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CONTENTS
TitlePage
Copyright
Preface
CLASS1WhateverItIs,YouCanGetIt
CLASS2DoExactlyWhatITellYoutoDo
CLASS3YouNeedOnlyOneQuality
CLASS4IfYouCan’tCleanAllofThem,Don’tCleanAnyofThem
CLASS5TheProblemIsWhereYouAre
CLASS6MoneyIsaMagnifier
CLASS7YouAretheSumTotalofYourThoughts
CLASS8You’veAlreadyGotIt
CLASS9TheExistingModelIsObsolete
CLASS10OurMostPowerfulForce
CLASS11HowtoTellIfYou’reDoingItWrong
CLASS12TheOnlyLimitonPower
CLASS13Dance’tilItRains
CLASS14TheOnlySourceofSupply
CLASS15TheMagicGraphic
CLASS16TheOnlyThingYouCanControl
CLASS17ThinkYourDreamsintoReality
CLASS18YouDon’tNeedtoDoItAll
CLASS19It’sYourMove
CLASS20WorkfromtheHighertotheLower
CLASS21It’sNotAbouttheMoney
CLASS22CountYourBlessings
CLASS23It’sTimetoStretch
Afterword
A
PREFACE
sfarasIknow,BobProctoristheonlypersonwhohasbeenstudyingpersonaldevelopmenteverydayformorethanhalfacentury.Hiswork
conveysthemostvaluablekindofinformation—howtogetoutofyourownwaysoyoucanhaveahappy,healthyandmassivelywealthylife.Hehasdonephenomenalworkaroundtheworld,helpingmillionsofpeopleandcountlessorganizationsreachtheirbiggestgoals.
BobisthelastlivingteacherwithadirectlinktothegreatlineageofAndrewCarnegie,NapoleonHillandEarlNightingale.Thereisnooneontheplanetlikethismanandhislife-transformingteachings.Andhedoesn’tjustteachit,helivesit!BobisinhisearlyeightiesandhehasmoreenergyandenthusiasmforlifethananyoneIknow.Heactslikeheisjustgettingstartedashislife’smissioncontinuestobewhatithasbeenforthepastfifty-plusyears—tohelpasmanypeopleaspossiblemastertheartoflivingwithnolimits.
ThemostextraordinaryaspectofBobProctorandhisteachingsisthatheisatrueconsciouscompetent.Inotherwords,hedoesextremelywell,andheisconsciouslyawareofwhyhedoesextremelywellsohecanshareitwithothersinawaytheycanimmediatelyputtouse.Ittookhimnineandahalfyearsofserioussearching,workingwithgreatmentors,teachersandbooks,tofindouthowandwhyhislifechanged.Whenherealizedthetruthofwhathadhappened,allhewantedtodowasteachittoothers.Tohisamazementhefoundthatalmostallhighlysuccessfulpeopleareunabletoarticulatewhytheyaresosuccessful.Theyortheirsuperiorssatisfythemselveswiththeideatheyaresmartorhaveagoodeducationorhadgoodteachers.Buttherearealotofsmartpeoplewhohadagreateducationandhadsmartteacherswhoarenotdoingwellatall.Whenapersonishighlysuccessfulinanendeavorandtheycannotarticulatewhytheyare,theyhavesomethingverypowerfulgoingforthemthattheyareunabletogivetoanother.Proctorisnotonlysuccessful,heknowswhy
heisandthereforehehasthemostvaluablekindofinformationanditistransferable.
BobProctortrulybelievesweareallGod’shighestformofcreation,thatwehavebeenblessedwithmagnificentmentalfaculties,andthattheonlythingmissingiswhatwiseKingSolomonurgedustodevelop,andthatisourunderstanding.Wemustunderstandwhoweare,whywearedoingwhatwearedoingandhowtochangewhatwearedoingifwearenotsatisfiedwithourresults.Proctorisamasteratteachingjustthat.
Iamgratefulfortheinvaluablecontributionhehasmadetomylife.Histeachingshaveempoweredmetofindmypurposeandhavethecouragetopursueit.Ifeelincrediblyprivilegedtobehisfriend,andIamsogratefultobehisbusinesspartneratourcompany,theProctorGallagherInstitute.
Thelessonsthatyourequiretoachieveanyresultyouwantarelockedupbetweenthecoversofthisbook.Whathesharesistrulytheartofliving.AsyouturnthepageimaginethatyouarewalkingrightintooneofBobProctor’sclasses.
—SANDRAGALLAGHER
I
CLASSONE
WHATEVERITIS,YOUCANGETIT
ReclaimingthePowerofYourMind
wasonacoachingcallyesterday,andatonepointIsaid,“Youknow,onehundredyearsfromnow,maybeevensoonerthanthat,peoplearegoingto
lookbackandconsiderwhatwedowithchildrentobeacriminalactivity.Theyreallywill.Itwillbeacriminalactivity!”
Stopandthinkofthefreedomachildhaswhenheissmall,justalittletinybaby.Hisimaginationtakeshimwhereverhewantstogo.Childrenliveinaphenomenalworldwheretheycandoanythingtheywant.Theycanbecomepilots;theycanbetightropewalkers;theycanwalkstraightacrossNiagaraFallsandhavenoproblematall.It’sdonerightthereintheirmarvelousmind.
Thenwesendkidstoschoolandthatfantasticcreativeprocessissuddenlyabadthing.Thechild’simaginationiscalled“notpayingattention.”Driftingoffintothegloriousrealmoftheimaginationforafewmomentselicitsaswift“Whatareyoudoing?!”fromateacher.It’sapunishableoffense!Andthosepunishmentsareveryeffective.Youbeatalittlekidupacoupleoftimesfordoingsomethingandguesswhat?They’llstopdoingit.Soinsteadofbeingpraisedandencouragedtodeveloptheirimagination—anincrediblementalfaculty—they’remadetovirtuallyshutitdowncompletely.
ThelateStellaAdler,afantasticactingcoach,said,“Grownupstakethelifeoutofthings.It’sbettertomakethingsup,tousetheimagination,thantokillthem.”Icouldn’tagreemore.
Sonow,hereweareasadults,payingthousandsofdollars,takingdaysoffworkorawayfromhome,justtolearnhowtouseourimaginationagain.Butwehaveto.Wehavetoallgetbacktoaplaceofbeingabletoaccessthatphenomenalpowerbecauseeverythingmadebymanthatyouseeisnothingbutthephysicalmanifestationofsomebody’simagination.That’swhateverythinginyourfieldofviewinsidethisroomrightnowis.
IusedtohaveanofficeonBayviewAvenueinToronto.Wehadacleaningbusinesswherewecleanedoffices.That’showIstartedwashingfloors.OnedayIthought,Weshouldgetacarphone!Sowegotacarphoneandweputasupervisorontheroad,andhewouldgoaroundsupervisingallthecleaners,andIcouldgethimonthephone.Wehadtomountskiracksonthetopofhiscartoholdtheaerialupsothatwemightbeabletogethimbecausetherewereonlyhalfadozenchannelsonthephoneanditdidn’tworkverywell.Today,ofcourse,therearemillionsoflinesopen—millions.Weallhaveone.Andwecancommunicatewithanotherpersonontheirfrequency.Howdidthishappen?Someoneimaginedit,that’show.
IfItookyourpicturerightnow,Icouldsendittoanyoneanywhereintheworld.AllIhavetodoishitsendandbang!,itisimmediately100percentpresentinallplacesatthesametime.IfyouwereinSãoPaulo,you’dgetthepicture.IfyouwereinSanFrancisco,you’dgetthepicture.IfyouwereinShanghai,you’dgetthepicture.IfyouwereinChicago,you’dgetthepicture.Why?Becausethepictureiseverywhere.Theonlythingthatmakesitmaterializeissomethingthatresonateswithit:yournumber.Boom!,you’vegotit!
Athoughtisjustthesameasthatpicture.Theonlythingthatstopsathoughtisthatwhichresonateswiththethought.
Wecancommunicatetelepathicallywithanyone,anywhereintheworld,andwe’redoingitallthetime.Wejustdon’tknowwhatwe’redoing.Why?Becausenobodytaughtuswhatwe’redoing,andsowegrowupignorant.
Thinkaboutthis.Whenalittlesquirrelisborn,nobodyhastofendforit.Thatlittlesquirrelrunsupanddowntreesrightaway.Itwilllookfornuts.It’llfindsomething.Itfeedsitself.Alittlehumanbaby,ontheotherhand,willdieifyoudon’tlookafterhimorher.Yousee,thelittlesquirreloperatesbyinstinct,whichisperfect.Thesquirrelistotallyathomeinitsenvironment.Wearetotallydisorientedinours.Why?Becauseeventhoughwe’vebeengiventhemental
facultytocreateourownenvironment,wedon’tdoit.Whydon’twedoit?Becausewe’retold,“That’ssilly”...“Growup!”...“That’snotrealistic!”...“Whodoyouthinkyouare?”...allthatjazz.
Soherewe’vegothumanbeings,withmarvelousminds,andthey’restruggling,thinkingtheyarestuckwiththeconditionsorcircumstancesthey’resurroundedby.I’dliketodoitbutIcan’tbecause...Whateverfollows“because”isthecircumstance,andtheybecomesubservienttothecircumstance.ThecircumstancebecomestheirversionofGod...andtheydowhattheirperceptionofthecircumstancedictates.Theydon’teventrytocomeupwithabetterway.
You’reheretolearnhowtocreatemultiplesourcesofincomesothatyoucanhavefinancialfreedom.NowIknowyoumaybethinking,Oh,Icouldn’tdothat.Whycouldn’tyoudothat?BecauseI’veneverdonethat.Canyouimagineifyoudidn’tlearntodothingsthatyou’dneverdone?You’dstillbelyinginyourcrib,playingwithyourtoes.Youwould!
Butyouhadtogetupandputonefootinfrontoftheother.Youhadtobetaughttodothat.They’dholdyourhand—“Hetookasteponhisown!Didyouseethat?Hetookasteponhisown!He’swalking!Oh,hejustfellover.Oh,he’shurthimself!”Youtottered,youstumbled,andittookyousometime.Butsureenough,youlearnedtowalk.
Whatever“it”is,youcandoit.Yousimplyhavetolearnhow.
IoncereadthattheWrightbrothers’father,whowasabishopinareformchurch,toldthemtheyweregoingtoburninhellforsuggestingtheycouldfly;thatifGodhadintendedustofly,we’dhavewings.
Ofcourse,thatwasbelievedforcenturies.Itwasalsobelievedthattheworldwasflat.Wereallyboughtintoit,wereallybelievedit—andnotthatlongago!Accordingtotheprevailingwisdomofthetime,howcouldtheworldpossiblyberound?!Howwouldyouliveontheside?!Forgetthebottom.Andwhenyouwatchedashipdisappear,itlookedlikeitfelloff!See,logicdictatedthattheworldcouldn’tpossiblyberound,sothat’swhatwasbelieved.
Doyousupposethatpeoplewerethinkingwhentheyboughtintothatidea?Doyouthinktheywereusingtheirmarvelousimaginationwhentheyinsistedthatwecouldn’tfly?Idon’tthinkso.
EarlNightingalewasamentorofmine,andIlearnedsomuchfromhim.Irememberhimsaying,“Ifmostpeoplesaidwhattheywerethinking,theywouldbespeechless.”
You’llfindpeoplecompetingwithpeople.There’ssomebodytheydon’tevenlikeandthey’recompeting.“I’mgoingtobeather!”Whatfor?Whywouldyouspendanytimethinkingofher?She’snotevenaniceperson.Whywouldyouspendanytimethinkingaboutthatperson?Andifyou’regoingtothinkabouther,justseethegoodqualitiesinher.Becauseifyoudon’t,you’reputtingyourselfinabadvibration.
Alotofpeoplearenervouswhenmeetingme.Ifindthatamusing.Irememberonetime,yearsago,IwasworkingataconventionforMetropolitanLifeinToronto.Thereweremanypeopleatthisconvention.Isawthisoneguy—hewouldwalktowardmeandthenhe’dgoaway,walktowardme,goaway.Hewasnervousaboutmeetingme.Itwasfairlyobvious.
Finally,hismanagerbroughthimoverandsaid,“Bob,IwantyoutomeetHarry.”Theguy’shandwassoakingwet.Hewasshaking.Themanagersaid,“He’snervousmeetingyou.”Istartedlaughing,thenIquicklysaid,“I’mnotlaughingatyou,butifIsaidIwasnervousmeetingyou,wouldn’tyouthinkthatwasfunny?Imean,whywouldanyonebenervousmeetingme?Iknowyouthink,Whywouldanyonebenervousmeetingme?You’dthinkthat.SodoI.”
Whywouldwedothat?Whywouldweletanotherperson’spresence,apersonwedon’tevenknow,intimidateus?Whywouldwefeellikewearelessthanheorsheis?Whywouldweshrinkmentally?Wehavetobetrainedtodothat.Weweren’tbornwiththat.
Butlisten:We’rebigboysandgirlsnow.Wehavetheabilitytothink.Solet’sstartthinkingofwhatwereallywanttodo.Let’sgetridoftheideaofwhatwehavetodo.Youdon’thavetodoanything.You’llsay,“Well,youhavetobreathe.”No,youcouldputaplasticbagoveryourheadandfinishit.You
could.“Well,youhavetopaytaxes.”No,youdon’t.Youdon’t!Youcouldgotojailorgotoatax-freezone.Youdon’thavetopaytaxes.Youdon’thavetodoanything.
Youknowwhatwe’vegottogetstraightinourhead?Wechoosetodoeverythingwedo.
ViktorFrankl,theVienneseJewishpsychiatristwhowassenttoaGermanconcentrationcampduringtheSecondWorldWar,wroteabookcalledMan’sSearchforMeaning.Quiteagoodbook.Init,hesaidthatregardlessoftheintellectualorpsychologicalabusehewassubjectedtointhecamp,noonecouldcausehimtothinksomethinghedidn’twanttothink.
Thesameistrueofyouractions.Wechoosetodoeverythingthatwedo.“Shemademedoit!”Ohno,no,no,no,no.Shedidn’tmakeyoudoit.Theremighthavebeenalittlewarifyou’ddecidednottodoit.Thealternativemighthavebeenuncomfortable.Butshedidn’tmakeyoudoit—youchoseto.We’vegottotakeresponsibilityforwhatwe’redoing.We’vegottotakeresponsibilityforourlife!
Here’sthepoint:Whenyougotodosomethingthatyouhaveneverdone,therearegoingtobeallkindsofcrazythingsgoingoninsideofyou.There’sgoingtobethatlittlevoiceinsidethattalkstoyouandsays,“Whodoyouthinkyouare?Youcan’tdothat.Youcouldn’tpossiblybethereatninea.m.!You’vegottobehereatnine,you’vegottodothis.”Andthatlittlevoiceinsidefrequentlywinstheconversation.Itturnsintoabattle,andmoreoftenthannot,thatlittlevoiceinsidewinsit.
Sowhenapersondoesn’tmakethecall,theydon’taskanyonetobuythe$100,000policy.Thendowntheroadtheysay,“Well,itwouldn’thaveworked,anyway.That’snotgoingtomakeadifference.Somepeoplecan’taffordthat!”
Nonsense.Peoplecanaffordwhatevertheywant.Ifyougohomeandgothroughyourhouse,you’llseeit’sfullofstuffyoudon’tneed.Youboughtitbecauseyouwantedit.Andwhenyoureallywantsomething,youwillalwaysgetwhateverisrequiredtohaveit...always.Thatisanabsolutelawofyourbeing.Whenyoumakeadecision,youflipyourbrainontoadifferentfrequency.Youbegintoattractwhateverisonthatfrequency.Nowifyouunderstandthis,itmakeseverythingalittleeasier.Itmakesitalotbetter.Ifyoudon’tunderstandit,itbecomesfairlydifficult.Sowe’regoingtotryandunderstandit.
TodothatIthinkitwouldbehelpfulforyoutoknowwhereIcomefrom.Iwanttosharewithyouhowthisallstarted.
T
CLASSTWO
DOEXACTLYWHATITELLYOUTODO
TheInfallibleRecipeforSuccess
here’sabookIlove—absolutelylove—calledThinkandGrowRich.It’sbyNapoleonHill.Thisbookhadahugeimpactonthedirectionmylife
took.Istartedreadingitin1961,andeverythinginmylifestartedtochange.AndI’veneverstoppedreadingit.It’snotthatI’msuchaslowreader,it’sthatthere’ssomuchinthisbook.
Howitcameintomylifeisquiteastory.Alltheseyearslater,itstillamazesme.
Atthetime,IwasworkingfortheEastYorkFireDepartment,intheEastYorksuburbofToronto.ItwasthebestjobthatIeverhad,uptothatpoint.Ireallyshouldn’thavebeenthere.Ishouldnothavegottenthatjob.Therewerehundreds,maybeevenafewthousandpeoplewhoappliedforthatjob.There’sacertainelementofsocietywhoallwanttobefiremenorpoliceofficersbecausefiremenandpoliceofficersearnalittlebitbetterthanfactoryworkersorwaiters.Ialwaysthoughtbeingafiremanwasbetterthanbeingapoliceofficerbecausewegottogotobedwhenwewereondutyatnightandthepoliceofficerscouldn’t.
Anyway,therewasanadvertisementinthenewspaper—theyweregoingtohiretwenty-onefiremeninEastYork.WehadjustmovedtoEastYork.IgrewupintheBeachesareaofToronto,andIthought,Wow,thatwouldbesomething.
Atthetime,Iwasworkingatagasstation.Iwouldchangetires,changeoil,lubricatecars,washcars...Iwasdoingitforadollaranhour,forty-eighthoursaweek,sixdaysaweek.OneweekamonthIworkedsevendays,soIgotthreedaysoffamonth,andIwasearningabout$50aweek.
Therewasamagistratewholivedtwodoorsupfrommymother:MagistrateLynn.Ididnotknowhim.Ididn’tknowwhatthemanlookedlike.ButIknewhewasamagistrate.SoIwentandknockedonhisdoor,andIsaid,“Youdon’tknowme,sir,butmymotherlivesacoupledoorsfromhere.They’rehiringfiremenhereinEastYorkandIwasgoingtoputinanapplication,andIwonderifthere’sanythingyoucoulddotohelpme.”
IthinkhewasimpressedthatIaskedhim.“Oh,”hesaid,“Comeonin,son.”Hegotonthephone,calledthemayorandsaid,“I’vegotayoungguyherewhoI’dsortofliketogetonthefiredepartment.”Andwhoosh—Iwasonthefiredepartment!
Now,youhadtoweigh160pounds.Ihadneverweighed160poundsinmylife.Iwasgoingtoagym,tryingtoputonweight,becauseIknewIhadtohaveaphysical.IwasdrinkingWeightOn—concentratedfat—attemptingtogainweight,andIhadtodrinkorangejuicewithitsoIwouldn’tgag.Iwastryingdesperatelytoputweighton,butIstillweighed135pounds!
SooffIgoformyphysicalinthetownshipofficeandthisolddoctorsaid,“Soyou’regoingtobeafireman,areyou,son?”
AndIsaid,“Yessir,yessir.”Hesaid,“Well,gooverthereandweighyourself.”Igotonthescaleandheasked,“What’sitsay?”Isay,“160pounds.”Hestoppedforasecondandthenhesaid,“Well,we’llleaveitatthat,”and
wroteitdown.AndthereIwas,onthefiredepartment!Iworkedsevendaysandsevennightsamonth.Whenyougotonthenight
shiftyou’dgointhekitchen,makesomethingtoeat,maybemakeacupoftea,watchsomeTV,andwhenitgotlate,you’dmakeyourbedandgotosleep.Itwasarealimpositionifsomeonestartedafireinthemiddleofthenightandyouhadtogetupandgoputitout!
Noonehadeverquitthatjob.Notonepersonhadquitsince1934.I’dgotosleepatnight,getupinthemorningfromthefirehouse,goandplaygolf.Goandshootpool.Ihaddoubledmyincome,andIhardlyhadtowork!Iwasvirtuallyretired.IthoughtI’ddiedandgonetoheaven.
Thenoneday,Iwassittinginthekitchenandamanwholivednearthefirehouse,whosenamewasRayStanford,cameupandsatdownwithhiscupof
coffee.Raywasanincrediblemanwhospentmostofhistimetryingtowakepeopleup.
Rayasked,“Bob,whatwouldyouratherbedoing?”Isaid,“Iwouldn’tratherbedoinganythingthanwhatI’mdoing,Iloveit
here!Whywouldn’tIlikeit?”ButRayknewsomethingthatIdidn’tknow.Heknewthatmypastwasn’t
whoIwas.Heknewthatmyreportcardsweren’twhoIwas.HeknewthattheresultsthatIwasgettinginmypaycheckweren’twhoIreallywas.
Heasked,“Whatdoyoureallywant?”Isaid,“Iwantsomemoney.”MoneyreallywasallIwantedthen.Yousee,Iwasearning$4,000ayear,but
Iowed$6,000.IfItookeverythingIearnedforeighteenmonthstopayoffmydebt,withnothinglefttoliveon,Iwouldhavejustbrokeneven.
Raypulledawadofcashoutofhispocketandsaid,“Thisstuffcan’ttalkbutitcanhear,andifyoucallit,itwillcome.Howmuchdoyouwant?”
“$25,000.”However,IabsolutelydidnotbelieveIcouldearn$25,000.Imean,we
wouldhavehadtoselloneoftheaerialladderstocomeupwiththatkindofmoney.NooneIknewhad$25,000...thatwouldhavebeenlikeswimmingtoHawaii.Itwasn’tpossible.Ihadbeenraisedtobelieveitwasnotpossible.Ihaditrightinmybonesnottobelievethat.Nobodyinourfamilyhadeverdoneanythinglikethat.Asfarbackasyoucouldgo,nobodyhadeverevengonetoschoolinourfamily.Ihadnoideahowthatridiculous,impossibleamountofmoneycameintomyheadandoutofmymouth.
Raydidn’tbataneyelash,though.Hesimplysaidtome,“IfyoudoexactlyasItellyou,I’llshowyouexactlyhowtogetwhatyouwant.”
Ididn’tbelieveit.ButIbelievedhebelievedit—andthattouchedsomethinginsideofme.
SoIdecidedIwoulddowhathesaid,startingwithreadingthebookhehandedme,abookI’dneverheardof,calledThinkandGrowRichbyNapoleonHill.
Raysaidtome,“Iwantyoutostudyeveryday.”Thatwasadifficultthingformetodo,butIdidit.IdecidedIwoulddoexactlywhathetoldmeuntilIfoundoutthathewaslyingorthathedidn’tknowwhathewastalkingabout.
AndlikeIsaid,mywholeworldbegantochange.Itbegantochangelikenightandday.Istartedtolookaround.Iwouldseemyfellowfiremencomingintothefirehouseandsittingdowninfrontofthetelevisionset.Theyweremaybeintheirfortiesandtheyweretalkingabouttheunionandgettinganearly
retirement.AndthenI’dhearthatHarry,whohadjustretiredlastyear,haddiedthismorning.Poorbugger.Hisheartjuststoppedbeating.
AndIthought,Ican’tstayhere.I’vegottogetoutofhere.SoIcontinuedtodowhatRaytoldme.AndI’veneverstopped.
Today,ifIcoachsomebody,it’sthesamedeal.YoumustdoexactlywhatIsuggestuntilyoufindoutI’mlyingorIdon’tknowwhatI’mtalkingabout.
That’sthedealforyou,too.Iknowyou’llthinkI’malittlecrazy,andprobablyinthemindofthemasses,Iam.
ButifyoudoexactlywhatItellyou,you’llgettheresultsthatyouwant.JustlikeIdid.
Ifyou’remanagingpeople,don’tlettheirbehaviorscrewupyourhead.Don’tletwhatthey’regettingcauseyoutothinkthat’swhatthey’recapableof.Getthemtobelievewhatyoubelieve.Howdoyougetthemtodothat?Justgetthemtodosomesimplethings.Butgetthemtocommit.Getthemtodoiteveryday.Everyday.There’snotricktothis.Thishasnothingtodowithwhetheryou’resmartornot.
R
CLASSTHREE
YOUNEEDONLYONEQUALITY
TheLife-ChangingPowerofDiscipline
aytoldmesomethingcriticalduringthatfirstconversation.Hesaid,“Youneedonlyonequalitytosucceed.Youmusthavediscipline.”
Well,Ididn’twanttohavediscipline.Ididn’tknowwhatthewordmeant.IhadbeenintheCanadianNavy,anditwassomethinglikewhenIhadbeeninschool.Iwouldn’tdowhatIwastold,onlyinthenavyifyoudidn’tdowhatyouweretold,youwereindeeptrouble,Imeanyoupaidforit!Iwaslockeduponmytwenty-firstbirthday,andtheyhadmegoingthroughassaultcoursesallday.
Oh,itwassadisticwhattheydidtous.ButIknewwhattheruleswere.AndIsaid,“Screwyou.I’mnotfollowingyourrules!”Oh,aren’tyou?!Youknow,IthinktheyshouldtakeeveryyoungguyandstickhiminthearmyortheMarinesorsomething,forsixmonthsorayear,sohegrowsupfast.Theytoughenyouupmentally!
Well,theytoughenedmeupmentally,buttheyleftmewiththeimpressionthatdisciplineequaledpunishment.IfIdidn’tdowhatIwastold,theywouldhavemeoutontheparadesquaresquattingwitharifleovermyhead.Itwasonlyanine-poundrifle,butifyouholdanine-poundrifleoveryourheadforevenafewminutes,youthinkitweighsninehundredpounds!Andit’s,“Getitupthere!!”
