
A few weeks after this thought-provoking conference, the
positive-thinking brother was offered an opportunity so big he could
not turn it down. He was given a job which required the assistance
of several good men.
In his new role, he thought of his brother and offered him a
position as an assistant. Now, both brothers are climbing, and
neither one of them would waste time in listening to anyone who
might argue that positive thinking is mere bunk.
Do not attempt to force your type of thinking on those not yet ready
for it. You will be wasting your time as well as arousing the
animosity of those you're trying to teach.
On one of my frequent lecture tours, I met a man who invited me to
join him for dinner. This man, I later learned, was a food faddist.
He did not give me a chance to order what I wanted, but explained to
the waiter exactly what he should serve to me.
This experience was embarrassing because, when I didn't eat some of
the concoctions served, my host did everything except force me to
eat the food.
I am sure this man knew much about nutrition and that he was sincere
in wanting to help me; but he was forcing his knowledge on one not
ready to receive it.
The motive in writing this book is my desire to help others gain as
much happiness and success from life as I am enjoying. No one can
force you to read it. If they could, it is doubtful if you would be
helped. Your mind would not be on the subject matter, but on the one
who was trying to control you.
If, however, you read the book because you want to read it, because
you have learned it holds the key to success through positive
thinking, then you are in for an exciting revelation.
I am not sure that I agree with Emerson, who said: "Our chief want
in life is somebody who shall make us do what we can."
All of us can do the things which will bring success and happiness
in life, if we are willing to be taught what those things are.
It is true that we need the guidance to help us to make use of the
powers we already have. So it might be more correct if Emerson had
said need instead of want, making the quotation read: "Our chief
need in life is somebody who shall make us do what we can."
The word motivate is used extensively in connection with
self-improvement. It has a double meaning. Most of us think of
motivation as a force which impels us to act, or to move.
The sales manager, for instance, will endeavor to motivate his
salesman to action.
In my study of the word, I feel that motivate means to give one a
motive, and it is that motive which spurs him on to action.
Elsewhere in this book I refer to the need of having an incentive,
which is a synonym of the word motive. It seems to me, therefore,
that one of the best ways of helping a person is to give him a
motive which will stimulate the urge for self-improvement.
To give you a simple illustration: An acquaintance of mine once
visited my hobby shop, which, incidentally, is equipped with a large
number of power tools.
"Boy, this is a hobbyist's dream," he said as his eyes moved from
machine to machine.
"Why don't you put together a hobby shop of your own?" I ventured.
"Gosh, I'd love to, but it takes every cent I make to keep my home
going," he replied dolefully.
"Please do not be embarrassed with the question I am about to ask,
but how much money do you spend weekly on liquor?"
"Oh, not over $25," he admitted, as he tried to keep his eyes from
meeting mine.
"If you were to cut that amount in hah*, you'd save enough money
each month to make the payments on an outfit which would closely
resemble mine," I said with a counseling attitude.
A change was coming over the countenance of this visitor. He stepped
over to the shelf where I kept my hobby books, and eagerly glanced
over many of the plans.
His eyes fell on some patio furniture plans and, as he studied them,
he knew, without doubt, he could build the chairs and table shown.
"By gosh, I'm going to do it," he said with marked enthusiasm.
This man's determination took an unexpected twist. As the tools in
his new hobby shop began to accumulate, he became so engrossed that
he gave up liquor completely, putting the entire liquor budget into
his new interest.
This is a case where a man was helped by giving him a motive.
In my file of case histories I find another instance in which much
was accomplished after a motive had been gained.
John Jeffries was a typical plodder. He instinctively felt that he
was destined to go through life punching time clocks. The thought of
ever establishing a business of his own had never entered his head,
so certain was he that he was not "cut out" to be a businessman. v
John frequently did menial jobs for me on my property and whenever I
could I would talk to him, hoping that I could give him an incentive
to want to improve himself. He paid no attention to most of my
suggestions because he had not reached a point where he could see
himself as anything other than what he was.
One day Jeffries was criticizing the way a certain firm did
business.
"I'll wager that you would have made a good businessman, you have
such constructive ideas," I told him without making it apparent I
was trying to flatter him.
He made no comment, but I could see by the expression on his face
that the thought was taking root. Later I had other occasions to
remark about his business sense. Each time I was quite subtle so
that he would not suspect that I was performing a psychological
experiment on him.
One day he came to me and quite eagerly asked me what he should
study so that he could go into some kind of business for himself.
I outlined what seemed to be a logical and simple plan for him to
pursue. He left me with a spring in his step, a glint in his eyes
and an expression of determination which defied failure.
John Jeffries started a business with practically no capital,
because he had none. He now has a thriving business which is
expanding rapidly.
The motive given to John Jeffries was to gain happiness and success
through the development of his latent talent.
DEVELOPING YOUR POWERS WHILE YOU SLEEP
Throughout this book you have learned many things about your
Creative Mind and how to make use of it while you sleep.
In this chapter you have learned how to help yourself by helping
others. Please know that you can benefit by this thought while you
sleep.
Tonight, before retiring, repeat to yourself several times, some
such statement as:
"I am growing in influence and affluence so that I can be of help to
humanity. I enjoy helping others to help themselves and will
constantly draw upon my resources so that I can be generous."
Saying this tonight will assure you of a brighter tomorrow. You will
have grown immeasurably during the night as your Creative Mind
establishes within itself an image of you as a great benefactor.
Those who have been inclined to lean toward the selfish side of life
may have difficulty in understanding why they should continually
think in terms of giving instead of receiving. It is my theory that
all receiving is preceded by giving. If we are not getting enough in
life, it is because we are not giving enough.
There is one thing certain: the generous person gains more happiness
in life than the selfish one. But, aside from the spiritual benefit,
it is invariably found that the one who gives the most gets the
most.
Applying this principle to business, I will relate the policy of the
head of a large chain of dime stores: A salesman showed a sample of
an item to the buyer of this chain and told him its wholesale price
was 6¢ and if he sold it at 10¢, he'd realize a good profit.
"Go back to your factory and find out how much better it can be made
at 7½¢," the buyer replied. His attitude indicated that his large
company was more interested in quality than price and was willing to
make 1½¢ less on each sale in order to raise the quality of the
product. It is no wonder that the chain is rapidly growing with such
a policy.
You are nearing the end of this book and it is my feeling that you
are now looking upon it with reverence because it has given you the
key to a life more abundant.
Read the last two chapters and then allow yourself a few days to
digest mentally all you have learned; then reread the entire book.
As much as I am sure you have gained so far, it is nothing to what
you will gain during your second reading. Why? Because before
reading it you were promised many wonderful results, many of which
you might have greeted with a bit of skepticism. By now you know how
to take advantage of your internal power, so the next time you read
this book you will do so with the conviction that you will accept
and apply every principle given.
|