“Yessir,yessir!”I’veonlytoldthisstoryonceortwicebutitjustcametomymind,soIguess
I’msupposedtotellyou.Iwasoutontheparadesquareandtherewasapetty
officerincharge,andhewas,inmyopinion,mean.Hehadmehoppingaroundontheparadesquare,andIhadjustfinishedfourteendaysofthis.Igotoutandtheygavemeanotherfourteendays,andIthought,Ican’thandlethis!SoIjustfellover.
Hesaid,“Getup!”Isaid,“Ican’t,sir.”“What’sthematter?”Isaid,“I’vegotapaininmyside.”“Wellthen,gotosickbay,”hesaid.ItoldhimIcouldn’twalk.Well,theygotmetosickbay.AndIwasafraidto
sayIwaslying,becausethenI’dreallybeintrouble!Sotheybringinthismidshipman,andhewaslikeanintern,onlywewereintheservice.Hepressedonmysideandsaid,“Doesithurt?”
Isaid,“Yessir.”Thenextmorning,thesurgeontookmeintohavemyappendixtakenout!I
wastooafraidtotellthemnothingwaswrong!Sotheytookmyappendixout,IfinishedmypunishmentinthehospitalandIgottwoweeks’sickleave.Ithought,IwishIhadanotherappendix!
Heylisten,whenyoudon’tplaybytherulesyougetyourselfintosomefunnyspots.Thepointis,Ihadtheideathatdisciplinewaspunishment.Ithoughtthatwasdiscipline—getthemoutthereintheparadesquareandbeattheheckoutofthem.
Thetruthis,disciplineistheabilitytogiveyourselfacommandandthenfollowit.Youwillneverdevelopanythingofanyconsequenceifyouarenotdisciplined.Ifyouaredisciplined,youcanhavemostanythingyouwant.Thisissobasic,it’ssosimpleandit’ssomisunderstood.Mostpeoplegothroughtheirentirelifeandneverenjoywhattheycouldenjoybecausetheylackdiscipline.ButRaywasright—whenyouhavediscipline,youcanhaveanythingyouseriouslywant.
Iamaverydisciplinedperson.Idon’tcareifanybodyelseisworking.Idon’tcarewhatanyoneelseisdoing.IknowwhatI’vegottodo,andIgetitdone,andIdon’tneedanybodytomotivateme.Idon’tneedanybodytopraiseme.Ijustneeddiscipline.That’sall.Youdon’tneedtothrowmeanybouquets.Justletmeputmyimaginationtowork,andIsay,“I’mgoingtodothis!”AndIgoanddoit.
Ifyouwanttomakeanysignificantchangeinyourlife,youabsolutelymustcommandyourselftodowhatyouknowhastobedoneandthenfollowthrough.Ifyoucandothat,you’llgetstrongerandstronger.Andthenyou’llbeabletodowhatyouwant,insteadofjustwhatyouthinkyoucando.
I
CLASSFOUR
IFYOUCAN’TCLEANALLOFTHEM,DON’TCLEANANYOFTHEM
ShatteringtheMythofHardWork
nthesecondchapterofmybookYouWereBornRich,Itellpeoplehowtogetoutofdebt.Yousetupanautomaticdebtrepaymentprogram,whereaportion
ofyourincomeautomaticallygoesintoanaccount.It’salllookedafter;it’sallautomatic;it’slikeanautoresponder.It’sanautomaticwaytopaydebtsothatyouneverhavetothinkaboutdebt.Thenyoustartbuildingtheconceptofprosperityinyourmind.
Yousee,whateveryouthinkaboutallthetime,youwillattractintoyourlife.Notwhatyouwant—whatyouareemotionallyinvolvedwith.Whichiswhyifyouhaveagoalofgettingoutofdebt,youwillprobablystayindebtforever.
AsIsaidearlier,Iwasn’tseriouswhenIfirstblurtedoutmygoalofmaking$25,000—atleastnotconsciouslyso.ButRaytookmeseriously,andhehadmewritethatgoaldownonacard.
OnceIdidthat,somethingveryinterestingbegantohappen.Beforethis,Iwasalwaysthinkingaboutdebt.Creditorswereforeverphoning
meandI’dsay,“Getoutofhere!Idon’thaveanymoney!”Iwouldgetangryat
themeventhoughitwastheirmoney!Theyshouldn’thavelentittome.Buttheydid,yousee,andsurprise,theywanteditback.So,atanyrate,Iwasspendingallmytimethinkingaboutdebt.
ButonceIwrotethatgoaldown,Istartedthinkingaboutearningmoney.That$25,000.
Ihadheardsomebodysay,“There’sgoodmoneyincleaningfloors.”Ithought,I’mnotproud.I’llcleanfloors.Thatsamepersonhadalsosaid,“Don’tworkforsomeoneelse;workforyourself.”Madesensetome,buttodothatIhadtogetafloormachineandotherequipment.
Ifoundausedmachinefor$980,andsomebucketsandmopstogowithit,whichmeantIhadtoget$980.Noonewouldlendmemoney—Iwouldn’tlendmemoneyeither,becauseIknewIwasn’tgoingtopayitback!It’snotthatIdidn’twanttopayitback,it’sthatIneverhadenoughmoneytopayitback.ButIreadinabook,ifonepersonwon’tlendit,gotoanotherperson,andanotherperson,andprettysoonyou’llgetgoodatyourpresentationandsomebodywilllendyouthemoney.
That’showIendedupinatrustcompanyandgotintoseethemanager,AlKeiper.ThereIaminMr.Keiper’soffice,tellinghimwhatIwant,andI’menthusiastic,andIhadbuiltthisbusinessinmyimaginationandIwasgoingtocleanfloorsallovertheworld.IthinkhethoughtIwasalittlecrazy,butIwasalsoprettyenthusiasticaboutwhatIwasgoingtodo.
Hesaid,“I’mgoingtolendyouthemoney.”Iwasshocked.Butatanyrate,IgotthethousanddollarsandawayIwent.
IhadmycleaningbusinessIwasworkingat,alongwithmydutiesasafireman.Ithoughtthewaytomakemoremoneywastoworkharder,getanotheroffice,thenanother.SohereIam,cleaningoffices,puttingoutfires,cleaningoffices,puttingoutfires,cleaningoffices.WhenIwentintothefirehouseIprayednoonewouldstartafire,Iwassotiredandwantedtosleep.
OnedayIpassedoutonthestreet.Iwasexhausted.Iregainedconsciousnessonthesidewalk,lookedup,andtherewasagreatbigpoliceofficerlookingdownatme.Hemightnothavebeenaverybigman,buthelookedlikeagianttomewhenIwaslookingupathim,anditwasascaryenvironmentbecausetherewasacrowdofpeoplearoundmeandtherewerelightsflashingandIcouldhearasiren.Ihadpassedout,andIguesssomebodythoughtIwasdead.I
wasonlyabouttwenty-sevenyearsold.It’snotnormalforatwenty-seven-year-oldyoungmantopassoutonthestreet.
Theyweregoingtotakemetothehospital.IfinallyregainedconsciousnessandrealizedwhereIwas,andIthought,I’vegottogetoutofhere.SoItalkedthemintonottakingmetothehospitalandIgotawaybymyself,satdownsomewhereandstartedtothink.Andsuddenly,aquietvoiceinsideofmesaid,“Ifyoucan’tcleanallofthem,don’tcleananyofthem.”
SoIgotalldressedup,andIgototherpeoplecleaningoffices.Andinlessthanfiveyears,IwascleaningofficesinToronto,Montreal,Boston,Cleveland,AtlantaandLondon,England.IfyouhadaskedmewhatIwasdoing,I’dhavesaidcleaningoffices.ButwhatelsewasIdoing?IwasreadingThinkandGrowRicheveryday—inadisciplinedmanner.Therewerealotofpeoplecleaningoffices,buttheyweren’tdoingwhatIwasdoing.TherewerealotofpeoplereadingThinkandGrowRichbuttheyweren’tdoingwhatIwasdoing.Andallofasudden,IwantedtoknowwhyIwasenjoyingallthissuccess.
O
CLASSFIVE
THEPROBLEMISWHEREYOUARE
MovingBeyondGoalSetting
neofthefirstlessonsRayStanfordtaughtmewasthatyouhavetolookatwhereyouarefirstandthenwhereyou’regoing,andthenyouhavetoget
moving.Thatissosimpleandsoobvious.Yetifthat’sallthereistoit—andtherereallyisnothingelsetoit—thenwhyarepeoplesostuck?
Theobviousthingisthattheydon’tknowwheretheyaregoing.Inotherwords,theydon’thaveagoal.
Iusedtothinkthatwastheproblem,butIdon’tanymore.Ibelievethatmostpeoplehaveagoal.Theymaynotbeveryarticulatewhenitcomestodescribingthegoal,theymaynothavewrittenitdownsothatanybodycouldunderstandit,butIthinkthey’vegotsomepointthey’dliketomovetoward.
Sowhatdoesthatleave?Itleaveswhereyouare.I’vebecomeawarethattheproblemisrighthere—whereyouarerightnow.
Whereareyou?Well,mostpeoplesay,“IknowwhereIam,IamhereattheSheratonHotelatyourseminar.”Uh-huh.That’swhereyouarephysically.Butwhereareyoumentally?Whywouldsomeonewhoknowsallthisgreatinformationcontinuetohaveaconflict,continuetobenonproductive,continuetobestuck?
Theanswerisbecausetherearetwopartstoourpersonality.There’sapartthatviewstheworldandeverythinginit.Thatisourintellectualmind.It’sthesidewherewehavetheabilitytochoose,thinkandimagine.Andthenthereis
theotherpartofourpersonality—thesubconsciousoremotionalmind.We’llgettothatinabit.
I’dlikeforyoutoraiseyourhandifyoubelieveyoucanearnalotmoremoneythanyouarerightnow.Wellthen,whytheheckaren’tyou?Yousay,“IbelieveIcan!”Andononelevelyoudobelieveit.Onaconsciouslevel,yousay,“Yes,yes!Inotonlybelieveit,Iknowit!”
Butthatisn’tthepartofyouthatcontrolsyourbehavior,andit’syourbehaviorthatcontrolstheamountofmoneyyouearn.
ThepartofyourpersonalitythatcontrolsyourbehaviorisnotthepartthatI’mtalkingtorightnow.ThepartthatI’mtalkingtonowisyourintellectualmind.You’resittingtherethinking,Well,Iknowthat!Butwhatyourintellectualmindprobablydoesn’tknowisthatonasubconsciouslevel,youdonotbelievethatyoucanearnalotmoremoney.
Theword“praxis”istheintegrationofbeliefwithbehavior.Ourjobistohelpyoutaketheideasthatyoubelieveonaconsciouslevel,andmovethemtoyoursubjectivemind.Movetheoldconditionedideasoutandmovethenewideain.Whenthathappens,everythingchanges.
Ididthat.Iearnedawholelotofmoney,andIhadnoideawhatIwasdoing.See,paradigmsaretheproblem.Whatisaparadigm?Aparadigmisa
multitudeofhabits—it’stheprogramminginthesubjectivemind.We’llgetintoparadigmsinalittlebit.
RayStanfordsatmedownandheputan“R”onasheetofpaper.Hesaid,“Bob,letthat‘R’representtheresultsthatyouaregettinginyourlife.Areyouhappywithyourresults?”
Thenheputtwo“H”’sanda“W”onthepaperandsaid,“Letthesetwo‘H’’sandthe‘W’representhappiness,healthandwealth.DoyouthinkI’mahappyguy?”
Isaid,“Yes,youseemprettyhappytome.”Hesaid,“HaveyoueverseenmewhenIwassick?”IhadtoadmitthatI
hadn’t.Hesaid,“HaveyoueverseenmewhenIwasbroke?”Thisguyalwayshada
rollofmoneyonhim.Ineversawhimwhenhewasbroke.Thenhesaid,“Bob,you’vegottobeoneofthemostmiserablepeopleIhave
evermet.”AndIwas.Iwasanunhappyhumanbeing.Iwasunhappyalmostallthetime.
Oh,Ihadfuneverynowandthen—butfunandhappinessaretwodifferentthings.Funisveryshort-livedandit’sveryshallow.Ithinkeverybodyhasfunnowandthen.Buthappinessissomethingthatrunsverydeepandit’slonglasting.Iwasn’taveryhappyperson;Ijustdidn’tknowit.
Hesaid,“Youarejustflat-outmiserable.Youare.You’realwayssick.Youdon’thaveaterminalillnessoranything,butyou’vealwaysgotaheadacheoracoldorsomething.Andyou’realwaysbroke.”
Remember,Iwasearning$4,000ayearatthetime,butIowed$6,000.Thisiswhenhesaid,“DoexactlywhatItellyoutodo.”Idon’tknowwhyhepickedme.HonesttoGod,Icannottellyouwhy.I’m
prettysurewehaveguidesthatarewithus,andtheyhelpusalongtheroad.IbelievethatIwasguidedanditwasn’tanaccidentthatthismanwasinmylife.
Inoneyear,Iwentfromearning$4,000andowing$6,000toearning$175,000.IhadabsolutelynoideawhattheheckIwasdoing.ThenItookittooveramilliondollars.Thiswasbackinthe1960s,whenamilliondollarswasalotofmoney.It’salotofmoneytoday,butrelativelyspeaking,it’snotthatmuch.IfyouaskedmewhatIwasdoing,Ididn’tknow.Ireallydidnotknow.However,asIhavealreadymentioned,IhadtoknowwhyIhadchanged.
Yousee,Icamefromsuchamessed-upbackground.Ihadneveraccomplishedanythingofanyconsequence.Ihaveabrotherandsister;theybothdidwellinschool.Theynevergotintrouble.Mysister’sayearolderthanme,mybrother’sayearyounger.Andthingswerealwayscoolwiththem.Withme,mymotherusedtocry,“Whyareyoudoingthistome?”Iwasn’tdoinganythingtoher,Iwasdoingittome!OntopoftheproblemsIwascreatingformyself,Iwaspermittingherremarkstocreateguiltinmymind.
ThenIwentintothenavy,asIsaid,andwhatanexperiencethatwas.Ihadnobusinessexperience.Ihadverylittleformaleducation—aftereighthgrade,IwenttoDanforthTechnicalSchoolforjustacoupleofmonths.Onedaytheviceprincipalcalledmeintohisofficeandinformedmethatmyformaleducationhadjustcometoanabrupthalt.Iwassohappy!Itwasallover.Ididn’thavetogobackthereanymore!TosayIdidn’tlikeschoolwasanunderstatement.Noonehadevercausedmetolikeschool.
Let’sthinkaboutthis.Whenyouleaveschoolandgotowork,whatareyoudoing?You’resellingyourtime,yourenergy,yourloyalty,yourknowledgeforanamountofmoney.WhattheheckdidIhavetosell?Ididn’tevenhaveagoodattitude.
SoIgotajob,firstofall,deliveringgroceriesforabutchershop.IhadtodeliverthemonawagonbecauseIdidn’thaveabicycle.Isoonburnedoutwiththat,andthenIgotajobinthedowntownareaofTorontofromfiveatnight
untiltwointhemorningworkingataprintingshopfor$12aweek.Butlookingbacktoday,IrealizethattheywereactuallybeingkindbecauseIwasn’tevenworththe$12.
AfterthenavyIworkedinbars.Infact,IworkedintwobarswhereIonlylastedanhourbeforetheyfiredme.Nowthat’sabitofarecord...toholdajobforonlyanhour.AndIdidittwice!
IrememberIwasdrivingbyoneoftheplacesandIsaidtomywife,“Linda,seethatplacethere—thatwasoneoftheplaceswhereIlastedjustanhour.”IwasdrinkingmorethanIwasselling!Itjustwasn’tprofitabletohavemethere.
SohereIamwithalltheseoffices,allthesepeople,earningallthismoneyandthinkingofmybackground,tryingtofigureouthowIwasdoingit.Ifthecontrasthadn’tbeenasgreatasitwas,Iprobablywouldhavejustcontinuedon,openedmorecleaningoffices,andcontinueddoingwhatIwasdoing.Butitwassoenormousthatitstartedtopuzzleme.Ihadtoknowwhathappened.WhydidIchange?
Iwasdeterminedtofindtheanswer.Ittookmenineyearstofigureitout.Ihadshiftedmyparadigm,that’swhatIhaddone.Ishiftedmyparadigmintwoways.Onewaywasmypersonalinvolvementinsomethingthathadanemotionalimpactonme,andtheotherwasthroughtheconstant,spacedrepetitionofanidea.
I
CLASSSIX
MONEYISAMAGNIFIER
HowtoDoWhatYouWanttoDo
haveahandheldrecordplayerthatIusedtodrivearoundwith,playingthesametworecordsoverandoverandoveragain—EarlNightingale’srecordings
ofTheStrangestSecretandThinkandGrowRich.Ilistenedtothoserecordssomanytimesthatthemessagesweresearedintomybrain.Theybecameaninseparablepartofme.Theychangedmeatthecellularlevel.Iliterallybecamethosemessages.
I’vemetsomeofthemostbrilliantpeopleintheworld.Ihavestudiedwithsomeabsolutegeniuses.AndbecauseIwassointerestedinwhattheywereteaching,theywereinterestedinteachingme.Iknowthingsthatalotofpeopleneverlearn.Iknowwhywedowhatwedo,andwhywedon’tdowhatwewanttodo.Assimpleandobviousasthatsounds,veryfewpeopleknowwhytheydon’tdowhattheyalreadyknowhowtodo,whytheirlifeisstuck.
ThefirstlargecompanyIworkedwithasaconsultantwasthePrudentialofAmerica.Itwasthelargestinsurancecompanyinthehistoryoftheworld—thelargest!Theyspentmillionsofdollarsontraining.Yettheydidnotknowwhytheirstarswerestars.
Iknewwhy.IendedupinMelHaycraft’soffice,vicepresidentoftheChicagoofficein
thePrudentialCenter,thenumberoneterritoryoutoftenterritoriesofthatcompany.Hesaid,“Whathaveyougot?”
Isaid,“I’vegotsomeideasthatIthinkwillchangeyourwholeworld.”“Really.”“Yes.”Inresponse,hetookahandfulofbrochuresandthrewthemacrossthetable.
Hehadnothingonhisdeskbutthesebrochures.Andhesaid,“Theyallsaythesamething.”
“ButI’mdifferent.”“Howareyoudifferent?”Isaid,“Igetresults.”“Ohreally?Allthesepeoplesaidthattoo.”“Yeah,well,I’mdifferent.”“Whatmakesyoudifferent?”“Imakemedifferent,”Isaid.“Listen,wecouldstayhereplayinggames
forever.Yourresponsibilityistoincreasethesales.There’ssomeoneaboveyouwhoiswatchingyouandifyoudon’timprovesalestheyaregoingtoletyougo.Youknowthat.Iamtheguywho’sgoingtohelpyoudowhatyouwanttodo.Givemeahundredofyourbestpeople—don’tgivemeyourworst,anyonecandosomethingwithyourworst—givemeyourbestpeopleandI’llshowyouwhatIcandoandIwon’tchargeyouadime.”
Helookedatmeandsaid,“Ilikethat.”Isaid,“Ithoughtyouwould.”Heacceptedmyoffer.Wetook100ofhisbestpeople;wehadthemselling
morethantheyhadeversoldinthesameperiod.EverybodyinthecompanywantedtoknowwhattheheckMelHaycraftwasdoing.AfterIdidthe100-persontest,Ihad450ofPrudential’ssalespeopleattheHillsideHolidayInninChicago.IstoodupinfrontofthemandItoldthem,“Icanshoweveryoneofyouhowtogooutandwrite$5millioninbusinessthisyear.”
WhenIsaidthat,Ilostthewholeaudience.Theirbodiesstayed,buttheirmindsleft.
Atthefirstbreak,amancameuptomeandsaid,“Proctor,haveyoueversoldinsurance?”
“No,Ineverhave.Why?”“Youdon’tknowwhatyou’retalkingabout.”“Oh,IknowwhatI’mtalkingabout.IjustsaidI’veneversoldinsurance.”Hesaid,“Doyouknowthiscompanyisgoingtobeonehundredyearsold
nextyear?”“That’sright.”“Doyouknowwe’vegottwentythousandsalesagents?”“Yes.”“Doyouknowwe’veneverhadonewrite$5million?”“Thenyoucanbethefirst.”Helookedatmewithsortofasmirkonhisface.“Yousaidwecoulddoit
thisyear.It’sAugust,theyear’soverhalfgone.”Isaid,“Thenitisn’tgoingtotakeyouaslongtodoit,isit?“Here’sthedeal,”Isaid.“Youalreadyknowhowtowritethe$5million.
Yourproblemisn’thowtowriteit.Yourproblemis—whyaren’tyoudoingwhatyoualreadyknowhowtodo?Ifyougobackinthereandopenyourearsandlistentome,I’mgoingtoshowyouhowtowrite$5million.Idon’thavetosellinsurancetoknowhowtodothat.Youknowhowtoselltheinsurance.Youdon’tknowwhyyou’renotdoingwhatyouwanttodo.”
HisnamewasDonSlovan.ThesecondweekinDecemberhehad$5,200,000worthofbusinessonthebooks.Heclosedtheyearwithalittleover$6million.ThisisallinPrudential’srecords.I’vegotitinmagazinesIcouldshowyou.
Hewasn’ttheonlyonetosell$5millionininsurance.Therewasawholestringofpeoplewhofollowedhim.TheysentpsychologistsoutfromNewJerseytotryandfigureoutwhatthisguyProctorwasdoing!Onepsychologistwentbackandsaid,“Recordwhathe’sdoing,we’llgooutandgetanactortoteachwhathe’sdoing!”Ithought,Thatpoorguy,hedoesn’tevenknowwhatI’mdoing.HethoughtitwaswhatIwassaying.Itwasn’twhatIwassayingatall.ItwastheenergythatIwasputtingout.
IfiguredoutwhatIhaddonetochangemylife.Ididn’thavetostudyanyone’spersonalitytoshowthemhowtochange.Ijusthadtostudymine.Idon’thavetostudyyou.Ijusthavetostudyme.Weareallthesame.Somearemale,somearefemale,butoutsideofthereproductivesystem,we’reallthesame.Youmightthinkofage,raceandculturaldifferences.Theonlydifferencethereisinappearanceandthetruthisrarelyintheappearanceofthings.Throwusallintoa
hotfireandweareallreducedtothesamelevel.Useyourhigherfaculties.Lookwithin.
Wearespiritualbeings,livinginaphysicalbody.Thereisonlyonemind.Justone.Weallhavethesamementalfaculties.Weallhavedifferentprogramming.Weallhavedifferentgeneticconditioning.Wewereallraisedindifferentenvironments.Butweallhavethesamefaculties.
Weareconditionedtolivethroughoursenses.Wecanhear,see,smell,tasteandtouch.Welettheoutsideworldcontrolourmind.Welookatourreportcardandletitcontrolwhatwearelike.Thereportcardturnsintooursalessheetorourjobevaluation.
Wehavebeengiftedwiththehighermentalfacultiesofintuition,perception,will,memory,reasonandimagination.Whenwebegindevelopingandeffectivelyusingthesefaculties,wecancontrolouroutsideworldandstoplettingitcontrolus.
Einsteinwassorightwhenhesaid,“Theintuitivemindisasacredgiftandtherationalmindisafaithfulservant.Wehavecreatedasocietythathonorstheservantandhasforgottenthegift.”
Whatwehavetodoisgainanunderstandingofhowourprogrammingtookplace,andhowwecanchangeitsothatitstopscontrollingusandwestarttocontrolourselves.Whenyoudothat,that’swhenyoutakecontrolofyourlife.That’swhenyoucansetanygoalandgetthere.
Thereisonlyoneproblemintheworld,andthatisignorance.Theonlyprobleminyourcompanyisignorance.Theonlythingholdingpeoplebackisignorance.Peoplejustdon’tknow.Andtheydon’tknowtheydon’tknow,inmostcases.
Aswegothroughtheseclassestogether,you’regoingtofindthatyourlifestartstoshift.Allyouaregoingtodoisopenup—becomemoreaware.
LookatwhatNapoleonHillsaid.Thisissogood.Whenmoneycomesinquantitiesknownas“bigmoney,”itflowstotheone
whoaccumulatesit,aseasilyaswaterflowsdownhill.Thereexistsagreatunseenstreamofpower,whichmaybecomparedwithariver,exceptthatonesideflowsinonedirection,carryingallwhogetintothatsideofthestream
onwardandupwardtowealth—andtheothersideflowsintheoppositedirection,carryingallwhoareunfortunateenoughtogetintoit(andnotabletoextricatethemselvesfromit)downwardtomiseryandpoverty.
Everypersonwhohasaccumulatedagreatfortunehasrecognizedtheexistenceofthisstreamoflife.Itconsistsofone’sthinkingprocess.Thepositiveemotionsofthoughtformthesideofthestreamthatcarriesonetofortune.Thenegativeemotionsformthesidethatcarriesonedowntopoverty.
Thiscarriesathoughtofstupendousimportancetothepersonwhoisfollowingthiswiththeobjectofaccumulatingafortune.
Ifyouareinthesideofthestreamofpowerthatleadstopoverty,thismayserveasanoarbywhichyoumaypropelyourselfoverintotheothersideofthestream.Itcanserveyouonlythroughapplicationanduse.Merelyreading,andpassingjudgmentonitonewayoranother,willinnowaybenefityou.
Povertyandrichesoftenchangeplaces.Povertymay,andgenerallydoes,voluntarilytaketheplaceofriches.Whenrichestaketheplaceofpoverty,thechangeisusuallybroughtaboutthroughwell-conceivedandcarefullyexecutedplans.Povertyneedsnoplan.Itneedsnoonetoaidit,becauseitisboldandruthless.Richesareshyandtimid.Theyhavetobe“attracted.”
Wewanttofocusonbigmoney.Wewanttogetourselvesintheflowofbigmoney.Wewanttostarttalkingaboutbigmoney.Italkalotaboutmoney,tryingtoprovokepeopletothinkaboutitintherightsense.Butknowthis:Moneyisamagnifier.That’sallitis.Earningalotofmoneydoesn’tmakeyouabetterperson;itmakesyoumoreofwhatyoualreadyare.Ifyou’renotaniceperson,you’llbecomeunbearable.Ifyouareaniceperson,you’llbecomeanicerperson.Moneyenablesyoutodomoreofwhatyoulovetodo.That’sreallywhatit’sfor.Moneydoesonlytwothings:one,itisusedtomakeyoumorecomfortable,andthemorecomfortableyouare,themoreeffectiveyoubecome;andtwo,itenablesyoutoextendthegoodyoudofarbeyondyourphysicalpresence.
Wheredoesthemoneycomefrom?Fromtheinfinite.Wheredoeseverythingcomefrom?Thinkaboutit.Moneyisjustpaper.That’sallitis,paperwithinkonit.It’sasuselessasoldnewspaperuntilyougotouseit.Physicalpaperisn’tmoney.Itrepresentsmoney.Moneyisanidea.Allthemoneyintheuniverseisavailabletoyou.Butyou’vegottoattractit.Ithastobeearned.Theonlypeoplewho“make”moneyareinjail,intheMintorontheirwaytojail.Everybody
elseearnsit.It’sthatsimple.There’snothingcomplicatedaboutthis.It’sallrathersimpleifwestopandlearnit.
Thinkofitthisway:Ifyoustartyourdayoffright,thinkingoptimistically,oddsareprettygoodthatitwillstayright.Ontheflipside,ifyoustartyourdayoffwrong,thinkingnegatively,oddsaregooditwillstaywrong.Youcanbeprettycertainthatyouwon’tbeveryfarintoyourdayandsomebody’sgoingtotryandruinit.They’regoingtogiveyoubadnews.Maybeyoulookatanewspaperandseesomethingbad.Turnyourtelevisionon,badnews.Someonewilltryanddisturbyou.They’renotconsciouslyanddeliberatelytryingtodoit.That’stheirwayoflife.That’showtheylive.Ifyoulistentothem,youaregoingtobeofftrack.Youmustgetontherighttrack.
That’sthewayitiswithmoney.Iwantyoutovisualizeit.Buildthatpictureoftheriverinyourmind.One
sideiscarryingyoutowardwhatyouwant.Theothersideiscarryingyouawayfromwhatyouwant.Onesideistakingyoutowealth,theothersideistakingyoutopoverty.
Y
CLASSSEVEN
YOUARETHESUMTOTALOFYOURTHOUGHTS
Energy,AwarenessandtheRealKeytoChange
oudon’tattractwhatyouwant.Wantsareintellectualinnature.Wantsareinyourconsciousmind.Youattractwhatyouareinharmonywith,what
youare.Andyouarethesumtotalofyourthoughtsthatbecomefixedinyoursubconsciousmind.You’vegottogetthewantandplantwhatyouwantinyourheartofhearts.You’vegottoplantitdeepintheuniversalsubconsciousmind.Thatwillthendictatethevibrationyouarein,andyoucanonlyattractenergytoyouthat’sinharmoniousvibrationwithyou.Levelsofvibrationarecalledfrequencies.Ourmindandbodyfunctiononfrequencies.Justlikeyourradio,itcanonlyreceivefromthefrequencyitisoperatingon.Ifyouaredisturbed,ifyouarelettingthingsbotheryou,ifyouarelettingfinancialsbotheryou,Icanguaranteeyou,assureasit’sgoingtogetdarkoutsidetonight,you’regoingtoattractmoreproblems.Youcanonlyattractwhatyouareinharmonywith.
Now,youask,howdoyouchangethat?Youchangeitthroughawareness.It’slikewhenyouwerealittlekidin
schoolandtheteacher’stryingtoteachyouanewmathematicalequationwhenyou’vejustlearnedhowtomultiplyandthentheythrowfractionsatyou.Younotonlymultiplythenumber,theyputalineunderthenumberandanumberundertheline.Andthentheyputthesestackednumbersnexttoeachotherandtellyoutomultiplythem.Ofcourseyoudon’tknowwhatyou’redoing.The
teachershowsyouontheboard,butyoudidn’tgetitsotheteachercomesovertoyouandshedoesanequation.Youstilldon’tgetitbecauseyouaresonervous.Sheasksifyouarepayingattention.Then,sheasksyoutodoit.
Yousay,“Idon’tknowhow.”Theteachersays,“Ijustshowedyou.”Yourepeat,“Idon’tknowhow.”Theteachersays,“Well,payattention.WatchwhatI’mshowingyou.”Yousee,youweren’tlistening.Youhearwithyourearsbutyoulistenwith
youremotions.Frequently,someonewillbetalkingtoyouandyouwillhearthem,butiftheyaskyouwhattheysaidyoucouldn’trepeatit.Youmustletyourselfbecomeemotionallyinvolvedwithwhattheyaresaying.Sonowyoulistenastheteachergoesthroughitagain,andfinallyyousay,“NowIsee!”Andawayyougo.Awarenesskicksin...youunderstand.
Youmustdeveloptheawareness.Andawarenessmusthaveafoundation.Understandingisyourfoundation.ThatispreciselywhyKingSolomoncenturiesagosaid,“Withallthygettinggetunderstanding.”
Nowlet’sthink—let’sreallythink.Theresultsyou’regettingareanexpressionofyourlevelofawareness.Ifyouletthisfallintoplaceinyourmind,Ithinkyou’regoingtofindthatyourawarenessisblockedbyparadigms.It’soldconditioningthatblockstheawareness.You’vegottochangetheconditioning.
Nowimagineifyourawarenessexpandedalittlebit—justimagineifthathappened.Mygoodness,ifthat’sallyoudid,youcouldmultiplyyourresults!Itisimportantthatyouunderstandthistoexpandyourlevelofconsciousawareness—andthat’sallwe’redoinghereisexpandingyourlevelofawarenessindifferentareas.
Youeliminatethedarknesswhenyouturnonthelight.Lettherebelight—lettherebeahigherlevelofconsciousawareness.
Listen,apersondoesn’tearn$100,000ayearbecausetheywanttoearn$100,000ayear.Theyearn$100,000ayearbecausetheyarenotawareofhowtoearn$100,000amonth!Whentheybecomeawareofhowtoearn$100,000amonth,they’renotgoingtogobackandsettlefor$100,000ayear.
Lettherebelight.Lettherebeahigherdegreeofconsciousness.Wewanttoexpandourlevelofawareness.It’slikeMayaAngelousaid:“Dothebestyoucanuntilyouknowbetter.Thenwhenyouknowbetter,dobetter.”
Whywouldpeoplestruggle?Peopledon’twanttostruggle.They’restrugglingbecausethey’renotawareofhowtoeliminatethestruggle.
Howdoyouexpandyourlevelofawareness?Nowthat’sagoodquestion.Andit’saquestionthateverybodyshouldgetananswerto.Youdoitthrougheffectiveeducationcombinedwithprofessionalcoachingoverareasonableperiodoftime.You’llaltertheconditioningandexpandyourlevelofawareness.
See,expandingyourawarenessissimplyputtingabiggerideaintheplaceofthesmalleridea.Eachtimeyoudothatyoubecomemoreawareofhowit’sdone.
Wesayit’sasadthingwhenachildisafraidofthedark.ButI’lltellyousomethingthat’salotsadderthanthat:anadultwho’safraidofthelight.Somepeopleareafraidofwakingup.Theyaresocomfortablewheretheyare—doyouknowtherearewomenrightaroundhere,probablywithinwalkingdistanceofwhereyouarerightnow,whoarebeingbouncedoffthewallbysomebruteorsomedrunkenbeasteverynight?Andthey’reafraidtoleave!!Whyaretheyafraidtoleave?Becausethey’remoreafraidofbeingontheirownthantheyareofbeingwiththisguy.Sometimeswhentheydoleavetheygorightbackintothesamethingagain.Thisisnotuncommon.What’sdoingit?It’stheirconsciousnessthat’sdoingit.You’vegottoshifttheconsciousness.Ifyoudon’t,youcan’tmakeapermanentchange.Youcan’tattractwhatyoureallywant.
Everythingweareseekingisseekingus.WhenIfirstreadthat,IknowIdidn’tunderstandit.Everythingweare
seekingisseekingus.Awarenessisthenameofthegame.Sowe’regoingtobecomeawareofcertainthingsaboutourselves.
[Bobchoseapersonatrandomanddescribedherpersonalityindetail.]
BOB:Tina,howlonghaveyoustudiedthehumanpersonality?Howmanyyears?
TINA:Twenty-sixyears.
BOB:Howoftendoyourunintosomebodywhocanjustwalkbyandtellyouwhatyou’relike,thewayIdidearlier?It’sunusual,isn’tit?
TINA:Itisrare.
BOB:Thisisthefirsttimeyou’veeverrunintoanybodylikethat.YetIwasveryaccurate.Icouldgofurtherjusttovalidatetheaccurateness,butIamveryaccurateinreadingyourpersonality,aren’tI?
TINA:You’reveryaccurate.
BOB:HowwouldIknowhowtodothat?Welllisten,whatyouseesittinghereisnotTina.ThisisTina’sbody.Thisisamolecularstructure.It’samassofmoleculesinaveryhighspeedofvibration.Hermindismovement.Thisisnothermind,thisistheexpressionofhermind.Themindismovement.Bodyisthemanifestationofthatmovement.Now,thevibrationshe’sin—Ipickitup.Icanreadthatvibration.IfIcanreadit,youcanreadit.IfIhadmyeyesclosed,I’dknowwhatshe’slike,allright?Theenergycomingfromthebodyissopotentandpowerful,itwillpenetrateacamera,penetrateafilm,andyoucanactuallyphotographtheenergy.AsTinachangestheimagesinhermind,thedensityinthecoloroftheenergywillchange.
TheyearIwasborn—alongtimeago—SemyonKirlian,aRussianphotographer,perfectedaformofphotographywhereyoucanphotographamassandyoucanphotographtheenergycomingfromit.SoasTinachangestheimagesinhermind,thedensityandthecoloroftheimageswillchange.
NowasIcomeincontactwithherenergy,Icancauseherenergytochange.Infact,Iwillcauseherenergytochange—andshewouldcauseminetochange.Neitheroneofusknowsanythingaboutthis,we’rejust,let’ssay,acoupleofofficeworkers,butourenergyiscausingtheotherperson’senergytochange.
Takeanyofficeinanycompanywherepeoplearesittingattheirdesks.IcouldwalkintosuchanofficeandIcouldsay,“Movethatwomanbackthere,”“Movethatmanoverhere,”“Takethisladyandputheroverhere”—Icouldrearrangetheofficeandproductivitywouldgoupintheoffice.I’dgetenergyflowingfreely.It’scalled“circulation.”
Whenthebloodinthebodystopscirculatingyou’redone.It’sallover.You’llmoveontothenextphaseofyoureternaljourney.Circulationisthelawoftheuniverse.Well,whenyougettheenergyinanofficeflowingfreely,productivityisgoingtogoup.We’vegottobeawarethatourenvironmenthasawholelottodowithourmentalstate.
KarlMenningerfromtheMenningerFoundationinTopeka,Kansas,saidenvironmentismoreimportantthanheredity.Youhavetobeverycarefulaboutthepeopleyouspendtimewith.Iamvery,verycarefulwiththepeopleIspendalotoftimewith.TherearesomepeopleIjustdon’twanttospendalotoftimearound.Idon’tthinkI’manybetterthanthem,Ijustdon’twanttobelikethem.Idon’tthinkI’mbetterthananybody,andIdon’tthinkanybodyisbetterthanme.ButI’lltellyousomething—Idon’twanttolivethelifethatsomepeoplearelivingandifyoudon’twanttolivethewaytheyareliving,getawayfromthem.Youwouldbewisenottospendalotoftimewithsomebodywhoisinabadvibrationallthetime.
BOB:Now,Tina,youhavebeenstudyingthemindfortwenty-someyearsandyetyousayit’sveryunusualhowIcanwalkbyapersonandtellyouallaboutthem.Here’sthepointIwanttogetacross—thisabilityisnotunique—it’sjustunusualrelativetomostpeople.IfIcandosomething,youcandoit.Idon’thaveanythinggoingformethatyouhaven’tgotgoingforyou!Youcanlearnhowtodowhatyouwitnessothersdoingifyoureallywanttoandyouarepreparedtopaytheprice.
WhenIwalkintoaboardroominacorporateoffice,Iknowexactlywhatthepeopleintheboardroomarelikeandexactlyhowtoworkwitheveryoneatthetable.Iknowtheoneswhoareveryleft-brainedandthosewhoareveryright-brained,andthosewhobouncebetweenleft-andright-brained.Ipayattentiontotheirenergy,andIknowjusthowtostructuretheconversationsothatImakethesale.Inmymind,it’snotamatterofwhetherI’mgoingtomakethesale,it’sdoIwanttomakethesale?AndifIdon’twanttomakethesale,I’mnotgoingtomakeit.Why?Well,therearesomepeopleyoujustdon’twanttoworkwith.I’mnotgoingtoworkwithsomebodywhereIhavetokeepsellingthemeveryday.Whywouldyouwanttocoachsomebodywhereyouhavetokeepsellingthemeveryday?Iftheydon’tdowhatIsay,thenwearebothtoast.SoIamselectiveaboutwhoIworkwith.Mostpeoplewantyoutocoachthemtheirwayandtheirwayisnotworking.
AslongasaclientdoeswhatIsay,I’llkeepgoing.They’llearnmulti-millionsofdollarsifthat’swhattheyreallywantandtheyremainagreatstudent.Butoftentheywilllearnonlysomuchandthentheydon’twanttolearnanymorefromyou,sotheyshutdown.
Greatstudentsgatherinformationveryquickly.Greatstudentsalwayswantmore.Theyareeagertolearn.Theysoakitup.Aviisagreatstudentofmine.Heisforeveraskingmequestions—aboutthis,aboutthat.Littlethings.He’snotembarrassedtoaskanykindofquestion.
Therearenodumbquestions.Ifyou’vegotaquestion,youshouldaskit.Theobjectiveistodevelopawareness.It’sallaboutawareness.That’sallthereis.
I
CLASSEIGHT
YOU’VEALREADYGOTIT
UnderstandingYourSpiritualPerfection
nhisbookWorkingwiththeLaw,RaymondHolliwellwrote,“Thereisamarvelousinnerworldthatexistswithinus,andtherevelationofsuchaworld
enablesustodo,toattainandtoachieveanythingwedesirewithintheboundsorlimitsofNature.”
There’saworldoperatingwithinyou.Awonderfulworld.Wewanttotryandunderstandthat.YourspiritualDNAisperfect.It’sabsolutelyperfect.Itrequiresnomodification,noimprovement.Thereisabsoluteperfectionwithinyou.Itisreallyimportantthatwegetthis.Thereisperfectionwithinyou.Itdoesn’thavetobemodified.Itdoesn’thavetobechanged.It’sthere.Allyouhavetodoisletitcometothesurface.Whenyoustretchandgoforsomethingyoureallylovethatisbeyondwhatyouthinkyoucando,youwillfindthatyoucanperformawholelotbetterthanyouusedtothinkyoucould.Youbecameawarethatthereistheabilitywithinthatyoupreviouslyfailedtorecognize.
Yousee,weoperateontheideathatyouhavetoget“it,”whatever“it”is...tobecomewhateveryouwanttobe.Youdon’thaveto“get”anything.You’vegotit.Ididn’tgetanythingtogofrombeingbrokeandstrugglingtoearningmillions.IjustbecameawareofwhatIalreadyhad.
Scienceandtheologyteachusthatallthepowerthateverwasisalwayspresentinallplacesatthesametime.Thatitiswithinme!It’severpresent—allthepower—alltheknowledge.Let’strytounderstandthat.Alltheknowledgethereeverwasoreverwillbeis100percentevenlypresentinallplacesatthesametime.That’sabigidea.Nothingiscreatedordestroyed.Everythingismadefromthesamething:spirit/energy.Askyourself,“Wheredoideascomefrom?”“Wheredidtheideaforthesmartphonecomefrom?”
Thesimpletruthisthatapersonactivatedtheirimaginationandoriginatedtheideafromthepowerthatiscontinuallyflowingtoandthroughus.Thatpersonwasawarethatiftheycouldseeitintheirmind,theycouldholditintheirhand.
Thisisnotdifficult.Thisisreallyprettyeasytounderstand.Itaughtthistokids.Iwasshowingafriendapicturehangingonmywallinmyhome.It’sasetof
fivesportscardsinaframe.Eachcardhasapictureofoneofthefivelivinggoldmedaldecathlonwinnersatthattimeandeachofthemwassignedbythegoldmedalwinner.Agoodfriendofmine,MiltCampbell,wasoneofthem.Hewastheonewhogavemethesecards.TheothersareBobMathias,JimThorpe,RaferJohnson,andBruceJenner(nowknownasCaitlynJenner).
Miltwasworkingwithmeatthetime.Wehadagroupoftwelvekids.Iworkedwiththemforonehouraweekonthephone.Iwasteachingthemabouttheirmindandabouttheirlife.TheywereonthestageinKansasCityinfrontofapproximatelytenthousandpeopleafterjusttwelveweeks—twelveone-hourlessonsonthephone—andtheadultsweretakingnotes.Itwasabsolutelymind-blowingwhatthosekidslearnedabouttheirmindinsuchashorttime.
Adults—wethinkweknowsomuch—sowerejectallthisas“woo-woo.”Thesetruthshavealwaysbeenhereandunderstoodbyafew.
Justunderstandthatyou’reaspiritualbeing.Thereisapowerflowingtoandthroughyouandyoucandowhateveryouwantwithit.Andasitflowsin,youchoosethoughts.Asyouinternalizethosethoughtsyoualterthevibratoryrateofthebody.Onaconsciouslevel,aswebecomeawareofthevibrationwearein,
werefertothatconsciousawarenessasfeeling...“feeling”isawordwehaveinventedtodescribeconsciousawarenessofvibration.
Let’stakealookatthisanotherway—it’samatterofchoice.LookatwhatHolliwellsaysaboutthis:“Allfailuresinlifeareduetotakingsideswiththefinitearoundus.Allsuccessinlifeisduetotakingsideswiththelawwithin.”
Ifwecan’tseeit,smellit,tasteitortouchit,ifwecan’tgetinvolvedwiththephysical,wesayit’snotthere.Youknow,oftenyouhearpeoplesay,“Whatyoudon’tknowwon’thurtyou.”Well,whatyoudon’tknowcankillyou.Stopandthinkaboutthis.There’sairinthisroom.Ifwesealeditallupairtightandthenstartedtopumpairin,whatwouldhappen?We’dblowtheroomup.Wewouldliterallyblowallthewallsoutoftheplace.
Thereisapowerinwhatyoucannotsee.We’vegottostarttounderstandthis.Allfailuresinlifeareduetoustakingsideswiththefinite—withwhat’sgoingonoutside.Weseealimitationontheoutsideandsowethinkwecan’thavesomethingdifferent.Wewantmoremoney,butweseethedwindlingbankaccount.Sowestoppursuingwhatwereallywant.Yousee,ifweputourfocusonthefinitearoundus,suchasthedwindlingbankaccount,andbelieveitisthetruthforus,thatiswhatwewillgetmoreof.
However,wecanshiftourfocustotheinsideandthesuccesswewantandbelievethatispossibleforus.Itdoesn’tmatterwhatyouwanttolearn...thewaytodoitisalreadyhere.Ifyouarestuck,it’sonlybecauseyou’renotawareofwhat’salreadyhere.Keepthinking...imaginewhateveritis.Seeitcompleted.Thewaywillcomeeitherthroughideasyouthinkorthroughanotherperson.Byseeingitcompletedyouhaveflippedyourmindontothefrequencythatcontainsthewayanditwillbeattractedtoyou.
Ioftenstandinaseminar,pointatmyself,andsay,“Thisisme.”Butthetruthisthisisn’tmeatall.Thisismybody.Ifyouask,“Whoareyou?”Isay,“I’mBob.”I’mnotBob.Bobismyname.You’veneverheardanyonesay,“Amhand.Amhead.Amfoot.”Yousay,“Myhand,myhead,myfoot.Myname.Mybody.”Thisisn’tme.Youwillneverseetherealmewithyourphysicaleyes.Iamallknowing.Iamallpowerful.PartofmeiseverywherebecauseIamasoul.Idon’thaveasoul,Iamasoul.Iamspirit.IamGod’shighestformofcreation.
Thinkaboutit.Youcanfeelanotherperson’spresenceeveniftheyareontheothersideoftheworld.Iftheyarethinkingofyouandyouarethinkingofthemandyouareemotionallyinvolvedwiththeirenergy—you’reinharmonywith
them,onthesamefrequency—thenyouwillfeeltheirpresence.Thisisbecausethereisnotimeorspaceinspirit.It’sanillusionthatthereis.Whenitcomestothemind,thereisn’tanytimeorspace.We’vegottotryandunderstandthis.
We’vegottounderstandthatalltheknowledgethateverwasoreverwillbeisalwayshere.Thewaytoflyairplaneshasalwaysbeenhere.Thewaytobuildmicrophonesandcomputershasalwaysbeenhere.Whydopeoplestruggle?Whydotheyalwaysresistthistypeofinformation?WhenHenryFordbuiltcarsitwasnotuncommontohearapersonsay,“Iamnotbuyingoneofthosedumbthings.”“You’dbemuchbetteroffgettingagoodhorseandafinebuggy!”“Peoplewillneverbuythosethings!!”“Youwouldhavetobuildroadsandhavegasforthecarsoneverycorner.”“Carswillnevercatchon.”
Today,wethinkcarsarethebestwaytotravel.Butthetruthisthebestwaytotravelhasn’tevenbeenthoughtofyet.Thebestwaytodowhatyou’redoinghasneverbeenthoughtofyet.Whydon’tyouthinkofit?Whydon’tyouthinkofabetterwaytocommunicatethisinformation?Theinformationishere.Allyouneedtodoistapintoit.
Recently,IwenttoTelAviv,fromTelAvivtoCyprus,fromCyprustoDubai,fromDubaitoMelbourne,fromMelbournetoAuckland,fromAucklandtoLosAngelesandfromLosAngelesbacktoToronto.Thiswasallinaboutseventoeightdays.EverywhereIwenttherewerebigcrowdsaskingme,“CouldIjustspendanhourwithyou?”“CouldIjustspendfifteenminuteswithyou?”“CouldIjustaskyouaquestion?”AndIcouldn’t.Ihadtosay“Ican’t”becauseIhadtocatchaplane;Ihadtogotothenextcity.ButallthetimeIwasthinking,Ishouldbeabletospendtimewiththosepeople.IfIcouldjustanswertheirquestions,Icouldchangetheirwholelife.Iprobablyknowwhattheywanttofindout.Ithought,Therehasgottobeawaywiththecommunicationsystemswe’vegottoday.
SoI’mflyingfromLosAngelesbacktoTorontoandIthought,Streaming!Well,Ididn’tknowanythingaboutstreaming,soIcalledJoshuaCarr,ourITguy,andsaid,“Whatdoyouknowaboutstreaming?”
Hesaid,“Well,whatdoyouwanttoknow?”Isaid,“CanIstream?”Hesaid,“Sureyoucan.I’llsetitup.”Aboutanhourortwolaterhephonedmebackandsaid,“There’saniconon
yourcomputer,justclickit.”Andjustlikethat,I’mstreaming.Withintwohours
ofthinkingoftheidea,IhadoverthreehundredpeopleregisteredfromsixtydifferentcountrieswhojoinedBobProctor’sStreamingClub.Thereisnoendtowhatyoucando!!Butyou’vegottostepoutanddoit!I
didn’tknowhowtodothat.Ididn’thavetoknowhowtosetthatup.Somebodyelseknewhowtodoit.Igotthemtodoitforme.Whatyou’vegottounderstandisthatthewaytodoitisalreadyhere.Allyouneedissomehelp.Gethelp!Don’tbeafraidtoaskforhelp.Humbleyourself.Don’ttrytobe
thesmartestpersonintown.You’renotthesmartest.There’salwayssomeonesmarter.Therearepeoplewhoknowhowtodothingsthatyoudon’tknowhowtodo.Youcanlearnorgetsomeonewhoknowshow,asIdid.Butunderstandthistoo:wedon’tputourselvesdownjustbecausewedon’tknow.
AndrewCarnegieputitperfectlywhenhesaid:
Theaccumulationofgreatfortunescallsforpower,andpowerisacquiredthroughhighlyorganizedandintelligentlydirectedspecializedknowledge,butthatknowledgedoesnot,necessarily,havetobeinthepossessionofthe[person]whoaccumulatesthefortune.
AndrewCarnegiestatedthathepersonallyknewnothingaboutthesteelbusiness,andhedidnotnecessarilycaretoknowanythingaboutit.Hefoundthespecializedknowledgethatherequiredforthemanufacturingandmarketingofsteelthroughhismastermindgroup.It’sworthmentioningthatin1908AndrewCarnegiewasthewealthiestmanintheworld,presumablythefirstbillionaire.
Allthepowerintheuniverseis100percentevenlypresentinallplacesatthesametime.You’vegotit!You’vegotalltheknowledge.Everyquestionhasananswer.Webstercalledarhetoricalquestionaquestionwithoutananswer.That’snotaquestion.That’sastatement.Everyquestionhasananswer!Theanswerisontheflipsideofthecoin!Thereisthelawofpolarity.Thatlawstatesthateverythinghasanopposite.Question–answer;up–down;hot–cold.Youcan’thaveonewithouttheother.Startaskingyourselftherightquestions.Theanswerswillbethere.
Youhavegottoaskyourself:“Areyoutrulywhatyoupretendtobe?”Wehearpeoplesay,“Ah,it’sjustme.”Justme—comeon!Ortheysay,“I’d
reallyliketodoit,butIdon’tknowhowI’lldoit.”Haveyouanyideawherewewouldbeifpeoplealwayssaid,“Ican’tdoit
becauseIdon’tknowhow?”Youdon’thavetoknowhow!Youjusthavetoknowthatyoucan.
Ifyousetagoalandyouknowhowtoachieveit,you’renotgrowing.You’regoingsideways!Whenyousetagoalyoushouldbesettingagoalforsomethingyouhaveabsolutelynoideahowtodo.Theonlyprerequisiteis:Doyouwantit?Doyoureallywantit?
ItellastoryinmybookYouWereBornRich—thiswasbackintheeighties—aboutacoupleIknew.PatandJohnwereverydisturbed;theyweren’tgettingalong;theywerehavingahardtime.Isaid,“Youknowwhatyourproblemis?Youdon’thaveagoal!Youneedagoal.What’ssomethingyoureallywant?”
Shewassortofgettingtunedintoourconversation,andhewasgettingangrywithmyquestions.
Finallytheysaid,“Well,we’dliketobuyourownhome.”Isaid,“Thengooutandbuyone.”Hesaid,“Butwedon’thaveanymoney.”Isaid,“Youdon’tneedanymoney,whatdoyouneedmoneyfor?”Hesaid,“Whatdoyoumean,wedon’tneedanymoney?”Isaid,“Well,youhaven’tdecidedtobuythehousesowhatdoyouneedthe
moneyfor?“Let’sreallyplaywithyourmind.Whatdoyoureallywant?”Theywere
livinginabasementwithherdaughteratthetime.Hissonwouldn’tspeaktohim;helivedwithhismother.TheysaidtheywantedtobetogetherintheirownhouseforChristmasandhavehissonandherdaughtertherewiththem.
Isaid,“OKthen,that’sthegoal.Thatshouldn’tbetoohardtopulloff.Justaskforit.”
“Justaskforit?”“Yeah,justaskforit!”IcalledarealestateagentIknew,NatalieKopmanatHarveyKallesReal
Estate,whoseofficewasnearby,andIsaid,“Comeonoverhere.I’vegotaliveoneforyou.Theywanttobuyahouseandtheyhaven’tgotanymoney.”
Nataliecameoverandshe’dbeentomyseminar,sosheknewexactlywhattodo.Shesaidtothem,“Describethehouseforme.”Theydescribedthehouse,andshewentandfoundit.Itwas7BardsWalkway.Shetoldthemwhattheyneededtogetit.ThiswasinOctober.
Theybothsoldlifeinsuranceforthesamecompany,andIsaid,“Goonandaskyourmanagerhowyoucanearnthatmuchmoneyinahurrytoputdown.”Andtheydidit.Theygotinto7BardsWalkway.Theygotinaroundthe10thor12thofDecember,andIwenttoseethemaroundthe16th.
Theywereinthehouse,buttheyhadalittletinytableandjusttwochairs.Isaid,“HowareyougoingtohaveChristmasdinnerwiththis?”
Theysaid,“John’ssonisstillnottalkingtous.”Isaid,“Well,it’snotChristmasyet!”Asitsohappened,mywife,Linda,and
Ihadrecentlymoved,andwehadasparediningroomsetwewerelookingtogetridof.IhadthiswhiteCadillacconvertibleandhereIwasdrivingdowntheparkwaywiththetopdowninthemiddleofwinter,withthediningroomsetintheconvertible.Ihadchairswrappedaroundme,tables...butIgotthemthere.AndonChristmasday,hissonshowedup,herdaughterwasthere,andtheyallhadChristmasdinnertogetherintheirhouse.
Thereissomethinginsideofyouthatwantstobecomeonewiththatwhichis,withGod.Thatdesireisgoingtocauseyoutogrow.Whenyouletthatsomethinginsideofyouexpressitselfthroughyou,youbecomeverycreative.Youwillwanttostartexpressingyouruniquenessasahumanbeing.IknowthatIhaveanswerstoeverythingIwanttoknowinsideofme.Ijusthavetorelaxmymind.IjusthavetoopenmyselftothegoodIdesire.
SandyGallagher,mybusinesspartner,andIsatdownandwesetagoalofearning$100millionayearwithourcompany.Somepeoplesay,“Whydon’tyouretire?”That’slikesaying,“Well,whydon’tyougoandburyyourself!”Retirementisabadidea—it’sapullbackfromlife!It’sabadideabecauseIwanttodoawholebunchofthings.IwanttobuildawholebunchofschoolsinAfrica.ThereareallkindsofthingsIwanttodoanditcostsawholelotofmoney.Ifyouhavemoremoneythanyouneed,thenyou’renotdoingwhatyoushouldbedoing!I’vealwaysgotsomethingmoretodothanwhatI’vealreadydoneoraccomplished.
I’mnotreallythatinterestedinmoneyoutsideofearningmore,becauseofwhatIwanttodowithit.Moneyisjustthevehicle.It’slikethecarthatwillgetmehome,theplanethatwillgetmetowhereIwanttogo.Moneyisaninstrument.It’saninstrumentthat’susedtoexpressyouruniquenessasahumanbeing.
Youaretheoffspringofadeathlesssoul.Ifyougetthesethingsstraightinyourmindandunderstandthat,thenyou’regoingtounderstandwhotherealyouis.Getthatstraight.Getitstraightinyourmind.
Yousee,allyou’vedoneisjustlistentowhatI’msayingandit’scausedyoutolookatyourselfalittlemoreobjectively,alittlemorelikeastrangerwould.
We’retheonlycreatureonthisplanetthatcanhavealookoutsideourselflikeastrangermight.Wecanobserveourownbehavior.Wecanlistentowhatwesay.Wecanpayattentiontowhatwe’redoingandwherewe’regoing.Thereisn’tanybodyalivewhoknowswhatyouarecapableofdoing.
I’vegotaquoteherefromafriendofmine,SteveBow.Hesaid,“God’sgifttousismoretalentandabilitythanwe’lleverhopetouseinourlifetime.OurgifttoGodistodevelopasmuchofthattalentandabilityaswecaninthislifetime.”
Beforewefinishhere,you’regoingtohaveanopportunitytohaveeverybodyinthisroomhelpyougetwhatyouwant.Now,youmightnotknowwhatyouwant.Oryoumighthavecomeinherethinkingyouknewwhatyouwantedanditmighthavechanged.Itmighthavechangeddramatically.
Whenyoucameherelasttime,Jennifer,youdidn’tknowwhatyouwanted,didyou?No,youdidn’t.Whenwasthelasttimeyouwerehere?TheendofOctober—andthisisjustthemiddleofJanuary.InthemiddleofOctoberwhenyouwereleavinghere,youweresortofdownalittlebecauseeverybodyelseprettymuchknewwhattheywantedandyoudidn’tknowwhatyouwanted.Thenyougothomeandwham!,somethinghappened.Whathappened?Youstoppedthinking,WhatcanIdo?andstartedthinking,WhatamIreallygoodatandlovedoing?Whatareyougoodat?
JENNIFER:I’magoodmom,Ilovebeingamom.
BOB:Thenwhat?
JENNIFER:IamgoodbecauseItakewhatyouteachandapplyit.
BOB:Soyou’remanagingmotherhood?Andwhatdidyoudo?
JENNIFER:IdecidedIwantedtowriteabookinoneweekandmakeitabestsellerbythenextMatrixxseminar.IwroteyoubecauseIdidn’twantyoutoshootitdown.Yousaidgoforit.IcontactedPeggyMcColl.
BOB:Andyouwroteitinaweek?
JENNIFER:Yes.
BOB:Andisitgood?
JENNIFER:Numberoneinternationalbestseller.
Yousee,shestoppedthinkingaboutwhatshecouldn’tdoandstartedthinkingaboutwhatsheloveddoing.Thanks,Jennifer.Giveheranotherhand.
Ifyouhaven’tdecidedwhatyouwanttodo,forgetaboutwhatyouwanttodo.Askyourself,“WhatdoIlovetodo?”
Ilovedoingthis,Iloveit,Iabsolutelyloveit.Ilovewatchingpeoplewakeup!Andwhentheydo,youknowit.Theymightnotsayanything,butyoufeeltheenergy—youfeeltheenergyshift.Youreallydo.Yousay,“Wow!”AndIseethathappeningallthetimeintheroom.Thatjazzesme.Thatreallygetsmegoing.Thisisaformofentertainment.That’swhatentertainersdo.Theyputtheenergyout;theygettheenergyfromtheaudience;theygivetheenergytotheaudience.Theycirculateit.That’swhathappenshereintheroom.Anditkeepsgettingbiggerandbiggerandbetterandbetter.
Whatdoyoureallylovedoing?Whatdoyoureallylovedoing?We’regoingtogettothepointwhereyou’regoingtowriteyourgoalonalittlecard.You’regoingtorealizeit’snotabigdeal.Lookingback,itbecomesthebestseller.It’ssortofdisgustinghowsimpleitis,isn’tit?Imean,youwonder,whymakeabigdealoutofanything?It’sabigdealbecauseyoudon’tknowhowtodoit.Ifyou’rewaitinguntilyoufigureouthowtodoit,youmayneverdoanything.Youjusthavetogetgoingandhelpwillcome.
Jenniferdidn’tknowanythingaboutwritingabest-sellingbook,sosheaskedme.IgaveherPeggyMcColl’snumberandshegotholdofPeggy.Peggy’sreallygoodatbooks,writingthemandmakingthembestsellers.
Howwouldyouliketocomeupwithanideaandhaveeveryonehereusealltheconnectionsandideasthey’vegottohelpyou?Thatwouldbekindofcool,wouldn’tit?That’sexactlywhat’sgoingtohappen.Buttheycan’thelpyouunlessyoudecidewhatyouwant.You’vegottohaveitwrittenout.Andifyougiveittometoread,I’dhavethesamepictureinmymindthatyouhadinyourmindasyouwroteit.Isthisagoodidea?Ithinkso.
T
CLASSNINE
THEEXISTINGMODELISOBSOLETE
ReprogrammingYourMindforPosttraumaticGrowth
inaaskedmeagoodquestion.I’llbringitoutinfrontofeverybody.Shesaid,“There’sposttraumaticstressandposttraumaticgrowth.Howdoyou
getinvolvedwithposttraumaticgrowth?”MichaelBeckwithgavemetheanswertothat.There’sathree-stepapproach
—infact,Ithinkhemadeamovieofitorwroteabookonit.There’sathree-stepapproachtoletgoofthepastandexpectgoodinthefuture:
Number1:Itiswhatitis—acceptit.Itdoesn’tmatterwhathashappenedinyourlife.Someofyouhavehadbadthingshappeninyourpast,reallydisturbing,theyreallymessedyourlifeup.Itiswhatitis,acceptit.Eitheryou’regoingtocontrolit,orit’sgoingtocontrolyou.Itiswhatitis,acceptit.
IlearnedthatfromMichaelonaSaturday.Thefollowingweek,theyhadmeinCedars-SinaiMedicalCenter,cuttingmychestopen,takingmyheartout,collapsingmylungandreplacingtheaorticvalve.Anddoyouwanttoknowsomething?Igotbetter,justlikethat,andIwasbackoutontheroadinninetydaysgoinglikearocketbecauseMichaelhadexplainedthattomeonSaturday.HespokeonSaturday,IspokeonSunday.Iwrotedownwhathesaid.Ithought,Thisisbrilliant.
Number2:Harvestthegood.Ilovetheword“harvest”—youcanjustseethembringinginthecrops,youknow?Harvestthegood.There’sgoodin
everythingandthemoreyoulookforit,themoreyou’llfind.Harvestthegood.Number3:Forgivealltherest.Forgivemeanstoletgoofitcompletely.
Abandon.Justletitgo.Quitdwellingonwhat’swrong.Forgivealltherest.That’sposttraumaticgrowth.There’sthebadandthegood.Youmaybethinking,Well,there’sgottobemoretoitthanthat.Imean,I
needtoseeafewbehavioralscientistsandpsychiatristsandpsychologists.Imean,we’vegottogointoalotoftherapy.
See,youdon’twanttocomplicateit.Ifthiswerecomplicated,Iwouldneverhavegottenit.I’masimpleguy.I’mreallyasimpleguy.Justkeepitsimple.That’swhatyouwanttodo.Reduceittotheridiculous.Itiswhatitis.Acceptit.It’seithergoingtocontrolyou,oryou’regoingtocontrolit.Numbertwo—harvestthegood.Numberthree—forgivealltherest.
ImetCynthiaKerseyattheAirportMarinaHotel.Idon’tknowifyouknowCynthiaKersey,butsheisaneatwoman.Shereallyis.She’sraisedmillionsofdollarstobuildschoolsallovertheworld.ButatthisparticularmomentI’mtalkingabout,herhusbandhadleftherandshewasprettyshakenup.ShehadjustcomebackfromhertherapisttothehotelandImetherforthefirsttime.
Isaid,“Sowhatdidyourtherapisthavetosay?”Cynthiasaid,“Well,shesaidIwasgoingtobereallyangryforninemonths
toayear.”Isaid,“Whatwouldyouwanttodothatfor?!Firethetherapist.Whywould
youwanttobeangry?Sendhimlove.”ShelookedatmelikeI’dfallenoutofatree.
Sheasked,“Sendhimlove?”Isaid,“Sendhimlove.It’sgotnothingtodowithhim.Whileyouareholding
badthoughtsabouthim,he’sprobablyouthavingagoodtime,andyou’retheoneinthebadvibration!
“Starttounderstandhowyourmindfunctions.Whenyousendhimloveit’sgottopassthroughyou.Youtakeanenergythatflowsintoyourmindthathasnoformandyou’regivingitform.Youturnitintosomethingbeautifulandyousenditofftohim.Whateverhedoeswithitisuptohim.Butit’syouthatyou’rebenefiting.”
Doyouknowwhatforgivenessis?Forgivenessisforyourbenefit.YoudosomethingandIforgiveyou,that’sformybenefit.I’mnotdoingitforyou,I’mdoingitforme!Forgivemeanstoletgoofcompletely.Abandon.
Peoplekeeprepeatingtheirsadstoriesoverandover.Theyjustkeeplivingwiththesamesadstories.Theykeeprepeatingthem.Andyouknowwhathappens?Ifyoukeeprepeatingthem,it’sgoingtokeepreoccurring,atleastinyourmind,ifnotinyourphysicalworld.Whydoyouwanttolivethere?Didyoulikeit?No.Well,whydoyougothere?Whydon’tyougowhereyouwanttogo?You’vegottheabilitytogowhereveryouwant.Youhavetheabilitytochoose.
Yousee,you’reaspiritualbeing.Thewayyouuseyourintellectdictatesyouremotionalstate.Whateverwegetemotionallyinvolvedwithdeterminesthevibrationthatwe’rein.Thebodyisamassofmoleculesinahighspeedofvibration.
Forgivenessisaphenomenalconcept.LikeIsaid,itmeansletgocompletely.Forgiveyourself.Youcan’tchangewhatyoudid.Youknow,therearemanypeoplewhowanderaroundwithtremendousfeelingsofguilt.Guiltandresentmentarethemostdestructiveemotionsthatanyonecanexperience.
Iwasraisedwithalotofguilt.SoasIgotolder,Iwasexperiencingalotofguilt,andIwashavingdifficultygettingridofit.EverylittlethingIdidthatIthoughtjustwasn’tquiteright,Ifeltreallyguiltyabout.SoIwenttoapsychiatristinSouthernCalifornia.Ionlywenttothatpsychiatristaboutfourorfivetimes.Iwasonmywaythere,andIdecidedIdidn’thavetogoanymore.Hewasabletohelpmegetridoftheguiltusingthesimpleconceptofforgiveness.
Forgivenessisaveryhealthyconcept.We’vegottolearntoforgiveourselves.We’vegottoforgiveothers.Wehavetorealizethatwecan’tchangewhatwedidyesterday.Evenifyoudidsomethingdeliberatelywrong,letitgo!Andwhenitcomesbackintoyourmind,letitgoagain.Ifsomeonehasdonesomethingtoyou,don’thaveanyresentment,letitgo.Thatdoesn’tmeanyouwanttogivethemtheopportunitytodoitagain.It’sjustthatyousimplycan’tholdbadthoughtsinyourmindandmoveinagooddirection.
Forgivenessisoneofthemostliberatingthingsyoucaneverdo.Formthehabitofnotholdingontoanythingthatiscausingyoutofeelbad.Startlovingyourself.Startrespectingyourself.Andhaveahealthyrespectforwhatyouarecapableofdoing.
Understandthis:Carryingbadthoughtsaboutanyoneoranythingisnotdoinganyoneanygood.It’ssinful.It’sdestructive.Andthepriceofsinisdeath.Now
thatdoesn’tmeanthey’regoingtoburyyou.Butyourbadthoughtsmaybeburyingyourcompany.Theymaybeburyingyourincome.Theymaybeburyingyourrelationshiporyourfriends.
Forgivenesswillcauseeverythingtogrow.Itwillcauseyoutobehealthier.Itwillcauseyourincometogrow,yourfriendstogrow,yourbusinesstogrow.Justreplaceanythoughtofguiltorresentmentwithoneofbeauty,withoneofplenty,withoneofabundance.
BuckminsterFullersaid,“Youneverchangethingsbyfightingtheexistingreality.Tochangesomething,buildanewmodelthatmakestheexistingmodelobsolete.”
Seeyourselfwhereyouwanttobeandthenbethere.Don’tbeinthepast.Bethere!Actlikethepersonyouwanttobecome.
I
CLASSTEN
OURMOSTPOWERFULFORCE
ItDifferentiatesUsfromaPigoraHorse
’dliketosharesomethingwithyou:
Mindisthemasterpowerthatmouldsandmakes,AndManisMind,andevermorehetakesThetoolofThought,and,shapingwhathewills,Bringsforthathousandjoys,athousandills:—Hethinksinsecret,anditcomestopass:Environmentisbuthislooking-glass.
JamesAllenwrotethosewordsalittleoveronehundredyearsago.Ibegantostudythemaboutfifty-fiveyearsago.Everyyeartheymeanalittlemoretome.ThesewordsdescribetheLawofThinking.
Thinkingisapowerfulforce.Ithasbeensaidthatit’sthemostpowerfulforcewe’recapableof.
ArchibaldMacLeish,aPulitzerPrize–winningplaywright,wroteaplaycalledTheSecretofFreedom,andhehadacharacterstandupandsay,“Theonlythingaboutamanthatisamanishismind.Everythingelseyoucanfindinapigorahorse.”
It’safunnyline,butit’strue.Everythingelseyoucanfindinapigorahorse.Yousee,thinkingisavery,verypowerfulformofenergy.Thoughtwavesare
cosmicwavesthatpenetratealltimeandspace.AswegointotheLawofThinking,IwanttorefertoseveralpointsRaymond
HolliwellmadeinhisfabulousbookWorkingwiththeLaw.Hesaid,“Totheaveragepersonlifeisanenigma,adeepmystery,acomplex
andincomprehensibleproblem,orappearsso,butitisverysimpleifoneholdsthekey.Mysteryisonlyanothernameforignorance;allthingsaremysterieswhentheyarenotunderstood,butwhenweunderstandlife,itnolongerappearsmysterious.”
UntilIwastwenty-six,lifewasarealmysterytome.ItwasexactlyhowHolliwelldescribedit:anincomprehensibleproblem.AndIhadalotofproblems!ButthenIbegantostudythisinformation.IttookmeawhilebutasIstartedtoadopttheseconceptsandadaptmymindtothem,mylifestartedtochange.Myproblemsstartedtodisappear.Istartedtoearnalotmoremoney.Iwaslivinginahealthybody,veryrarelygettingill.Istartedtoattractdifferentpeopleintomylife,moreinterestingpeople.Yousee,thetruthwasthatIwasjustbecomingamoreinterestingperson.Apersonisinterestingbecausethey’reinterested.Yousee,aswestartthinkingpowerfulthoughts,everythingstartstochange.
RaymondHolliwellalsosaid:
Manisaprogressivebeing,acreatureofconstantgrowth,beforewhomliesanillimitableoceanofprogresstobenavigatedandconqueredonlybydevelopmentandcultureofhisinherentpowers.Theprogressoftheindividualislargelydeterminedbyhisrulingmentalstate,becausethemindisthebasicfactorandgoverningpowerintheentirelifeofman.Attentionshouldbegiventothepredominantmentalstate,foritwillregulatetheactionanddirectionofallone’sforces,facultiesandpowers,thesumtotalofwhichwillinevitablydeterminemanyparticularexperiencesandthepersonalfate.
Yousee,therulingstateisliketheCPUinacomputer.Thecentralprocessingunitistherulingstateofthecomputer.
Hecontinues:
Therulingstateofmindismadeupofvariousmentalattitudeswhichtheindividualadoptstowardsthings,events,andlifeingeneral.Ifhisattitudesarebroadinmind,optimisticintone,andtruetolife,hispredominantmentalstatewillcorrespondandexhibitahighly
constructiveandprogressivetendency.Asalmostalltheforcesofthepersonalityfunctionthroughtheconsciousmindinonewayoranother,andasthedailymentalandphysicalactsarelargelycontrolledbytheconsciousmind,itisobviousthattheleadingmentalstatewilldeterminethedirectioninwhichthepowersoftheindividualaretoproceed.
Therulingmentalstateissoimportant—itreallyiseverything.IknowthatyouandIhavebeentrainedtobelievethatwe’vegottochangewhat’sgoingonoutthere.Thatwe’vegottofixthisandfixthat.Wehaveliterallybeenprogrammedtolivethroughoursenses—togobywhatwesee,hear,smell,tasteortouch.But,asIpreviouslybroughttoyourattention,therehasbeenlittlethoughtgiventoourhigherfaculties:ourwill,perception,imagination,intuition,memoryandreason.Ourinnerfacultiesarewhereitreallyhappens.Itallbeginsinside.
Youdon’thavetoworryaboutchangingwhat’sgoingonoutthere.Idon’tcareifit’syourbankaccountorthehealthofyourbody.Asyoutakeoverthepowerofthought,you’regoingtofindthattheX-rayswillshowadifferentyou.Thebankaccountwillshowadifferentbalance.Infact,everythinginlifewillbegintochange.
LetmesharewhatRaymondHolliwellsaidaboutthought:
Thoughtisasubtleelement;althoughitisinvisibletothephysicalsight,itisanactualforceorsubstance,asrealaselectricity,light,heat,waterorevenstone.Wearesurroundedbyavastoceanofthoughtstuffthroughwhichourthoughtspasslikecurrentsofelectricity,ortinystreaksoflightormusicalwaves.Youcanflashyourthoughtsfrompoletopole,completelyaroundtheworldmanytimesinlessthanasinglesecond.Scientiststellusthatthoughtiscomparedwiththespeedoflight.Theytellusourthoughtstravelattherateof186,000milespersecond.Ourthoughttravels930,000timesfasterthanthesoundofourvoice.Nootherforceorpowerintheuniverseyetknownisasgreatorasquick.Itisaprovenfact,scientifically,thatthemindisabatteryofforce,thegreatestofanyknownelement.
Isn’tthatamazing?Yousee,thethinkerislikethecomputerprocessor.Whenitisfinelytuned,itworksreally,reallyfast.Youcanthink.Andwhatyouthinkultimatelyproducestheresultsinyourlife.It’salaw.
I’mgoingtotellyousomethingthatI’velearnedbeyondashadowofadoubt.Ihavesharedthiswithyoubefore,butIwanttoreemphasizeit.Thethoughtsthatyouthinkandturnovertoyouremotionalmindinstantly,bylaw,controlthevibratoryrateofyourbody.Yourbodyisamassofmagneticenergy.Ittrulyis.Ifyouputyourbodyinfrontofaninfraredcamerainacompletelydarkroom,you’djustseeitasaglistening,radiatingform.Andifyoucouldhearyourbody,itwouldsoundlikeasymphony.
Yettothenakedeye,itjustlookslikeathing.Butit’snotathing.Thebodyisoneofthemostmagnificentinstrumentsontheplanet.Youliveinone.It’swhatyouthinkthatisgoingtodictatewhatyourbodyisgoingtodo.Weknowthatouractionsproduceourresults.Ifwewanttochangeourresults,wehavetochangeouractions.However,ifyoudon’tgotothethought,theactionswon’tchange.Well,theymightchangetemporarily,butbelieveme,thethoughtsthatyouthinkrepeatedlybecomefixedinyoursubconsciousmind.Andthosearethethoughtsthataregoingtodeterminewhathappensinyourlife.Makenomistakeaboutit.
Here’smorefromHolliwell:
Somethinkthatwemustdealwithtwoforces;thatis,toattractthegoodwemustdoawaywiththebad,butthisisnottrue.Forexample;ifwearecold,wedonotworkwithcoldandheatalikeinordertogetwarm.Webuildafire,andaswegatheraroundthatfireweenjoytheheatthatisextendedfromitandbecomewarm.Aswebuildupwarmth,thecolddisappears,forcoldistheabsenceofheat.Tobewarm,wegiveourwholethoughttothosethingswhichtendtocreatewarmth;weignorethecoldinthinkingofheatandbringforthheat.Prosperityandpovertyarenottwothings;theyaremerelytwosidesofoneandthesamething.Theyarebutonepower,rightlyorwronglyused.Wecannotthinkofplentyandthenworryabouttheunfavorableconditionsthatmayseemapparent.Wethinkaboutplenty,andaswethinkofit,lack,itsopposite,willbecomeabsorbedordisappear.Allourthoughtsmustbedirectedtothatonethingwhichwedesireinorderthatourdesiremaybefulfilled.Ourmethodisnotmanipulatingtwopowers,notdealingwithgoodandevil,rightandwrong,prosperityandpoverty,butaswefollowtheLawofGoodanddwelluponthatwhichisgoodweshallbringtopassallgoodthings.
Ifyouwanttochangetheresultsinyourlife,andI’mjustworkingonthepremisethatyoudo,givesomeseriousthoughttohowyou’reusingyourmind.
AldousHuxleywasrightwhenhesaid,“Thereisonlyonecorneroftheuniverseyoucanbecertainofimproving,andthat’syourownself.”
Youknowallthosethingswewanttochangeoutside,they’rejustareflectionofwhatisgoingoninside.Thatmightbeabigideaforyourightnow,butnotwhenyoustudythisforaweekoramonth.Everythingyou’veheardaboutchoosingyourthoughtsandyourthoughtscontrollingyourlifeistrue.Youbecomewhatyouarethinkingabout.ThatistheLawofThinking.
Thewayyouareprogrammedgeneticallydictateswhetheryouaregoingtooperatepredominatelyfromtheleftorrighthemisphereofyourbrain.Therighthemisphereofthebrainisthecreativeside.Itdealswithcolors,pictures,music,feelingsandsoforth.Thelefthemisphereismorelinearandanalytical.It’smoreintellectual.
Apersonwhoisdominatedbythelefthemisphereisgoingtohaveadifficulttimewiththistostartoffwith.Firstofall,we’reraisedtobelievethat’swhereyouranswersare.Whenwewerelittlekids,theytoldusyou’vegottofigureitout.We’dgotoourparentsandsay,“Iwantthis,”andthey’drespond,“Well,howareyougoingtogetthat?”Thekiddoesn’tknowhowtogetit.Soweleavethemwiththeimpressionthattheycan’tgetitbecausetheycan’tfigureouthowtogetit.
Whentheygetolder,theyaskaboutsomethingtheyreallywanttodo.Theparentsays,“Whereisthemoneygoingtocomefrom?”Ofcourse,theydon’tknow.Sothey’releftwiththeimpressionthattheyhavetogiveuptheirdream.Andtheyletitgo.Unfortunately,thatisprogrammedintotheirmindataveryearlyage.That’scalledenvironmentalconditioninganditisrampant.Ifwewantsomething,forexample,andwecan’tseewherethemoneyisgoingtocomefrom,we’reprogrammedtobelievethatweshouldforgetaboutit.
Asaresult,whenmostpeoplethinkofagoal,iftheycan’tseehowit’sgoingtohappen,theywon’tsetthegoal.Theykeepbackingupuntilthey’vegotitallplannedoutandthensay,“OK,IthinkIcandothis.”
Well,that’snotsettingagoalatall.That’saimingforsomethingthatyoualreadyknowyoucando.Butthere’snoinspirationingoingaftersomethingyouthinkyoucando.You’vegottogoaftersomethingyouwant.
Now,youmaywonderwhyIsaysettingagoalthatyouknowyoucandoisn’treallysettingagoal.Isaythatbecauseyouhavetothinkaboutwhyyou’resettingthegoalinthefirstplace.Areyousettingthegoaltogetthecar,toget
thehouse,togetthejob?No!You’resettingthegoaltoraiseyourconsciousawareness.That’sreallythepurposeofagoal.It’stobringmoreofyoutothesurface.Andwhenyoudo,youenjoyeverythingyoudomore.
Settingagoalyoucanachieveislikedying.It’snotinspiring.Youwon’tgetmuchsupportfromothers.You’llprobablyquit.Butwhenyousetagoalthatinspiresyou,itdoesn’tmatterifyoudon’tgetsupport.You’returnedon;itsetssomethingonfireinsideofyou.It’sthewaytolive!
Now,understandthatwhenyou’regoingafterwhatyouwant,youwillnotknowhowit’sgoingtohappen.
I’vehadthegoodfortuneofworkingwithEdmundHillary(thefirstmantoreachthetopofMountEverest)onthreedifferentoccasions.TheonlythingthatIcouldseedifferentinHillarythananyoneelsewashissize.He’sabigman.Buthedidnotknowhowtogettothetopofthatmountain.HewasabeekeeperfromNewZealand.Whatdidheknowaboutgettingtothetopofthehighestmountainintheworld?Nobodyhadeverclimbedthatmountain.Sohecouldn’tfindoutaboutitfromsomeoneelse.Hecouldn’treadaboutit.Infact,therewassufficientevidencetodiscourage99percentofthepopulationfromattemptingit.Manypeoplewhohadtriedtoclimbthatmountainhaddied.Iamtoldyoucanfindpeopleencasediniceatthetop.Theirbodiesarefrozenthere;they’renevercomingdown.
Hillarywastoldhecouldn’tdoit.In1951,thisbeekeepergotthemoney,histeamandhisguidestogether,andofftheywent.Andtheyfailed.Theydidn’tgettothetopofthemountain.Theyhadtogohome.
Allhisfriendsandrelativessaid,“Itoldyou,youcouldn’tdoit.”Andhesaid,“Well,wedidn’tdoit,butwe’regoingtodoit.”Thentheystartedtogetangrywithhimandsaid,“You’regoingtoloseyour
life.Theairissothinupthereyoucan’tbreathe.It’simpossibletodo.”Butin1952,hewentback.Moremoney.Moreresources.Andhefailed
again.Butyousee,failingispartofwinning.Failingjustmadehimmoredetermined.
Soin1953,hewentbackagain.Andthistimehedidit!HestoodontopofMountEverest.
NowmorethanonethousandpeoplehaveclimbedtothetopofMountEverestsinceHillarydidit.It’salmostlikepeoplesay:“Ifsomebodyhasdoneit,thenwebelieveit.”
ButHillarybelieveditwhennobodyhadeverdoneit.HowdidtheWrightbrothersgetofftheground?Youcouldprovethatwecouldn’tfly.Buttheyknewwecouldbecausetheycouldseeit.
Ifyoucanseeit,thenyoucandoit.Howareyougoingtodoit?Well,you’llbeabletotellthepersonthatafteryoudoit.It’snotalllockedupinyourintellect.It’slockedupinfaith.It’slockedupinthebeliefthatifyouholdtheideainyourmind,you’llmoveintothevibrationthatwillattractit.
That’swhyyou’vegottounderstandthelaws.You’vegottounderstandyourrelationshiptothelaws.Andyou’vegottoknowthatyoucandoit.Wherewillthemoneycomefrom?Whereveritisrightnow!Youwillattractit.
Hillarygottothetopofthemountainbecausehebelievedhewouldgetthere!Heunderstoodhowthemindworked.Heunderstoodthatifhekepttheimageofwhathewantedinhismind,hewouldsucceed.Hedidn’tseehimselfdying;hedidn’tseehimselfencasediniceforever.Hesawhimselfgoingtothetopandcomingbackdown.Andthat’sexactlywhathedid!
That’sthewayyou’vegottoseeit!You’vegottoseeyourselfgettingtothetopofyourmountain.Andknowthateverythingyouwillneedwillcomeasyouneedit.Theonlywayyou’rereallygoingtograspthisistounderstandtheLawofThinking.Youcan’tstudythistoomuch.I’vebeenstudyingiteverydaynowforoverfifty-fiveyears,andIthinkI’mreallyjustgettingagriponit.Butthebeautifulpartis,there’snoendtoit.
Thinkaboutthisforamomentwithrespecttogoalsandgoalachievement.Youcouldbereadingagoodnovelandyou’rereallyintoit.Youreallydon’twantittocometoanendbecauseyou’reenjoyingitsomuch.Yetyoudowantittocometoanend,becauseyouwanttofindoutwhathappens.Butyouknowit’sgoingtocometoanend.Oryoucouldbeouttodinnerwithsomeoneandyou’rehavingagreattime,butyouknowit’sgoingtocometoanend.Youmaybeonvacationandyouknowit’scomingtoanend.Well,youmaybelockedintowhatI’mteachingandyouknowthatthisseminariscomingtoanend.Youknowthat.
Butwhenyoustartstudyingyourselfandyourpotential,thereisn’tanyendtoit.Soforfifty-five-plusyearsI’vewokenupeverydayandIthink,Icangetmore.There’smore.Icanunderstandmore.Itkeepsyoujazzed.Itkeepsyouturnedon.Itwindsyourstemeverydaywhenyouwakeup,becauseyouknowyou’redealingwiththeinfinite.
Well,whatarewetalkingabout?We’retalkingaboutyourpotential.Youdon’tknowwhatyoucando.Nobodyknowswhatyoucando.Idon’tcarewhatyou’vedone.LookathowIstartedout.Iwasunhappy.Iwassick.Ihadonlyacoupleofmonthsofhighschooleducation.Iwasbroke.Ihadnobusinessexperience.Imean,talkaboutlosing.Iwasarealloser!
Butallthatstuffisinthepast.It’sbehindyou.That’swhereyou’vebeen.Itdoesn’thavetodeterminewhereyou’regoingtogo.You’renotgoingtofigureouthowtodoit.Notuntilyou’vedoneit.
Andhere’sanotherpoint.Afteryou’vedoneit,youstillwon’tknowhowyoudiditbecausethereareallkindsoflittleserendipitousthingsthathappenwhileyou’regettingtherethatyouarenotevenawareof.
Iwantyoutoimaginethatyou’reworkingtowardyourgoal.Youknowyou’regoingtogetthere,butyoudon’tknowhow.You’vegotthisparticularproblemorchallengethatisreallystretchingyou.Itisreallytestingyouandyoucan’tseemtosolveit,butyou’rethinkingaboutitallthetime.
Now,you’reshoppinginthesupermarketandthere’salonglinetogettothecashier.Soyou’refrustratedandallofasuddensomebodyrunsintoyourshoppingcart.Youturnaroundtoseewhathappenedandwhenyouturnthere’saheadlineonatabloidthat’sinarack.Andwhateverwasinthatheadlinehityourbrainandtriggeredaseriesofthoughtsandthesolutiontoyourproblempopsintoyourmind.
Afteryoureachthegoalyoulookback,maybethreemonthslater,andyouthink,Ifthatpersonhadn’trunintomycart...
That’soneofthoseserendipitousthingsthathappentotriggeryourmind.Thosethingsflipyourmindontoadifferentfrequency.Yousee,youthinkonfrequencies.Theanswertoyourproblemisonahigherfrequencythanwheretheproblemis.You’vegottokeepraisingyourlevelofconsciousawareness.
Dr.MichaelBeckwithsaid,“Consciousnessisbeingawarethatyouareaware.”That’ssuchabeautifulwayofputtingit.Consciousnessisbeingabletotrulythinkaboutwhatyouarethinkingabout.
L
CLASSELEVEN
HOWTOTELLIFYOU’REDOINGITWRONG
LivinginHarmonywiththeUniversalLaws
ookatwhatThomasEdisonsaid:
Iknowtheworldisruledbyinfiniteintelligence.Everythingthatsurroundsus,everythingthatexists,provesthereareinfinitelawsbehindit.Therecanbenodenyingthisfact.Itismathematicalinitsprecision.
Everythingoperatesbylaw.Thelawisexact.IseethelawasGod’smodusoperandi.It’showeverythinghappens.
WernhervonBraun—IquotedhiminthemovieTheSecret—hesaidthenaturallawsoftheuniversearesoprecisethatwedon’thaveanydifficultybuildingspaceships,wecansendpeopletothemoonandyoucantimethelandingwiththeprecisionofafractionofasecond.
Ourproblemis,weseeit,webelieveit,vonBraunsaidit,theyuseit,theygotothemoon...butwedon’tbringitintoourownlife.Wedon’tunderstandthatthoughtisenergy.Wedon’tunderstandthatthoughtwavesarecosmicwavesthatpenetratealltimeandspace.Wedon’tunderstandthatit’sourthinkingthatcontrolsthevibrationofthisbodythatwe’relivingin.Wedon’tunderstandthat
thevibrationwe’reindictateswhatweattractintoourlife.Wedon’tunderstandthatthesamethingkeepsreoccurringuntilwechangetheidea.
See,ifyouareinharmonywiththelaw,yourlifeisgoingtokeepgettingbetter.Ifyou’relivingbythelaw,you’regoingtocontinuetoearnmore,you’regoingtofeelbetterandyou’regoingtohavemorefun.Itjustkeepsgettingbetter.Andifit’snotgettingbetter,you’reviolatingthelaw.It’sthatsimple.Don’targuewithit.
WhenIwasalittleboy,IwenttoSundayschool.IhadtogotoSundayschoolorI’dgetintrouble.WhenI’dplayhooky,mysisterwouldgohomeandtellmymother,andthenI’dbeintrouble,soIendedupgoingtoSundayschool.
SoI’mdownthereinthebasementofthechurchwiththisintrovertedlittlegirlwhowasaSundayschoolteacherwhiletheparentswereupstairssingingandtalkingtooneanother.Atanyrate,I’mdownthereandI’mtoldthatthepriceofsinisdeath.Ialwaysthoughtthatwasratherseverebuttheysaidit,soyouknowitmustbethewayitis.AndthenIwastoldifyoudothis,it’sasin,ifyousaythat,it’sasin.Ithought,Golly,amIgoingtodie?
Well,IwasprettycurioussoIthought,I’mgoingtotryit.Inotonlytriedit,Ididit,andIenjoyedit!Ididn’tdie!AndIdiditagain.Inotonlysaiditbutitdidn’thurt,youknow,itfeltgood.AndIthought,Ididn’tdie.
IthoughttheymeantthatI’dliterallydieifIsinned,butyousee,theproblemwasmyperceptionofwhatwasbeingsaid.Myunderstandingwaswhatwasmissing.Isthepriceofsindeath?Yes.Absolutely.Soyouhavetoask,wellwaitaminute—Whatisdeath?
Deathistheoppositeoflife.Iflifeisgrowth,thendeathmustbeungrowth.Ungrowth—see,I’mgoingtobelikeWebster;I’mmakingupnewwords.I’llwriteadictionaryoneday.Ginawhohasworkedcloselywithmeforovertwenty-eightyearssaysIspellthemdifferentlyeverytimeIspell.Butatanyrate,thebasiclawoflifeistocreateordisintegrate.Disintegratedoesn’tmeanthatyou’rejustgoingto...whoosh...disappear.Itmeansyou’reeithergoingaheadoryou’regoingback.
Whenyouviolatethelaw,that’sasin.Violatethelaw,youlose.Getinharmonywiththelaw,youwin.Makesense?
Lookatitthisway—thelawsaysgiveandyoushallreceive.Whenyouholdoutyourhandtoshakeanotherperson’shand,youdon’taskfortheirhand,youjustholdoutyourhandandyougetoneback.That’sthewayitworks.Whenyoudogood,yougetgood.That’sthelaw.
Now,ifIgooutandtryandget,that’snotgoingtoworktoowell.IfI’moutsellingandIsay,“Ireallywanttohelpyou,”butI’mthinking,Iwantsomemoney,IhopeImakethesale,Iamviolatingthelaw.I’msendingtheideaonaconsciouslevelthatIwanttohelpyou.Soit’sapositiveideaintellectually,butemotionally—hearttoheart—Iwantyourmoney.Sohe’shearingtheideaIwanttohelpyou,butthefeelinghe’spickingupisIwantyoutohelpme.Sowhathappens?Isetupaconflictinhismind.Positiveideaonaconsciouslevel,negativeideainthesubconscious.Hedoesn’tunderstandwhathe’spickingupemotionally,buthe’sstillpickingitup,anditstillimpactshim.Tocloseasaleyou’vegottogettheotherpartytowritetheirnameonaline.That’scalledorderlybehavior.You’renevergoingtogetorderlybehavioroutofamindthat’sinconflict.
ButifIsay,“Ireallywanttohelpyou,”andI’memotionallyinvolvedwithwantingtohelpyou,youknowwhatyouhavetodo,justlikethat.Youdon’thavetoworryaboutclosingasale.Closingasaleisanaturalconclusiontoaveryfinepresentation.Youjustwanttofallinlovewithhelpingpeople.Theamountofmoneyyouearnisalwaysindirectrelationtotheamountofservicethatyourender.Thisisallinharmonywiththelaw.
WallaceWattles,theauthorofTheScienceofGettingRich,devotedanentirechaptertotheLawofPerpetualIncrease.Ifyou’regoingwiththelaw,yourresultsaregoingtokeepgettingbetter.Progress.Growth.Whenonegoodisrealized,anotherdesireforagreatergoodwilldevelop.Andthenontoahigherstatehe’sheaded.Yousee,anotherandmoregloriousstatewillunfold.Yourvisionwillurgeyouonandon.Hence,you’lldiscovertheadvancinglifeisthetruelife.ThelifethatGodintendedyoutolive.It’ssupposedtokeepgettingbetter.
Ifyourresultsaren’tgettingbetter,you’reviolatingthelaw.You’regoingtolose.You’redyingoryourbusinessisdying.That’sthewayitis.Theymaynotbeburyingyou,butyoursalesaregoingdown,you’reearninglessmoney,youdon’tfeelasgood,youhaven’tgotanyenergy,you’rejustsortofspent.
Thatshouldbeawarningsign.Youshouldthink,Waitaminute,whathappenedtome?Imustbeviolatingthelaw.Justthinkofhelpingpeople.Getabigideainyourmind.Starttocreate.Feelgood.
WhenIwasalittleboymygrandmotherprettymuchraisedme.WealwaysthoughtGrandmawaslikeGod.Shewasadearlittleladybutshedidn’thavetherightideas.Grandmausedtosay,“Youshouldbesatisfiedwithwhatyou’vegot,dear.”Grandmawaswrong!!Youshouldbehappywithwhatyou’vegot,butyoushouldneverbesatisfied.
Dissatisfactionisacreativestate.See,dissatisfactioniswhatkeepsusreaching.Whatdoesthelawsay?Itsaysbigger,better,faster.That’swhytherunnerswanttorunfaster.Jumperswanttojumphigher.Singerswanttosingmore.Peoplewhoareearningmoneywanttoearnmore.Youwanttodomore.Isittogetit?No!It’stogrow.Goalsarenottogetstuff.Goalsaretogrow.Gettingisnice,butasidebenefitisthatthebiggerthegoal,themorealiveyou’regoingtobecome.It’sprettybasic.
Youareaspiritualbeing.Youliveinaphysicalbody.Butthephysicalisjustthephysicalmanifestationofahighersideofyou.
Whereisspirit?Spiritisomnipresent.Well,whatdoesthatmean?Spiritiseverywhere.Spiritisinthislecternhere.Spirit’sintheplatform,it’sinthecomputer,it’sintheair.
Yousay,nowit’sreallygettingconfusing.You’llsayspiritisnotinthegardenrock.Well,waitaminute—spirit’severywhereexceptinagardenrock!Huh.Well,isspiritinatree?Spirit’somnipresentexceptinagardenrockoratree!Hmmm.Isspiritinthetireonmycar?No!No!Notinthetireofacar!It’sspirit!Spirit’severywhereexceptinagardenrock,atreeandthetiresinmycar!Waitaminute—ifitiseverywhere,it’severywhere.
Doyouseehowpeoplegetconfused?Youknowwhatweshoulddo:Weshouldthinkofsomethingelse.Butinsteadwethink,Let’sturnthetelevisionon.Getlostinsomebodyelse’sworld.That’swhatwedo.
Thetireofthecarismadeofthesamestuffyourbodyismadeof.Thetreeismadeofthesamestuffyourbody’smadeof.Thegardenrockismadeoutofthe
samestuffyourbodyismadeof.Thegardenrockismoving.Everythingmoves.Weliveinanoceanof
motion.Nothingrests.Thatwallismoving.Itappearstobestillbutit’sreallynot.Abodyinacoffinismoving.There’snosuchthingasdead.That’safalseconcept.Thebodyinacoffinismoving.Ifthebodyisn’tmoving,howwoulditeverchangetodust?See,ifyoupickeduptheremainsandlookedatitthroughamicroscope,you’dseeitmoving.Dancingrightbeforeyoureyes.Anditwillturntodust.Why?Becauseitmoves.Everythingmoves.Nothingrests.Nothingiseithercreatedordestroyed;thatjustpostulatesthetheoryoflife.Thereisnosuchthingasdeath.Youmovedintoyourbodyandyouwillmoveoutofyourbody.Bothlifeanddeatharetransitionsandpartsofthesamegreatadventure.
DoyouwanttoknowthedifferencebetweenusandothercreaturesonEarth?We’recreativebeings.We’recreatedintheimageofGod.Wecancausespirittomoveinthewaythatwewant.Wecancauseittomoveintowhateverformwewant.
Butdoyouknowwhathappened?Wegottheequationreversed.WecreatedGodinourimageandnowwe’retryingtofigureouthowHe—He,notShe—canbeomnipresent.Canyouseewherethisgoes?Itgoesdownthewrongpath.Why?Becausewe’reignorant.Wejustdon’tunderstand.Butifwestudy—everythingyoustudyinyourreligion,you’regoingtofindthatit’strue.It’sourperceptionthatwehaveaproblemwith.YouandIarespiritualbeings.Weliveinaphysicalbody.Butunliketherestoftheanimalkingdom,weweregivenanintellect.Weweregivenintellectualfacultiesthatnootherformoflifehas.It’showweusetheseintellectualfacultiesthatdictatesouremotionalstate.
Whatistheemotionalstate?It’showwefeel.It’sthevibrationwe’rein.Sowhenwetalkaboutthevibrationwe’rein—we’retalkingaboutouremotionalstate.Feelingisconsciousawarenessofthevibrationwe’rein.Whenyousayyou’renotfeelinggood,whatyou’rereallysayingis“IamconsciouslyawarethatI’mnotinagoodvibration.”
“What’sthematter?”“I’mjustfeelingsobad.”“Why?”“Well,it’sthewayhe’sacting.”Ohhhh.You’relettinghisactionscontrol
yourfeelings.Whywouldyoulethisactionscontrolyourfeelings?“Well,youdon’tknowwhatit’slike.IfyouknewthefinancialproblemsI
have,you’dknowwhyI’mupset.”Whywouldyougetupsetoverfinances?Whatisthepointinthat?Why
wouldyougetupsetoveranything?Whydon’tyoujustlookatit—itiswhatitis,acceptit.It’seithergoingtocontrolyouoryou’regoingtocontrolit.
Here’ssomethingeveryonereallyneedstounderstand.Youknow,Iknowpeopleandyouknowpeoplewhoareworkingonpersonaldevelopment.They’vegotagreatlibraryofmaterial,they’veattendedabunchofseminars,buttheyreallydon’tmakeithappen.Andwherethey’repuzzledis“HowdoIearnsomemoney?”
Howmanypeoplearepuzzledbythat?Behonest.Holdyourhandwayup.Standup.Quiteafewofyou.Thankyou.Idothatsoyoucanacknowledgeittoyourself.
InThinkandGrowRich,NapoleonHillsays:
Ifyou’reoneofthosewhobelievethathardworkandhonestyalonewillbringriches,perishthethought!Itisnottrue!Riches,whentheycomeinhugequantities,arenevertheresultofhardworkalone!Richescomeinresponsetodefinitedemandsbasedupontheapplicationofdefiniteprinciples.Notbychanceorluck.
Whoareyougoingtodemanditof?AreyougoingtodemanditofGod?Areyougoingtodemanditofsomebodyelse?
Thequotesays,“Richescomeinresponsetodefinitedemandsbasedupontheapplicationofdefiniteprinciples.Notbychanceorluck.”Sothedemandwouldhavetobeonyourself.You’vegottodemanditofyourself.Andthen,you’vegottofollowtherules.You’vegottoworkwiththelaw.
Youcouldveryeasilyjustskipoverthat,butthereisanabsoluteLawofCompensation.
WegiveoutacardinourseminarsatsomepointwherewequoteDonShula,thegreatAmericanfootballcoach.Hesaid,“Thestartiswhatstopsmostpeople.”
Thisisnotrocketscience.Thisisgettingreallyhonestwithyourself.Mostpeopledonotdemanditofthemselves.You’vegottodemandit.You’vegottoreallyapplythis.
TheLawofCompensationclearlystatesthattheamountofmoneyyouearnwillalways—notsomeofthetime,notonlyinRussiaortheUnitedStates—always,inallplacesatalltimes,beinexactratiotothesethreepoints:(1)theneedforwhatyoudo,(2)yourabilitytodoit,and(3)thedifficultytherewillbeinreplacingyou.
IbelievethatwhatwedoatPGIisinveryhighdemandallovertheworld.Ihave$40onme.Youcouldputmeonaplanetoanywhereintheworldwithjustthis$40,andIguaranteeyouthatIwouldimmediatelystartmultiplyingit.Immediately.
BecauseIknowthatwhatIknowhowtodoisindemandeverywhereintheworld.Ihavenevergoneanywhereintheworldwhereitwasn’tindemand.
WewentintoShanghaiandtheyhadtogetabouttwentypeopletoholdhandsaroundusbecausepeopleweretryingtogetatme.TheyknewIhadsomethingtheywanted.Iguesstheythoughtiftheygotcloseenough,theywouldgetit.That’snothowyougetit.Thebottomlineisthatyou’vealreadygotit!
Youcanalwaystellaperson’slevelofunderstandingbytheirresults.Iftheresultsaren’tthere,theydon’tknowit’sbecausethey’renotlivinginharmonywiththelaw.Idon’tcarewhatkindofstorytheygiveyou.Theydon’tknow!Andunfortunately,inmostcases,theydon’tknowthattheydon’tknow.
Thisissomethingeverypersoninthisroomisinterestedin.Theamountofmoneyyouearnisinexactratiototheneedforwhatyoudo.
Ididn’tknowthatwhenIgotintothisbusiness.Ididn’tgetintothisbusinessbecauseofthat.IgotintothisbusinessbecauseIabsolutelylovedit.IjustcouldnotgetenoughandIstillcan’tgetenough!It’slikeI’vebeenhungryforthissincethefirstdayIheardarecord.IneverheardanyonetalkinglikeEarlNightingaleonthatrecord.
Yousee,Iknowthere’snolimitontheamountthatIcanearn.AndIknowthattheonlywaytoraisemyincomeistounderstandthisbetter.Thetrickisn’tinthemarketing.Thetrickisn’tinyoursalespresentation.Thetrickisinyourunderstanding.Iftheunderstandingisn’tthere,you’renotgoingtoearnmoremoney.
That’swhySolomonsaid,“Withallthygettinggetunderstanding.”There’sonlyonewaytogetunderstanding.Oneway,nottwo.Justone.Andthat’sthroughstudy.Thereisnootherway.
Therearemanyformsofstudy,butyou’vegottostudy!Knowledgeisomnipresent.Alltheknowledgethereeverwasoreverwillbeiseverywhereallthetime.It’sinallplacesatthesametime.
Yourcomputerhasalwaysbeenhere.Itdidn’tjustarrivewithSteveJobsorBillGates.Ithasalwaysbeenhere!Wewerejustnotawareofit.Edisonbecameawarethattherewasmagicintheairandthathecouldbottleit,directit,andharnessit.NiagaraFallshasbeenthereforalo-o-o-ngtime.IthadtobechanneledtoprovideallofthepowergeneratedbytheFalls.
You’vegottounderstandit.Theamountofmoneyyouearnisinexactratiototheneedforwhatyoudo.Iseepeoplewhocomebackhereoverandover.
Theymakealittleprogressandtheythinkthey’vegotit.AndIdon’tthinkweevergetit.Ithinkwe’realwaysgettingit.
Atageeighty-seven,Michelangelosaid,“Iamstilllearning.”You’vegottokeeplearning.
Oureducationalsystemandcorporatetrainingprogramsareincomplete.There’ssomethingmissing.Isaythatbecause3percentofthepopulationisearning97percentofthemoney.Somethingiswrong!That’swhyIknowtherewillalwaysbeaveryhighdemandforwhatIdo.
Ihaveanopinion,andIdon’tthinkI’llevergetshakenoffthis.Ibelieveifaprogramyou’restudyingdoesn’thaveaspiritualfoundation,itisincomplete.Ifit’sincomplete,you’renotgoingtowin.
Idon’tteachreligion.I’mnotqualifiedtoteachreligion,butIdoknowsomethingaboutthespiritualsideofourlife.Idoknowthis:Youressenceisspirit,andspiritisalwaysforexpansion.Itisneverfordisintegration.Itisalwaysforgrowth,always.Somethinginyouwantstogrow.
Sowhateveryou’redoingyou’regoingtowanttodoitbetter.Ifyou’rerunning,you’regoingtowanttorunfaster.Ifyousing,youwanttosingbetter.Ifyousell,youwanttosellmore.Ifyoujump,youwanttojumphigher.It’sinyournaturetogrowandexpand.
ThesecondpartoftheLawofCompensationisthattheamountofmoneyyouearnwillalwaysbeinexactratiotoyourabilitytodoit.
I’vebecomeverygoodatthis,butIknowIcangetawholelotbetter.AndbecauseI’mverygood,I’mdifficulttoreplace,whichisthethirdpartofthelaw.ButIcanbereplaced.There’snosuchthingasbeingindispensable.
Thereisagreatpoemcalled“TheIndispensableMan”bySaxonWhiteKessinger.Itsays:
Takeabucketandfillitwithwater,Putyourhandinituptothewrist,Pullitoutandtheholethat’sremaining,Isameasureofhowmuchyou’llbemissed.
Youcansplashallyouwishwhenyouenter,Youmaystirupthewatergalore,Butstop,andyou’llfindthatinnotime,Itlooksquitethesameasbefore.
Now,whatI’mdoingisgettingtheideaacrossthatnooneisindispensable.Ifyoustarttogettheideathatyouareindispensable,youregoistakingoverandyou’rereallyscrewed.You’regoinginthewrongdirection.
Thesearethebasics.We’vegottounderstandwherethepoweris.Thepowerisinthespiritualessenceofwhoyouare.Andaslongasyourecognizethat,studythatandstartbeingabetterinstrumentforittoflowthrough,yourresultsaregoingtoimprove.You’vegottogetbetteratwhatyou’redoing.
NapoleonHillsaid,“Donotgosearchingforopportunitybutreachoutandembraceitrightwhereyouare.”
Well,ifyougobackandthinkaboutitforamoment,iftheneedisthere,andyou’redifficulttoreplacebecauseyou’regoodenough,thetrickistokeepgettingbetter.SotheonlypartoftheLawofCompensationthatyoureallyhavetofocusonisthesecondone—focusonyourabilitytodothework.Justkeepgettingbetteratwhatyoudo.Andunderstandthatyoucanalwaysgetbetter.
Weseethateveryday.Whereit’sreallyevidentisinsports.Therecordscontinuetogetshattered.Youknow,foryearstheyusedtothinkmancouldn’trunamilefaster.Theyusedtoletwildanimalschasethemandtheycouldn’trunitanyfaster.RogerBannisterbrokeitintosmallpartsandhebrokethefour-minutemile.Butwithinamonth,somebodyelsebrokehisrecord.Andnow,ifyoulookattheBostonMarathon,they’renearlyrunningafour-minutemileinamarathon.They’rerunningafive-minutemileanddoingittwenty-sixtimes!Youcouldn’tconceiveofanythinglikethatnottoolongago.
Y
CLASSTWELVE
THEONLYLIMITONPOWER
TappingintotheAbundanceoftheUniverse
ou’vegottounderstandthattheuniverseisabundant.Mygoodness.YoucangorightbacktotheUpanishads,themostancientwritingthereis.It
says,“Fromabundancehetookabundance,andstillabundanceremains.”Yousay,“Well,howdoyoudothat?”Takeadeepbreath.Comeon,suckitallin.Comeon.Holdit.Juststaylike
thatfortherestoftheday.Yousee,youwouldn’tthinkofdoingthat.Fromabundancehetookabundance,andstillabundanceremains.Yousay,“That’sdifferent.”No,itisn’t.It’sexactlythesame.We’vegottounderstandthateverythingoperatesbythesamelaw.All
successinlifeisduetotakingsideswiththelawwithinus.OK.Thus,workingwiththelawmaybeconsideredthesameastakingthelawintoourlivesandmindasasilentpartner.
Youcouldbetakingthelawintoyourownhands—workinginharmonywiththelaw.
Itmakessense,doesn’tit?Howdoyougoahead?Well,you’vegottoseeyourselftherefirst.You’vegottoactlikeyou’realreadythere.
Wheredoesithappen?Ithappensintellectually.IfI’vegotanideainmyconsciousness,thenIcansharetheideawithyouandyourconsciousness,can’tI?IfI’vegotit,thenIcangiveittoyou.Doesthatmakesense?Idon’thavetogetitifI’vegotit.IfI’vegotit,I’vegotit.AndifI’vegotit,Icantalktoyouaboutit,can’tI?
SoifI’vegotanideaintellectually,Icanshareitwithyouintellectually.Myintellectcouldshareitwithyourintellectonaconsciouslevel.Idon’thavetohaveithereonthephysicalplane.Icouldtalktoyouaboutallkindsofmoney.SoI’mnotgettingit,I’vegotit.IfIgetemotionallyinvolvedwiththeidea,Icouldsharethoseemotionswithyou.IfI’vegotitintellectuallyandemotionally,thenI’vegotit.Isthatright?
Sixty-sevenyearsbeforethelifeofChrist,Horacesaid,“Nemodatquodnonhabet.”Freelytranslatedthatmeans“Youcannotgivewhatyouhaven’tgot.”Buttheoppositeofthatisthatyoucangivewhatyou’vegot.IfI’vegotitintellectually,Icanshareitwithyouintellectually.IfI’vegotitemotionally,Icanshareitwithyouemotionally.TheonlythingIcan’tdoisenjoyitonthephysicalorshareitwithyouonthephysical.
Yousee,that’swheretheproblemis.Welivethroughourphysicalsenses.Ifitisn’tthereonthephysical,yousay,“Well,Ihaven’tgotit!”OhyesIhave.Icantalktoyouaboutit.Icanfeelit.Icansharemyfeelingswithyou.It’sjustthatithasn’tmanifestedinformyet.Wheredoesitcomefrom?
Everythingcomesfromthenonphysical.Youworkfromahighertoalowerpotential.Who’sanengineer?Dowehaveanelectricalengineerhere?There’sgottobeone.Admitit.Isthereone?Allright.
IfI’mworkingwithelectricity,I’vegottoworkfromahighertoalowerpotential,don’tI?IfItrytogocontrarytothat,I’mgoingtobeintrouble.Wouldn’tyouagree?Theonlylimitonelectricityisthelimitthatisplacedontheformthroughwhichitflows.(Pointingtoalight.)Wecallthatelectricity,butit’sreallynot.It’sanexpressionofelectricity,isn’tit?Well,theonlylimitonelectricityisthelimitontheformthroughwhichit’sflowing.Aseventy-five-wattbulbhasmorepowerthanasixty-wattbulb.Andaone-hundred-wattbulbhasevenmorepower,correct?
Well,theonlylimitonspiritualpoweristheformthroughwhichit’sflowing:you.Buildabiggerideaandyou’llexperienceagreaterexpressionofthepower.Soyouseeapersonwalkingaround,nojuice,noenergy,theyhaven’tgotaverybigidea.Allyouhavetodoiswatchapersonandthatwilltellyouwhat’sgoingonintheirmind.Becausethebodyistheinstrumentofthemind.Thebodyexpresseswhat’sgoingon.Whenyouseeapersonandthey’relethargicanddraggingthemselvesaround,youknowthatthey’rebored.Youknowthattheyhaven’tgotanythingbutbadideas—ifthey’rethinkinganythingatall!
Mostpeoplearen’teventhinking.They’rejustaplaythingforwhat’sgoingonaroundthem.They’relikeacorkintheocean,bouncingallovertheplace.Apersonwhoisthinkingknowsexactlywherethey’regoing.They’reusingtheir
higherfaculties:theirreason,will,intuition,perception,memoryandimagination.
Lookatspirit—whereisspirit?Spiritisomnipresent.Lookatthelinesonalinedsheetofpaperandletthoselinesrepresentlevelsofvibration,morecommonlyreferredtoasfrequencies.EverythingoperatesbylawandoneofthelawsistheLawofVibration.OK.Nowwhereisspirit?Spiritiseverywhere.Itiseverything.Itisthehighestpartofourpersonality.What’sthelowest?Thephysical.Nowwhat’srightinthemiddle?Theintellect.That’swhatmakesusdifferentfromanyotherformoflife.It’sthroughtheintellectthatwecantapinonahigherlevelandchangethingsonalowerlevel.
Here’swhatwe’vegottounderstand—youletthissinkinandyou’regoingtorealizethateverythingisconnected.Likethecolorsofarainbow—eachfrequencyishookeduptotheoneaboveandtheonebelow.Thereisnolineofdemarcation.You’rehookedintoeverythingintheuniverse.Everything.You’rehookedintoit.Yourmarvelousmindcantapintothehigherlevel—thespiritual.Everylineonthepageisconnectedtotheoneaboveandtheonebelow.Focusonthenonphysical—seewhatyouwant.Seeyourselfwithit.
Butwedon’tdothat,dowe?Wegotothelowestlevel.Welookatthebankaccounttoseewherewearefinancially.Wegotothecomputertoseewhatourresultsare.Yousee.Well,whatareyoudoingthatfor?Everybodydoesit.Theyteachyoutodoit.That’showyouknowwhereyou’reat.Ohhh.Iwonderifthey’reallwrong.Yousay,“Well,theycan’tallbewrong.”Why?Theyalwayshavebeen!
Whenyouseealargegroupofpeoplegoingonewayandonlyafewgoingtheotherway,followthesmallgroup.You’llprobablynevermakeanothermistakeaslongasyoulive.Ifyoufollowthemasses,you’rereallygoingtobeinamess.Why?Becausethemasseshavenoideawherethey’regoing.They’vegottowaittoturnonthenewstoseewhatkindofdayitis.Theylookoutthewindowandsay,“Ohmy,wellthisisgoingtobeabaddayfortraffic.”Whynotlookatitdifferently?“Well,wewon’thavetodriveasfast,wecangosloweryouknow,itwillgiveusanopportunitytothink.Wecanenjoyourdrive.”That’saprettysillywaytothinkthough,isn’tit?Let’sdowhatwealwaysdoandgetupset.Yeah,let’sgetinthecarandgetupset.Gofast,thenslow.Slamrightintothejerk.Getthecarallsmashedup.Youknow.
Yousay,“Waitaminute—ifit’sthissimple,whyisn’teverybodydoingit?”That’saprettygoodquestion.Let’slookatthisadifferentway.
W
CLASSTHIRTEEN
DANCE’TILITRAINS
TransformingYourThoughtsintoThings
hydon’tyouactlikethepersonyouwanttobecome?Whydon’tyouactlikethestarwhoyoureallyare?Youknowwhyyoudon’t?Because
you’reafraidofwhattheythink.Youknowwhenthatstarted?Whenyouwerejustalittlekid.Theysaid,
“Whatwouldtheneighborsthink?”Whocares?!Ifoundoutwhattheneighborsthink—theydon’t!Quitconcerningyourselfwithwhattheneighborsthink!Actlikethepersonyouwanttobecome.Youaretheoffspringofadeathlesssoul.Thisiswhatyouwanttoburninto
yourmind!There’sapowerthat’sallknowing,that’severpresent.That’swhatyou’reanexpressionof.It’ssoimportantthatyougetthisstraight,soimportant.Wheredoyoureallywanttogo?
RalphWaldoEmersonsaid,“Thereisnoplanet,sun,orstarcouldholdyou,ifyoubutknewwhatyouare.”Searthatintoyourmind.
It’swhatwefeedintooursubconsciousmind,whichisalsotheemotionalmind,thatdictatesthevibrationthatthebodymovesinto.Thebodybeingtheinstrumentofthemind,thevibrationdictateswhatyouattractintoyourlife.Ifyouoperatewithabigidea—youseeyourselfoperatingwithaverysuccessful
businessandyouseeyourthingsreallyflying—doyouknowwhatyou’regoingtodo?Ifyoukeepthatpicture,you’regoingtoattractpeoplewhowillmakethathappen.
Butifyouletthebusinesscontrolyouandyoucomplainaboutthispersonandthatpersonandhowbadthingsare,you’regoingtorepelanybodywho’sgotanyspeedonthematall,andyou’regoingtoattractmoreproblems.
Soseewhatyouwant.Holdtheimageofyourselfalreadythere.Changeyourvibration.
There’sacutestoryaboutatribeinAfrica.Theyhavearaindance.AlotoftribesinAfricahaveraindances,butthistribeisdifferent.Everytimetheydance,itrains!
Anthropologistshavegonetostudythesepeoplebecauseitdoesn’traineverytimemosttribesdoadance.Sotheywentandstudiedthisonetribetofindoutwhyitrainseverytimetheydance.
Doyouwanttoknowwhattheyfoundout?Theyfoundoutthetribedancesuntilitrains.Ahhh.
EverytimeIgoout,Imakeasale.How?BecauseIstayoutuntilImakethesale!Ahhh.
Thisisnotrocketscience.It’ssimplestuff.
Let’sgetaglass,OK?Let’sputwaterintheglass.Wheredidthewatercomefrom?Itcamefromnothing,fromspirit.Whatisthewatermadeof?Thewaterisenergy.What’stheglassmadeof?Energy.Theglassusedtobesand.Whatwedidwaschangethevibratoryrateoftheenergythatwecalledsand,andweturneditintoglass.
Sonowwe’vegotasandfullofwater?Well,no.Wecallitglassnow.Wehaveaglassfullofwater.It’snotasandfullofwater.It’saglassfullofwater.It’senergyfullofwater.Wecalltheenergysand...no,wecallitglass.Wheredoesthewatergo?Ifyouaddheattothewater,itturnsintosteam,andthesteamturnsintoair,etherorgas.
Here’swhatwewanttograsp:There’snolineofdemarcationwhereitstopsbecomingoneandstartstobecometheother.There’snolineofdemarcationwhereitstopsbecomingwaterandstartsbecomingsteam.It’sallhookedtogether.
Ifyoumakethissimpleenough,youcan’tmissit.Yousee,they’reallfrequencies.Justdifferentfrequencies.Wecallitsteambecauseit’sona
differentfrequency.Nowstaywithme.Wheredoesitcomefrom?Well,webringitback—itcomesfromethertothesteamtothewater,butgetthis,everylineishookeduptotheoneaboveandtheonebelow.
Yousay,“Whereareyougoingwiththis?”Wheredoyouwantmetogo?Iknowwherewe’llgo.Let’sgotoourthinking.
Hereweare—there’sspirit.We’vegotspirit.We’vegottheintellectand,voila,we’vegotthephysical.Nowlet’sactivateourintellectualfaculties.Doyouknowwhatyourintellectualfacultiesare?Wetouchedonthembefore.Oneofthemisreason.Thatgivesustheabilitytothink.Solet’sactivateourreasoningfactorandlet’stapinonahigherlevel.Where’sthought?Thoughtisomnipresent.Where’sspirit?It’somnipresent.Sowetapintoourspiritualessence,pullourthoughtstogetherandwebuildanidea.
Thishotelwasnothingbutanideaatonetime.Weholdanidealongenoughandtheideawillmoveintoform.That’swhatAndrewCarnegiesaid:“Anyideathatisheldinthemind,thatisemphasized,thatiseitherfearedorrevered,willbeginatoncetoclotheitselfinthemostconvenientandappropriateformavailable.”Ifyouholdtheidea,itwillmoveintoform.See,allwe’redoingisworkingwiththelaw.We’reworkingwithenergy.We’reworkingwiththepower.We’reworkingwithspirit.
Wehavetheabilitytobe,doorhavewhateverwewant.Idon’tcarewhatyourpastis.Didyouhavesometraumaticexperience?Itdoesn’tmatter.Letitgo!Tuneinatthesubconsciouslevel.Say,“Wow,Iamsurroundedbypower!It’sflowingtoandthroughme!Wow!”
Thisiscool.Icanthink!Thankyou,God!Icanthink!IthinkI’mrich!Igotrich.IthinkI’mhappy.Howdoyoubecomehappy?Helpothersbehappy.Howdoyoubecomeloved?Loveothers.Thisisprettysimple.Imean,Ilearnedit!
QUESTION:Ihaveaquestion—HowcanIattracttheperfectideatomyselffromspirit?
BOB:Well,the“perfectidea”istheideathatyou’reinlovewith.Ifyoulovesomeone,you’veattractedtheperfectperson,haven’tyou?Does
thatmakesense?Butsomeoneelsesays,“Youlovethatturkey?What’sthematterwithyou?”Soit’samatterofperceptionthen.Theperfectideaistheideathatyou’reemotionallyinvolvedin.
Doyouknowwhatloveis?Loveisresonance.It’swhentheconscious,subconsciousandbodyareallinlovewithoneidea.It’salsocalledintegrity.Yourthoughts,feelingsandactionsarealllinedup.Soyoujusthavetoaskyourself,“WhatdoIreallylovedoing?”
D
CLASSFOURTEEN
THEONLYSOURCEOFSUPPLY
DiscoverAlltheSecretsofSuccess
oyouknowwhatprayeris?I’mgoingtotellyouwhatitis.It’snotgettingonyourkneesandsaying,“Godhelpme.”That’smakinganoiseonyour
knees.Prayeristhemovementthattakesplacebetweenspiritandformwithandthroughus.Wetapintothenonphysicalandwecreatethephysical.
Youdon’thavetowonderwhereit’sgoingtocomefrom.There’sonlyonesource.There’sonesourceofsupply.Ifyouthinkotherpeopleareyoursource,you’reprobablygoingtoslowdown.Butthenyourealizethere’sonlyonesourceofsupply:infinite.IcallthatsourceGod,youcallitwhateveryouwant—callitintelligence,universalintelligence,Allah—youraiseyourlevelofconsciousnessuntilyouareonewithit.Thenyoujustperformthemagic.
Thereisonepower.EveryreligionthathasmaintaineditsbalanceoveranyperiodoftimehasdonesobasedontheemotionalappealofafuturepromisethatyouwillonedaybecomeonewithyourGod.Youcouldparttheseas,youcoulddowhatever,becauseyou’reworkinginharmonywiththelaw.
Peoplecometomyclassesfromallovertheworld.TheycomefromIsrael,SouthAmerica,Australia,fromalloverEuropeandalloverNorthAmerica.Peopletravelallthatdistance.Youknowwhy?Theywantmoreofthis.Whydotheywantmoreofit?Becauseit’sinharmoniousvibrationwiththeessenceofwhotheyare.
InWorkingwiththeLaw,RaymondHolliwellsays:
Alloftheprocessesofnaturearesuccessful.Natureknowsnofailures.Sheneverplansanythingbutsuccess.Sheaimsatresultsineveryformandmanner.Tosucceedinthebestandfullestsenseofthetermwemust,withNatureasourmodel,copyhermethods.Inherprinciplesandlawsweshalldiscoverallthesecretsofsuccess.
Keepinmind,everythinginthisuniversethatyoucanseewiththenakedeye,andeverythingyoucannotsee,isanexpressionofspirit.Alsobearinmindthatspiritoperatesbyexactlaws.Youaresubjecttothoselawsinjustthesamemannerasnatureis.Therefore,Holliwellisright—wedefinitelyshouldcopynature’smethods.
Yousee,thisisanorderlyuniverse.Nothinghappensbyaccident.Theimagesyouplantinyourmarvelousmindinstantlysetupanattractiveforcethatgovernsyourresultsinlife.Youmustremember,though,thatthisprocessisequallyaseffectivewithpositiveimagesasitiswithnegativeones.
Althoughitistruethateverythingyouwilleverwantisalreadyhere—ifnotinform,insubstance—itisuptoyoutogetintoharmonywithit.Sinceyoudoattracteverythingintoyourlifebylaw,itwouldbeawisemoveonyourparttobeginformingthehabitofthinkingonlyofwhatyouwant,regardlessoftheconditionsorcircumstancesyoumaypresentlyfindyourselffacing.
L
CLASSFIFTEEN
THEMAGICGRAPHIC
MappingYourMind
et’ssupposeIaskeverybodyintheroomiftheywouldhelpmechangethesetupoftheroomandtodoitwithouttalkingtoanybody,andyouallagree
youwill.Butnobodycantalk.“Let’sgo.”Finallysomebodywouldsay,“Whatdoeshewantustodo?”You’dsay,“Idon’tknow,askhim.”“Whydon’tyouaskhim?!”“Ican’t
talk.”Youknowwe’dhavechaosinhere.Doyouknowwhy?Becausenobody’s
gotapicture.There’snopicture.Butoutofconfusioncomesorderandit’sahigherdegreeoforderthanthatwhichexistedpriortotheconfusion.SonowIsay,“I’mgoingtomakethatthefrontoftheroom,andthatthebackoftheroom.”(pointing)Inafewsecondsflatwe’dhaveorder,wouldn’twe?Why?Becauseeverybody’soperatingwiththesamepicture.
Doyourealizewe’vegotpeoplegoingtoworkandtheyhavenopicture?Theydon’tevenknowwhatthey’reworkingfor.Theydon’tknowwhichwaytogo.Theydon’tknowiftheyshouldtalktoanybody.Maybetheyshouldturnonthetelevisionandgetlostinsomebodyelse’sworlduntiltheygetthisfiguredout.SotheywatchThePriceIsRightforalittlewhile.Theirmindisinatotalstateofconfusion.Youhavegottohaveorder.
BOB:Whatdoesyourcarlooklike?Whatcolorisit?
JIM:It’sgray.
BOB:Whatcolorisyourrefrigerator?
JIM:It’ssilver.
BOB:Whatcolorisyourmind?
JIM:Lotsofcolors.
BOB:Hmmm.Isitbigorsmall?
JIM:Sometimesit’sbigandsometimesit’ssmall.
BOB:Isyoursbig?Isitbiggerthanabreadbox?
KAREN:Yes.
BOB:Itis.Whatcolorisit?
KAREN:Allcolors.
BOB:Howbigisit?
KAREN:Big.
BOB:Howbigisthat?
Yousee...we’regettingintoaproblemhere,aren’twe?That’sbecausenobody’severseenthemind.Youstarttalkingaboutthemindandthere’snoimage.
Dr.ThurmanFleetinSanAntonio,Texas,understoodthisbackin1934,andhedecidedhewasgoingtogiveordertothemind.Sohecreatedagraphicillustrationofthemind.Hesaid,“We’veneverseenthemind.Letthisrepresentthemind.Andthere’sthebody.”
Thisisthebasicgraphic:
Nowthatisagenie.ThatisthemostvaluablegraphicIhaveeverseen.Let’stakemoredetailedalookatthegenieusingthefollowinggraphic:
Herewehavethemindandthebody,butwe’vedividedthegraphicofthemindintotwoparts:theconsciousmindandthesubconsciousmind.
Wehavesensoryfactors—wecansee,hear,smell,tasteandtouch.Andwehavebeenprogrammedtolivethroughthesesenses.Aslittlekids,peoplewillsay—“WouldyoulistentowhatI’mtellingyou?”“Willyoulookatthis?”“WillyoulistentowhatI’msaying?”They’relikelittleantennae.Webecometheplaythingforeverythingthat’sgoingonoutside.Weletthebankaccount,whatpeoplesay,whatwethinkpeoplethinkandourperceptionofwhattheythinkofuscontrolus.Weuseoursensoryfactors—it’salloutsideinput.
Whatwewanttounderstandisthatthosesensoryfactorsgetusintoalotoftrouble.Theyaregiventoustohelpuscommunicateandcorrespondwithouroutsideworld.Wearenotmeanttoletthemcontrolourlife.Wedon’twanttobecomesubjectivetowhat’sgoingonaroundus.
Nowlet’sgraspthisconcept.Theconsciousmindisalsowhatwecalltheintellectualmind.Let’stakealookagainatourintellectualfactors(seethegraphicbelow):
Youhaveperception.Perceptionisanintellectualfactor.Weknowtheworldisround.Atonepointwethoughtitwasflat.Whatdidwechange?Wechangedourperception.Theworlddidn’tchange.Theworldisthesameasitwasthen.Itwasalwaysround.Itwasourperceptionofitthatchanged.
Myperceptionoftheworld—myworldthatIlivedin—andmyabilitytoearnmoney,iswhatchangedforme.IalwayshadtheabilitytoearnmoneyevenwhenIwasstrugglingandwasn’tearningany.Whywasn’tIearninganymoney?BecauseIthoughtIcouldn’tearnany.See,thetruthwasthatIwasn’tthinking.Iwaslettingtheoutsideworldcontrolme.Yourperceptionisyourreality.Youcanchangetheperceptionofthebusinessyou’rein.Changeyourperceptionofhowyouoperateyourbusiness.
YouandIweretalkingaboutthat,Dan.IwasfiringsomethingsbackatyouandIsaidchangeyourperceptionofwhatyou’redoing,andyouwouldprobablymakemoreheadway,wouldn’tyou?Andyou’dmakealotmoremoney.
Thewillisanotherintellectualfaculty.Brucecametoaseminar.Isaid,“Turnyourannualincomeintoamonthlyincome.”He’stheprincipalofaschool.Sowhatdidhedo?Heturnedhisannualincomeintohismonthlyincome.Heshockedhimselfwithwhathecouldearn.You’llbeamazedatwhatyoucandowhenyouhavethewill.
WhenDr.WernhervonBraunwasaskedbyPresidentKennedywhatitwouldtaketobuildarockettotakeamantothemoon,heansweredwithjust
fivewords.Hedidn’tsayyou’regoingtohavetogetallthetopscientistsintheworldtogetherandreallybrainstormand...hedidn’tsayanyofthat.WhenheansweredKennedy,heansweredhiminthesefivewords:“Thewilltodoit.”
Whatdoyouneedtogettowhereyouwanttogo?Well,firstofall,wheredoyouwanttogo?Youneedthewilltodoit.Doyouknowwhereyouwanttogo,Linda?Areyousure?Youdoknow?That’sallyouneedisthewilltodoit.Doyouknowwhereyouwanttogo,Michelle?Youdoknow.That’sallyouneed:thewilltodoit.Doyouknowwhereyouwanttogo,Mike?Youdon’tknowwhereyouwanttogo.Well,you’reprobablynotgoingtogoanywherethen.Butthat’swhatittakes.
Whatisthewill?Thewillisamentalfacultythatgivesyoutheabilitytofocus.Youtakethispowerthat’sflowingintoyourconsciousness—ifyoucouldseeit,itwouldbelikeafunnelflowingrightintothecrownofyourhead.Andasitflowsintoyourconsciousness,youhavetheabilitytoturnitintoapicture.
Let’sthinkaboutitforaminute.Let’ssupposethatIgetupandhangasignonthatwallandIturnoutallthelightsandthenIlightacandle.WiththecandlelightI’mtryingtoreadthesignonthatwall.ButIcan’treadit.It’snotthatthere’snotenoughcandlepower.Thereis.It’sjustthatit’snotbeingdirectedtothepicture.Someofitisgoingthere(pointing),someofitiscomingonme.Someofitisgoingupthere,downthere,overthere.
Well,ifItookthesamecandlepowerandIputitinaflashlight,noneofitwouldbewasted.I’dmarshalthatenergyandI’dfocusitononespot.That’swhathappenswithyourmindwhenyoumarshaltheenergythat’sflowingintoyourconsciousness.Thewillgivesyoutheabilitytofocusononeimagetotheexclusionofalloutsidedistractions.
IfI’mstandingbehindyouinamallandI’mstaringatyou,you’llfeelit,won’tyou?Youwillfeelit.Ifmystaringisreallystrong,you’rereallygoingtofeelit.You’llgetaveryuncomfortablefeeling.What’shappening?Iamstaringatyou.I’vegotoneidea—it’syou—onthescreenofmymind.I’msendingthatenergy—it’sjustrifle-firingrightintoyourbrain.I’msendingcellsrightintoyourbrain.It’scausinganuncomfortablefeeling.You’llturnaroundandyou’llseeme,andI’llturnaway.Feelingisconsciousawarenessofvibration.
Doyouknowwhatthepictureorimageyou’vecreatedinyourminddoes?Itmarshalstheenergy.Itincreasestheamplitudeofvibration,andtheenergyflowcomingfromyouisincreaseddramatically.Itbecomesmuchmorepowerful.
Thewilltodoit.That’swhatgotustothemoon.That’swhatgotustodoeverythingwe’redoing.Thewillgivesyoupower.
Thenyou’vegotyourimagination.Yourmarvelousimagination.It’sabsolutelycriminalthewaywe’vetreatedourimaginationandthewaywewere
taughttodoit.Whydowehavegreatbigcorporationsandweaklittlecreativedepartments?Whydowesitthereandtalkaboutwhywecan’tdosomethingwhenallwehavetodoistotallyrelax,letourimaginationgo,seeourselvesdoingitandWow,Icanseeit!!Icanseethatgreatbigcompany.Icanseeusoperatingallovertheworld.
Isatinaroom—inalittleroom—inahouseonMaplewoodLaneinGlenview,Illinois,andItookmypenandIwrotedown“I’mgoingtohaveacompanythat’lloperateallovertheworld,”andnowIhaveacompanythatoperatesallovertheworld.Ithinkweoperateinninety-somecountriesrightnow.NowIwanttodo$100million.IwanttoexpandwhatI’mdoing.Iwanttodoitinabiggerway.Why?BecauseIwantto.BecauseIwantto.That’sallyouhavetoknow.Ijustwantto.
You’rethinking,Well,theremustbesomereasonwhyyouwantto.Yeah.Iwantto.That’swhy.Ijustwantto.Well,whatareyougoingtodowiththemoney?Idon’tknow.Maybegiveitaway.Itdoesn’tmatterwhatIdowithit.See,we’lldosomethingwithitandwe’lltryanddoitconstructively.Wecertainlydon’twanttojustsitandcountitallthetime—pileitupandoh,lookatallthemoney!Whatdoyouwanttodothatfor?It’saninstrumentthatweputtowork.Wewanttoputittoworkdoingsomethingthatwe’dhavefundoing.That’sconstructive.Somethingthatservesusandservesothers.
“Yousee,theimagination,”Hillsaid,“isthemostmarvelous,miraculous,inconceivablypowerfulforcetheworldhaseverknown.Youcanbuildcastlesinyourmind.”
Waybackin1970,IworkedforKemmonsWilsonandWallaceJohnsonattheHolidayInnMemphis–UniversityofMemphis,Tennessee.In1950therewasn’toneHolidayInn.In1970thereweremoreHolidayInnsthantheHilton,RamadaandSheratonchainscombined.Theywerebuildinganewroomeverythirteenminutes!Doyouknowwhy?Wilsonhadgoneonavacationwithhisfamily,andhewasappalledatthestateofthehotelsontheroad,atwhatitcostthemforkids.HediscusseditwithJohnsonandtheythought,Whydoesn’tsomebodybuildafinechainofhotelsandletthekidsstayfornothing?Andthat’sexactlywhattheydecidedtodo.That’swheretheHolidayInnscamefrom.
KemmonsWilsonandWallaceJohnsonbuiltthose.ThentheysoldouttotheBassCorporationandWallaceJohnsondied.KemmonsWilsonateightywasbored.HestartedtobuildtheWilsonInns,andbeforehediedhebuiltone
hundredofthem.Healsowroteabook:HalfLuckandHalfBrains.I’vegotanautographedbookfromhim.
Agehasnothingtodowithit!It’syourthinkingthathaseverythingtodowithit.It’showyouuseyourimagination.Wheredidwegettheideathatagemadeadifferenceorgendercouldmakeadifference?Whydoesawomanearn70percentofwhatamanearns?Whothoughtofthatidea?Whatvalidityistheretoit?There’snone!Butyouknowsomething,ifyouandIgraduatedaselectricalengineersandwebothwentoutandgotajobrighthereinthiscitytoday,Iwouldearnmorethanyouinalmostallcompanies.Why?BecauseI’maman.You’llsay,“Well,that’snotright.”Itdoesn’tmatterwhetherit’srightornot,that’swhattheydo.Idon’tknowwhyeverywomandoesn’tgointobusinessforherselfandfireallthemen.Womenliterallyrunourcompany.Theyliterallyrunthecompany.Wedidn’tjusthirewomentorunthecompany.Theyjusthappentorunthecompany.
Think!Youcandoanythingyouwant.Youcandowhateveryouwant.It’stheimagination.Usetheimagination.Understandthatthat’swhereeverythingstartsforyou.Butwhenyougetthepictureintheimagination,don’tletitgo,andsay,“Ahhh,thatwasnice.Yeah,Ireallyenjoyeddoingthat,butit’sjustanidea.”Whatareyoutalkingabout?It’sdirectionforyourlife.It’sinspirationforyou.It’llkeepyoualive.Itwillgiveyoujuiceallthedaysofyourlife.
Everybody’sgotaperfectmemory.Ifwehavetime,I’llgetyoutodemonstratethat.Icouldshowyouhowtorememberahundredthingsjustlikethat.JerryLucaswasteachingpeopletomemorizetheBibleinSanFranciscoanumberofyearsago.Wehadapsychiatrist,Abdullah,infromSaudiArabia,andhewasteachingpeoplehowtomemorizetheKoran.Mostpeoplecan’tremembertheirphonenumber.Wehaveaperfectmemory.
Thenyouhaveintuition.WeweretalkingandIwastellingAndywhathewaslike,andIwasn’tjustfairlyaccurate,Iwasveryaccurate,wasn’tI?Yes.Yousee.Andhe’ssaying,“Well,howdoyoudothat?”Youbecomeaware...it’syourintuitivefactor,youpickitupandyoureadit.You’regoingtofindthatgoodpoliceofficersareveryintuitive.Goodcustomsagentsareintuitive.IremembertherewasacustomsagentattheTorontoairport.Stringerwashislastname,JimStringer.Igottoknowhimwhilegoingthroughtheairport.Igottoknowtheguysincustomsbytheirfirstnames.ThenIsawinthepaperthatJimhaddied.Hewasafairlyyoungman;hewasonlyinhisforties.IrememberIgothisaddress,andIsentacardtohiswifebecauseIreallylikedtheguy.WeusedtostopandtalkalotandsomethingIdidn’tknowabouthimisthathewasoneofthetopagentsouthereattheairport.Hepickedoutmorepeoplesmugglingdrugsintothecountryanddifferentthingsthananybodyelsethere.It
washisintuition.Theywroteaboutitinthenewspaperandsaidhewasaveryintuitiveperson.Hejustsensedthatyouwerebreakingthelaw,anditturnedouthewasright.
Yourintuitionisoneofyourfaculties.It’sahigherfacultyandit’sinyourconsciousmind.Itenablesyoutotuneintolifeonasubconscious,universallevel.Itenablesyoutopickupotherpeople’senergyandtranslateit,soyouknowwhatthey’rethinking.Youdon’thavetobewiththem,becausethisisnotphysical.Theycouldbeontheothersideoftheglobeandyouwillstillpickuptheirenergy.Youwillfeelit.It’syourintuitivefactorthatdoesthat.Ittranslatestheenergythatyoupickupsoyoucanknowwhat’sgoingon.
Thenofcourseyouhavereason.That’swhatgivesyoutheabilitytothink.Yourimaginationisapowerfulmentalfaculty.Imaginationisthemental
facultyoutofwhichvisionsarise.Itdealswiththemightbeelementinyourlife.Yourimaginationallowsyoutogointothefutureandbringthefuturebackintothepresentandactlikethepersonyouwanttobecome.NapoleonHilldescribedtheimaginationas“themostmarvelous,miraculous,inconceivablypowerfulforcetheworldhaseverknown.”Andyouownit.Imaginationgaveustheelectriclight,theballpointpen,airtravel,thecomputerchip;everythingyouseethatwasmadebymanwasfirstoriginatedinsomeone’simagination.
Andthenwehavethememory.There’snosuchthingasabadmemory.Thereareonlyweakmemories.Memoryisamentalmusclethatcanbestrengthenedinexactlythesamemannerphysicalmusclesarestrengthened—throughrepetitious,perfectpractice.Mostpeoplesaypracticemakesperfect.Thetruthisperfectpracticemakesperfect.
Youcanuseallsixofthosehighermentalfaculties(will,perception,intuition,memory,imaginationandreason)tocreatemagicinyourmind.Infact,ourinstitutebuiltaprogramonthedevelopmentofyourhigherfaculties,anditiscalled“TheMagicinYourMind.”
Let’stakealookatthefollowinggraphic:
Yousee,you’vegottheconsciousmind,thesubconsciousmindandthebody.Theconsciousmindisyourthinkingmind.That’swhereyourthoughtsareformed—youcanentertainthoughtsthere.Thesubconsciousistheemotionalmind.
Soyoubuildideasandyourdreaminyourconsciousmind,youimpressthemuponyoursubconsciousmindandwhatdoesthatdo?Thathastobeexpressedthroughthebodybecausethebodyistheinstrumentofthemind.Sothebodymovesintoactionandproducesaresult.
Hereiswhatitlookslike:
Butthen,yousee,wegobacktothatoldparadigm.Wethink,Whatwouldtheythink?Imean,ifsomeofthepeopleIworkwithseemeactingthatway,they’llask,“Whodoyouthinkyouare?”Andthey’dstarttalkingaboutme.Idon’twantthemtalkingaboutme.
Youdon’twantthemtalkingaboutyou.Imean,whatwouldyousay?Whatareyougoingtosaytoyourhusband?Areyougoingtotellyourwife?She’sgoingtosay,“Whoareyoutryingtobe?Growup.Beyourself!”Whatyoushouldsayis,“That’swhatIam!”Becauseifyoueverknewwhoselfwas—man,I’dshockyouifIshowedyouself.
Canyouseewherethisridiculousconflictisgoingoninside?
H
CLASSSIXTEEN
THEONLYTHINGYOUCANCONTROL
ShiftingfromReactingtoResponding
owmanyofyouknowpeoplewhoareconstantlyreactingtosituationsoutside?Iknowalotofpeoplelikethat.Theyreacttoeverythingthat’s
goingonoutside.Theyreact.Ifit’spositive,man,they’refuntobearound.Butifit’snegative,put’emouttopasturebecausethey’rehellonwheels.Theyreacttoeverythingthat’sgoingon.They’renotinchargeoftheirlife!
Iwasteachingsomekidsthedifferencebetweenreactingandresponding.Iwastalkingtoonelittlegirlwhowassayingshegotintroubleinschool.Iaskedherwhyandshesaidbecauseshehitoneoftheboys.Iaskedwhyandshesaidbecause“he’sstupid.”
Isaid,“Well,oddsareprettygoodthathe’snotgoingtogetbrightforquiteawhile...andyougotintroubleforit.”
Shesaid,“Yes.”Isaid,“Whydidyouhithim?”Shesaid,“Becauseofthethingshewassaying.”Isaid,“Isee.OK.Whydon’tyoulearnanewwaytorespondtothese
situations?Youknow,IhavebeenaroundtheparkforquiteawhileandIhavefoundthatboysdon’tmatureveryfast,andsomeofthemneverdo.Butyou’regoingtobearoundthemandifyou’regoingtoreacteverytimethattheydosomethingdumb,thenyou’llbegoingaroundinareactionarystateallthetime.
Whenaboyactsdumb,whydon’tyoujustsaytoyourself,‘Well,thatwassuredumbofhim.I’mgladI’mnotlikethat.’Thengoaboutyourbusiness.Youwouldn’thavegottenintroublebecauseyou’renotgoingtochangehisbehavioranyway.”
Whenyoureact,youputthesituationorthepersonincontrolofyou.Whenyourespond,youstayincontrol.That’sthedifferencebetweenreactingandresponding.That’snotabigdealtolearn,butI’mtellingyouthatwhenyoulearnit,itisabigdeal.
Nowlet’slookatthegraphicagain:
There’stheconsciousmind.Allright.Theconsciousmindbuildspictures.Youthink.Youtakethosepictures.They’reyourdreams.Andyouimpressthosedreamsuponthesubconsciousmind.Sothepictureyouhold,youimpressuponyoursubconsciousmind.Thatideaisthenexpressedthroughthebodyintoaction.Theactionsetsupareaction.See,theLawofAttractionisactuallytheuniversereactingtotheenergythatyou’rein.Andtheaction/reactionalterstheconditions,circumstancesandenvironment,orinthevernacular,whatwecalltheresults.
That’stheprocess.Let’sgobackoveritagain.Youbuildthepictureintheconsciousmind.Thisiswhereyoubuildyourdream.Youtakethatdreamandyougetemotionallyinvolvedwithit.Youletyourselfgetemotionallyinvolved.Youactuallyfeelitallhappening.Thatwillchangeyouremotionalstate.“Feeling”isawordweinventedtodescribeourconsciousawarenessofvibration.Thatfeelingorvibrationisexpressedinaction.Theactionsetsupa
reaction.Theaction/reactionthenaltersourconditions,circumstancesandenvironmentinourlife.
Sowhatdowewanttounderstand?Wewanttounderstandthatourresults(theconditions,circumstancesandenvironment)arecausedbywhat’sgoingoninourmind.Thereactionisactuallytheattraction.
It’saprettysimpleconcept.Wouldyouagree?That’showitworks.Who’sgotquestionsonthis?
STUDENT:Thethingswesayaboutspiritandthinking—theproblemIhavenowisputtingittoaction.Iknowthereisaspirit,butIdon’tknowhowtomaketheactionhappen.Whenyou’retalkingsometimesIdon’tbelieveit,butIthink,OK,Bobhasenoughexperience,I’msureit’strue!Andthat’sonething.ThentheotherthingisabouttheLawofGiving—really,Iamhererightnow,itmightbeselfish—butIwanttogetrichmyself.I’mnotthinkingaboutgettingmoneytogiveatthispoint.Iwanttogetmoneymyself.
BOB:Whydoyouwantit?
STUDENT:Iwanttoenjoyit.
BOB:Howareyougoingtoenjoyit?
STUDENT:Thelifestyle.Myfamily.
BOB:Nowwaitaminute.It’sforyourfamily.Whatareyougoingtodowiththemoney?Areyougoingtogiveittoyourfamily?Let’sstaywiththisforamoment.Let’ssupposeyouearnallkindsofmoneyandyoujustkeepitinyourroominadrawerandeverynowandthenyougoandcountit.Youdon’tshareanythingwiththefamily—“No,getoutofhere!I’mnotgoingtogiveittoyou!”—You’dbeamiserableoldmanprettysoon,wouldn’tyou?
STUDENT:Well,wecouldbuyhouses...
BOB:Youwanttosavesomeofthesethingsandshareitwiththem.
STUDENT:Sure.
BOB:Youwon’tenjoyituntilyoudo.Ifyougetanewcar,youdon’treallyenjoythecaruntilyoushowittosomebody.Yousharethebeautyorthecomfortofthecarwithsomebodyandthey’llsay,“Gosh,thisisreallynice.”Youdon’tenjoyanythinguntilyoushareit.Idon’tcareifit’sasunset.You
couldbesittingtheresaying,“Wow,lookatthat.Isn’tthatbeautiful!”Butifthere’ssomebodyelsethereandyousay,“Lookatthat!Wow!Lookatthat!!,”youenjoyitmore,don’tyou?
Youshouldwillinglygiveandgraciouslyreceive.It’samatterofkeepingthingsmoving.Keepitinthecycle.Circulation.
STUDENT:ButIfeelIdon’thaveenoughmoneytogivenow.
BOB:Givewhatyou’vegot.
STUDENT[laughing]:Butthat’snotmygoalnow.Mygoalistogetmoney.
BOB:Iunderstandexactlywhereyou’recomingfromandaswegetinvolvedinthisIthinkyou’regoingtogettheanswertothat.Youwill.Doyouwanttoknowsomething?Thereareawholelotofpeoplehereinexactlythesamespot,thinkingI’llgiveitifIgetit,butIwanttogetit!Youarenotonyourown.We’llshowyou.You’llsee.
BOB:Anybodyelsehaveaquestiononthis?Yes.
STUDENT:Inyourmodel,wereactbecausethereissomeaction.Andthenyousaidthatwewereattractedtothataction.Canyouexplainthatfurther?
BOB:You’vegottocometogripswiththisinyourmind.You’vegottoactorrespondinacontrolledway—awaythatattractswhatyouwantinsteadofwhatyoudon’twant.Whenyoureact,youareattractingwhatyoudon’twant.Inotherwords,youwanttorespondinsteadofreactandthenwhatyouwantwillcomeback.
STUDENT:Whydosomanypeoplereact?
BOB:Wereactbecausewe’vebeentrainedtoreact.Weletwhat’sgoingonoutsideofuscontrolofus.Ifwecouldstopandobservewhat’sgoingonaroundusandstopreactingtoit,wewouldbewayfurtherahead.SoIthinkthatwhathappenswhenwechangeiswestarttodothat.Westarttoobserveandnotreactandwhenwefindourselvesgoingtoreact,westop.We’vegottofirstbecomeawareofwhatwe’redoing.Wedon’tchangeitrightaway.
I’llgiveyouagoodexampleofchangingwhat’sgoingon.WhenIwasalittlekid,I’dsay,“Areyouscoming?”Iftherewasmorethanoneitwouldbe
“Areyouscoming?”Thatwasverynaturaltome.It’smorethanonesoit’syous,notyou.Therearethree,fourorfiveofyou!Mrs.GregorywasmybuddyJack’smother.WeusedtobearoundtheirhouseandMrs.Gregorywouldalwayssay,“Bob,it’snot‘yous,’it’s‘you.’”SoIthought,She’sreallydumb.There’smorethanone,howcoulditbe“you”?Shedidnotletup.Everytime—“Bob,it’snot‘yous,’it’s‘you.’”Shekeptitupandkeptitup.ThenIgottoapointwhereI’dsay“Areyouscoming?”andI’dbeawareIsaidit.Icouldhearmyselfsayingit.ThenIgottothepointwhereI’dstopwhenIwasgoingtosay“Areyouscoming?”andI’dsay“Areyoucoming?”Itfeltveryuncomfortable.AndnowwheneverIhearanybodysay“Areyouscoming?”IseeMrs.Gregory!
Youfirsthavetobecomeawareofwhatyou’redoing.Youhavetobecomeawarethatyou’rereactingtosituations.Thenyouhavetostopyourself.Somethinginsidewantsyoutoreact.You’regoingtostrikeback.You’regoingtoreact.You’vegottostopyourselffromreactingandtakecontrolofthesituation.Sometimestherewillbenoreactiononyourpartatall.Youwillnotdoanything.Youwilltakenoaction.Youjustobserveandletitgo.Thisisnotaneasythingtolearn.ButI’mgoingtotellyou—thecompensationforlearningitisastronomical.Itisreallygood.
I
CLASSSEVENTEEN
THINKYOURDREAMSINTOREALITY
ThinkingYourDreamsintoBeing
usedtomentoramanwhohadmoremoneythananyoneIknow.Hehada120-footyachtthathewouldsailintheCaribbean,andthenhewouldshipthe
yachttotheMediterraneanandsailintheMediterranean.HehadabeautifulplaceinCapd’AntibesinthesouthofFrance.HehadanotherplaceinGstaad.HehadabeautifulplaceinEatonSquareinLondon.IfItookyouinthereandtoldyouitwasPrinceCharles’scondo,youwouldhavebelievedme.ThismanwasverywealthyandusedtoflymedowntohisyachtintheMediterraneanortheCaribbeanormaybeovertoCapd’Antibes.Iwouldworkwithhimforthreeorfourdays,formanythousandsofdollars,andmyjobwastogethimtogobacktowork.
That’sright...hewouldn’twork!Iguesshewouldn’tworkbecausehewasraisedtobelievethatyouworkedtoearnmoney,whichhehadmorethanenoughof.That’safoolishidea,bytheway,theideathattheendgoalofworkistoearnmoney.That’sactuallytheworstwaytoearnmoney.Butatanyrate,Ididmyjob,Ididgethimtogotowork,andwhenIdid,Iwasoutofwork.Ienjoyedworkingwithhim.
OnethingthatreallystruckmeaboutthisclientisthefactthathewouldplayLouisArmstrong’ssong“WhataWonderfulWorld”everymorning.Everymorningwecouldhearitthroughoutthevessel,throughouttheplace,wherever
wewere.Itwouldplayoverandoverandoveragain,andIthought,Youknow,there’ssomethingtothat!
IsuggestyouputthatsongonaniPodorsomethingandwakeuptoiteverymorning.Youmightwanttoget“ICanSeeClearlyNow”byJohnnyNashand“Pretend”byNatKingCole,too,whileyou’reatit.Youknowhowthatonegoes:
Pretendyou’rehappywhenyou’reblueItisn’tveryhardtodoAndyou’llfindhappinesswithoutanendWheneveryoupretend
Ifyouplaysongslikethatallthetime,you’regoingtoprogramyourmind.Atfirst,you’lljustpretend.Butprettysoon,you’llfindhappinesswithoutend.
Here’swhy:Referbacktothestickpersongraphic.Youseetheconsciousmind,the
subconsciousandthebody.Here’swhatwewanttoknow—theconsciousmindisthethinkingmind.Itisalsotheeducatedmind.Thisisthepartofthemindthatschoolreallyfocuseson.ThisiswheretheintellectandallthoseintellectualfactorsIwastalkingaboutareresident—intheconsciousmind.
Theemotionalmindisquitedifferentfromtheconsciousmind.Forthepsychmajors,theconsciousmindisinductiveanddeductive.Inotherwords,theconsciousmindhastheabilitytoacceptandrejectbutitalsohastheabilitytojustaccept.OK.Thesubconsciousistotallydeductive.Inotherwords,ithasnoabilitytoreject.Theconsciousmindhastheabilitytochoose.Asthispowerflowsintoyourconsciousmind,youcanchoosewhattodowithit.Youcanchooseanythingyouwanttothink.Youcanthinkanythingyouwanttothink.
Thisishugewhenyouthinkaboutit.There’sapowerflowingthroughyou.Therearesomethingsyouthinkyouhavetodo.Therearesomethingsyouthinkyoucan’tcontrol.Thereisonlyonethingyoucancontrol—andthat’syou.Youcan’tcontrolanythingelse.Youcancontrolyourperceptionofsomethingelse.Youcancontrolhowyourespondtoit.Butyou’reincontrolofyou.Youhavetheabilitytochoose.Youhavetheabilitytoacceptorrejectanyidea.Youknowwhatyouhearontelevision—youcanrejectitall.Youdon’thavetoacceptanyofit.Whentheytalkabouttheeconomygoingdownthetubes—rejectit.Someonecomesalongandtheypointout,“Well,thesearethefactsandyou’vegottopayattentiontothem!”Youdon’thavetopayattention.Youcanrejectit.
Idon’thavetopayattentiontosomethingthatIdonotwanttopayattentionto.Godgavemetheabilitytochoose.I’mgoingtochoosetorejectallthatjazz.
Whenyourejectit,youhavetheabilitytooriginateathought.Ifyoucouldseeabeautifulpower,it’sflowingintoyourconsciousness.It’slikeafunnel.It’sflowingtoandthroughyou.Whenitflowsintoyouithasnoform.Ithasnoform.It’sapure,unadulterated,creativeenergythat’sflowingintoyourconsciousmind.Youhavetheabilitytochoose.Whateveryouchoose,andyouimpress,yoursubconsciousmindmustaccept.Ithasabsolutelynoabilitytoreject.Yoursubconsciousmindistotallydeductive.
Nowthisisthepartthatyoureallywanttotryandgrasp.Yoursubconsciousmindcannotdifferentiatebetweenwhat’srealandwhat’simagined.IfIputyouinahypnoticstate,Icouldcauseyoutosweat.Icouldhaveyoubelievingthatitwas120degreesinthisroom.AndthenasecondlaterIcouldhaveyoushiveringbecauseit’ssocold.Thetemperatureintheroomdidn’tchange,butyourperceptionofthetemperatureintheroomchangedbecauseoftheideaIputinyourmind.
Icouldturnmybodyasrigidasthistable.It’scalledcatalepsy.BecauseItellit,itisstiffandrigid.WhateverItellittodo.It’smybody.Yourbodyisaninstrumentofthemind.Whenyoubuildanimageinyourmindofwhatyouwant,you’vegottounderstandthatyoursubconsciousmindcannotrejectit.Itistotallysubjective.Onehundredpercent.Anditcannotdifferentiatebetweenwhat’srealandwhat’simagined.Itmustacceptit.
WhatIjustcoveredthere—it’sthemostimportantthingyoucouldeverlearn.Here’syouandmetoday.There’sapower.It’sflowingintoyour
consciousness.You’vegotthenewspaper...theradio...theTV...younameit.They’reallflowingintoourconsciousmind.Becausewehaveareasoningfactor—rememberwesaidthatreasonwasoneoftheintellectualfactors—that’swhatgivesustheabilitytothink.Wecansay,“I’mnotgoingtoacceptthat.I’mnotgoingtothinkthat.I’mnotgoingtolistentothat.”WecanjustsayI’mrejectingitandyoucouldgetridofit.
Butwedon’tdothat.Whatdowedo?I’lltellyouexactlywhatwedo.Weleaveourmindwideopenwhenthatstuffcomesalong.Wedon’tevenreasonwithit.Weleaveourmindwideopenanditgoesdirectlytooursubconsciousmind.Whydowedothat?Becausewe’reprogrammedtodoit.That’swhereourparadigmis.
Holdyourhandforamomentlikethis—putitonyourchinforasecond,wouldyoudothat?Comeon.Where’syourchin?Whatareyoudoingupthere(putshandoncheek)?Why’dyougothere?BecauseIdid.IfIwalkedoffacliff,wouldyoufollowme?Comeon!!Followme!!Youknowwhatwashappening?
Youweren’tthinking!Yoursubconsciousmindwaswideopen!YoudidexactlywhatIdid!
That’sthewaywelive.Weseeallthosepeopleoutthereandwe’rejustfollowinglikesheep...“Thatmustbethewaytogo!They’reallgoingthatway!!”No,that’sreallynotthewaytogo!There’snobusinessthere.Allthebusinessisdownhere.See.Youseetwoorthreepeoplegoingdownandgettingallthebusiness.Whydowedothat?Thatiswhatyouhavebeenraisedtodo!It’slikespeakingthelanguageyouspeak.It’slikelikingthefoodyoulike.Whydoyoulikeit?Youdidn’tdecideyoulikethefood.Yousay,“Oh,Idecided.”No,youdidn’t.Whydoyouspeakthelanguageyouspeak?Youweretrainedtospeakthelanguage.
Asaninfant,yoursubconsciousmindiswideopen.Whateverisgoingonaroundyougoesrightintoyoursubconsciousmind.Iwantyoutothinkofthisforamoment.Wecantakeababyinanypartoftheworldandbeforethatbabyisfourorfiveyearsold—beforesheevengoestoschool,thatbabycouldlearnfivelanguages,speakfivelanguagesfluently.That’snotuncommoninsomepartsoftheworld.IhadanassociateinKualaLumpurwhoselittleboyatfouryearsoldcouldspeakfourlanguages.Nobodythoughtanythingofit.Therewerepeoplearoundwhowerespeakingfourlanguages.Thelittleboyspokefourlanguages.Here,I’mstilllearningone.
Doyouknowthatyoucanteachababytoreadbeforethebabycantalk,andthenwhenthebabycantalkyoucangivehimabookandhe’llreadittoyou?Remember,thesubconsciousmindwillacceptwhateveryougivetoit.It’swideopen.
Well,ifyougointoawelfarearea,almostallwelfarerecipientsarethird-,fourth-,fifth-generationwelfarerecipients.Didyourmotherloveyou?Sowegobackthroughallthatcrap.Let’ssupposewefindtheproblem.Youstillhavetheproblem!Whywouldyouspendallthattimelookingfortheproblem?Whenyoufindit,youstillhaveit!That’saformofpsychoanalysisIthink,isn’tit?Let’sthrowthatout.Let’sjustsaythat’spartofthepast.Howaboutpsychotherapy?Thatwouldbealittlebitmoreprogressive.Doesthatmakesense?
OK.So,howdowegetallofthoseideas?Well,overandoverandoverthatinformationisprogrammedintothesubconsciousmind.Lookatthisforamoment.Thebaby’smindiswideopen.Shewillacceptwhateveryougivetoit.That’sthelanguagethebabylearns.Thebaby’sself-imageisbuiltataveryearlyage—beforethebabyevenhastheabilitytothink,beforetheconsciousfacultieshaveevenbeenformed.Thischildcannoteventhinkandyetthebabyisbuildingaself-image—whatthebabythinksofherself.Thetruthisthis...
thebabyishavingtheself-imagebuiltforherandmoreoftenthannot,thepersonbuildingitisignorantabouthumanpotential.Youfindachildwho’sraisedwithalotofpraiseandthatchild’sgoingtogrowupveryconfident.Youfindachildwho’sraisedwithalotofcriticism,he’sgoingtogrowupveryinsecure.Youcanputwhateveryouwantintothebaby’smind.Putitinoverandoverandover.
Whydoyoulikethefoodyoulike?Youwereprogrammedtolikeit.Whydoyouspeakthelanguage?Youwereprogrammedtospeakit.Whydoyouhavetheprejudicesyouhave?Youwereprogrammedtohavethem.Whydoesoneraceofpeoplethinkthey’resuperiortoallothers?We’redifferentcolors,differentshapes,differentsizesanddifferentgenders.Youknowsomething—there’sonecommondenominator—there’sonemind.Weareallanexpressionofexactlythesamething.
Oh,nowallthisconditioning—thatconditioningturnsintowhatisself-image,butself-imageisonlyoneidea.Whatwereyousurroundedby?Lookatthisforaminute.
RobertHeinleinwasasciencefictionwriterinthe1960s.HewroteaboutaStrangerinaStrangeLand,whichistrue,“Intheabsenceofclearlydefinedgoals,webecomestrangelyloyaltoperformingdailytriviauntilultimatelywebecomeenslavedbyit.”
Thisistrueaboutmostpeople.Theybecomeenslavedbytrivia.That’salltheyknow!Trivia!Nothing.There’snotacreativethoughtthatcomesoutoftheminyears.Andtheywonderwhythey’renotenjoyinglife.Whathappened?Life’spassedmeby.Whatdoyoumeanlife’spassedyouby?
Well,ifyou’resurroundedbypeoplewhoselivesarefilledwithdailytrivia,oddsareprettygoodthatyourlifeis,too.Ifyouhadpeoplearoundwhileyouweregrowingupbelievingthatitwasdifficulttoearnmoney,oddsareprettygoodyoubelievethat,too.Ifyouweresurroundedbypeoplewhenyouweregrowingupwhostruggledjusttomakeendsmeet,they’regoodpeople,theyjustdon’thavemuch,butthey’regood.Ifyougrewuparoundpeoplewhothoughtthere’ssomethingwrongwithhavingmoney,richpeoplearen’thappy,Iknowrichpeoplewholaugh.Whydidwegrowupwiththeseideas?Wegrewupwithalltheprejudicesandallthescrewed-upthinkingofthepeoplewe’resurroundedby.
Yousay,“ButIlovemyparents.”Well,Iloveminetoobuttheydidn’treallyhaveitverywellputtogether.Myfather...Ineverreallyknewhim.Hewassortofaloserwholeftearly.Mymotherwasabeautifulperson,ahard-workingwoman,butworkedhardallherlife.See.Whatwereweprogrammedtodo?
Let’sjustchangethethinking.Let’sreprogramthemind.
T
CLASSEIGHTEEN
YOUDON’TNEEDTODOITALL
ThePowerofaMastermind
here’sastoryaboutmywife,Linda,thatIwastellingtheconsultantstheotherday.Sherentedatwo-thousand-square-footspaceandwemetwitha
manfromToday’sBusinesswhoIwasdoingseminarsfor;theyfurnishoffices.Theydress’emup,youknow,doarealnicejob.Shehiredthemtocomeinanddoheroffice.Theyhadtherightkindoffurnitureandcarpets.Everything!Soshegotallthesedesks,allthese...alotoffurniture,let’sputitthatway—twothousandsquarefeetoffurniture—andshestartedherownbusiness.Isaid,“You’vegottogetpeopletostartworkingwithyou!”Lindagotpeopleworkingbutshewasinfaroverherhead.
Iwenthomeonedayandfoundherinthebedroomunderthecovers.Literally,underthecovers.Shehadthempulledupoverherhead.Whatdowedo?Wegobacktothewomb.Doyouevergetlikethat?Yougetscared.Youreverttothewomb.
That’swhereshewas.Isaid,“Linda,what’sthematter?”Shesaid,“Ican’tdothis!I’minovermyhead!”Whatshewantedmetodoisputmyarmaroundherandsay,“Honey,letme
doitforyou,I’llhelpyou.”Instead,Isaid,“Wellthen,quit!”AndIwalkedout.Doyouknowwhathappened?Shestraightenedupunderthosecoversand
said,“Youbastard—I’mnotquitting.”Ithought,Itworked!Shedidn’tquit.Shestartedtogo.
Youknow,there’salittlebookIhave:AsaManThinkethbyJamesAllen.Ilovethislittlebook.Hesays:“Amanonlybeginstobeamanwhenheceasestowhineandrevile,andcommencestosearchforthehiddenjusticewhichregulateshislife.”Astrongpersoncannothelpaweakerpersonunlessthatweakerpersonreallywantstobehelped,andeventhentheweakerpersonmustbecomestronghimself.Hemust,byhisownefforts,developthestrengththatheadmiresinanother.Nooneelsecanalterhiscondition.
See,Icouldn’tdoitforLinda.Shehadtochangeherwayofthinking,stopreactingtothecircumstancesandbegintousethemtodiscoverthehiddenpowerandpossibilitieswithinherself.Shehadtodoitforherselfsoshecouldgrow.
Backin1961IwassittingandtryingtofigureouthowIcouldearnthe$25,000Ihadwrittenonmycard.ThenRayshowedmeStep6inThinkandGrowRich.It’scalled“OrganizedPlanning.”Rightatthetopofapageitsays,“Beforeyoucanbesureofyourabilitytotransmutedesireintoitsmonetaryequivalent,youwillrequirespecializedknowledgeoftheservice,merchandise,orprofessionthatyouintendtoofferinreturnforfortune.”
You’vegottohavespecializedknowledgeifyou’regoingtoearnthemoney.AndIdidn’thaveanyspecializedknowledge.Ididn’tgotoschool.Ididn’thaveanybusinessexperience.Poorme.I’mputtingmyselfdown,youknow.I’mthinkingofeverythingIdidn’thave.RaytoldmethatuntilIstopputtingmyselfdownIwasnevergoingtogetup.HetoldmetostartthinkingofallthethingsIhadgoingformeandtoreallygetthatIdidn’thavetohavethespecializedknowledge.
Nowlet’slookatthispart—thisisjustfurtherdownonthesamepage.Thisisrathergood.Hillsaid,“Theaccumulationofgreatfortunescallsforpowerandpowerisacquiredthroughhighlyorganizedandintelligentlydirectedspecializedknowledge,butthatknowledge[myemphasis]doesnot,necessarily,havetobeinthepossessionofthe[person]whoaccumulatesthefortune.”
ThisisthesecondtimeIamsharinginformationfromMr.Carnegie...itissoimportant.AndrewCarnegiewasthewealthiestmanintheworldin1908.HewasapoorlittleScottishboywhocametoAmericawithhisparents.Hemadehismoneyinthesteelbusiness.Remember,hesaidinanotherpartofthebookthatheknewnothingaboutthemarketingormanufacturingofsteel,and
furthermore,hehadnoinclinationtolearn.Hegoteverythingheneededthroughtheaidofhismastermindgroup.
Ifyouthinkyouneeditall,forgetit.Youdon’tneeditall.IclearlylearnedthatIdon’tneeditall.There’sallkindsofthingsthatIdon’tknow.Ihavesurroundedmyselfwithsomeabsolutelyincredibleindividuals.Ifyougottoknowthepeopleinourcompany,youwouldbeveryimpressed.Wehavethemostphenomenalpeoplewhoyou’llevermeet.GinaHaydenisageniusinexecution.Man,shecanmakestuffhappen!Icango—itdoesn’tmatterwhereIgointheworld—andeverything’sreadyforme.IcangotoKiev—sevendifferentlanguagesweweredealingwith,alltranslatedsimultaneouslyinsevendifferentboothsintheback.Everythingjustfallsinplacelikeclockwork.WhenIgetofftheplane,there’salimowaitingthere.Idon’thavetoworryaboutanything.Ginamakeseverythinghappen.WehadSandyGallaghercomeintothecompany.Sheisanabsolutegeniuswithmoney.Ihaveneverseenanyonewhounderstandsmoneylikeshedoes.Shecanlookatafinancialstatementandseesomethingthattheaveragepersonwillneversee.Justageniuswhenitcomestomoney.MykieOylerhere—shewritessomecopy.I’llsay,“Where’dyougetthat?”She’llsay,“Iwroteit.”She’sgood,reallygood.Shewritessomeneatstuff.We’vegotsomephenomenalpeopleinthecompany.Absolutelyincredible.Everywhereyougo,you’regoingtofindsomephenomenalpeople.ArashVossoughiheadsupoursalesforce.Heistremendous.Youattractgreatpeoplewhenyoucontinuallyworkonyou.
Youneed“highlyorganizedandintelligentlydirectedspecializedknowledge.”Buthere’sthekeytoit—youdon’thavetohaveit.Now,watch.Youcanobtainthespecializedknowledge,savingyourselfyearsoftime-consumingstudyandhardship.Therearegoingtobepeoplewhowillbeabletohelpyou.Thewholeideaistoputasmuchoutthereasyoucan.Youjusthavetothinkofmorewaystohelppeople.Youdon’thavetoworryaboutwhat’sgoingtohappentoyou.Youwillfindthattheuniversewillrewardyouinabundance.Justthinkofhowyoucanhelpotherpeople.That’sallyouhavetothinkabout.
Youdon’thavetoknowhowtodoeverything.I’mjustverygoodatwhatIdo,andIgetotherstodoeverythingelse.
Doyouknowwhatthedefinitionofcreativityis?Noroutine.Itistheoppositeofroutine.Getoutofaroutine.Andyoucangetpeopletohelpyou.
Amastermindissomethingyougiveto,nottakefrom.Ifwe’reallgiving,it’sthatmastermindenergythataddstoallofus.Let’ssayMykieandIareinamastermind...weaddtoit,butcarefully.Mykiewillsay,“Let’saddMichelle.”Sosomething’sarrangedandIspendtimewithMichelle.ThenIcomebacktoMykieandsay,“Idon’tthinkso.”Idon’thavetotellherwhy.Theenergywasn’tthere.Notonthesamefrequency.Itdoesn’tmeananythingiswrong.ButmaybeMichelleandIareonthesamefrequencysoIsayyes,andit’sallthreeofusonthesamefrequency.We’reallinharmony.
It’snotabrainstormingsession.Arealmastermindiswheneveryonecomestogetherandthey’reinharmony.Mostpeopledon’thavearealmastermind.MarkVictorHansenandIhaveamastermind—weinvitepeoplefromtimetotime.That’swheretheMillionDollarForumcamefrom.It’saboutwhatyoucangive.Ifyougowiththatattitude—togive—you’llbeamazedbywhatyougetoutofit.
T
CLASSNINETEEN
IT’SYOURMOVE
ThePowerofDecision
hereisasinglementalmoveyoucanmakethat,inamillisecond,willsolveenormousproblemsforyou.Ithasthepotentialtoimprovealmostany
personalorbusinesssituationyouwilleverencounter...anditcouldliterallypropelyoudownthepathtoincrediblesuccess.I’mtalkingaboutdecision.
Youknow,infifty-plusyearsinthesamebusiness,youlearnsomethingifyoureallywanttomakethingsfly.Ihavefoundthatmostpeoplehavedifficultywithdecisions.Theylookataproblem,theyseeallthepossiblesolutions,buttheydon’tzeroinonone.Untilyouzeroinononeandtakeactiononit,nothinghappens.
Here’stypicallywhathappens.Wehaveastreamofthoughtsmovingthroughourmindandwepicksomethingthatwereallylike.Andwesay,“Youknowwhat?ThisiswhatIreallywanttohappen.”Andwesetatargettoshootat.
Buthere’sthemistakethatmostpeoplemake.Theysay,“I’mgoingtodothatassoonas...Ifindthemoney.I’mgoingtotakethatvacation...assoonasIfindthemoney.I’mgoingtoopenanotheroffice...assoonasIfindthemoney.”
Doyouknowsomething?You’renevergoingtofindthemoney.You’realwayslookingforwhatyouthinkyouneedtogettowhereyouwanttogoonthefrequencyofyourthoughts.Butitdoesn’tworkthatway.You’renotgoingtofindwhatyou’relookingforonthatlevel.You’vegottobecourageous.
You’vegottostepoutandsay,“I’mgoingtodothisandI’mgoingtodoitnow.”
EdmundHillarydidn’tknowhowtogettothetopofMountEverestuntilhegotthere.TheWrightbrothersdidn’tknowhowtogetintotheairuntiltheygotthere.Thesecondyoumakethedecision—Bingo!—youflipyourbrainontoadifferentfrequencyandtheappropriatethoughtsstartrollingintoyourmind.That’showitworks!
ThisisoneofthemostimportantlessonsI’veeverlearned.Ithashelpedmeearnmillions.Anditwillhelpyoutodothesame.
Theworld’smostsuccessfulpeopleareallabletomakedecisions.Decisionmakersgotothetopandthosewhocan’tmakedecisionsseemtogonowhere.Thinkaboutit.Decisionsorthelackofthemareresponsibleforthemakingorbreakingofcareers.
Individualswhohavebecomeproficientatmakingdecisions,withoutbeinginfluencedbythedecisionsofothers,arethesamepeoplewhoseannualincomesfallintothesix-andseven-figurecategories.Thepeoplewhoneverdevelopthementalstrengthtomakethesevitalmovesarerelegatedtothelowerincomeranksforalloftheircareers,andmoreoftenthannot,theirlivesbecomelittlemorethanadull,boringexistence.
Ofcourse,it’snotjustyourincomethatisaffectedbydecisions.Yourwholelifeisaffected.Thehealthofyourmindandbody,thewell-beingofyourfamily,yoursociallifeandthetypesofrelationshipsyoudeveloparealldependentuponyourabilitytomakesounddecisions.
Youwouldthinkthatanythingasimportantasdecisionmakingwouldbetaughtineveryschool.Butit’snot.Andtocompoundtheproblem,decisionmakingisnotonlymissingfromthecurriculumofalmostallofourformaleducationalinstitutions,ithasbeenleftoutofvirtuallyallofthetrainingandhumanresourcedevelopmentprogramsinourcorporatetrainingworld.
Atthispoint,youcouldbeaskingyourself,“HowamIexpectedtodevelopthisability?”Well,Ihavetheanswerforyou.Youhavegottodoitonyourown.Thegoodnewsisyou’vealreadybegunbythinkingaboutanddigestingtheinformationthatIamsharingwithyourightnow.Thisiscausingyoutobecomemoreawareoftheimportanceofmakingdecisions.
Mostofushaveweakdecision-makingmuscles...wedon’tevenrecognizewhatitmeanstomakearealdecision.Wefailtorealizetheforcethatatrulycongruent,committeddecisionmakes.
Partofourproblemisthatweusetheterm“decision”solooselythatithascometodescribeourwishes,notourcommitments.Insteadofmakingdecisions,westateourpreferences.Theword“decide”comesfromtheLatindecidere—therootsde-,meaning“off,”andcaedere,meaning“tocut”—therefore,makingadecisionmeanscuttingofffromanyotherpossibility.Atruedecision,then,meansyouarecommittedtoachievingaresult,andthencuttingyourselfofffromanyotherpossibility.
Aftermakingatruedecision,especiallyatoughone,youwillusuallyfeelatremendousburdenhasbeenliftedfromyourshoulders.
Committeddecisionsshowupintwoplaces:yourcalendarandyourcheckbook.Nomatterwhatyousayyouvalue,oreventhinkyourprioritiesare,youhaveonlytolookatlastyear’scalendarandcheckbooktoseethedecisionsyouhavemadeaboutwhatyoutrulyvalue.
Forexample,Iamcommittedtogrowth,bothprofessionallyandpersonally.Areviewofmycalendaralwaysshowsmultiplecontinuingeducationcourses,seminarsandworkshopsinbothmypersonalandprofessionallife.
Takealookatyourcalendartoseewhatitsaysaboutyourvalues.
I
CLASSTWENTY
WORKFROMTHEHIGHERTOTHELOWER
LeaveYourSensesOutofIt
nthissession,we’regoingtobreakdownthefirstpageofRaymondHolliwell’schapterontheLawofSuccessinhisbookWorkingwiththeLaw.
Thisisaphenomenalchapterthatwecantakesomegreatlessonsfrom.Forinstance,Holliwellsaid,“Godintendedeveryindividualtosucceed.Itis
God’spurposethatmanshouldbecomegreat.”Isn’tthatwonderful?GodintendedthatyouandIwouldbecomegreat.Inanotherbook,amannamedRobertRussellsaid,andIamparaphrasing,
thereisnosecrettobecominggreat.Youbecomegreatbydoinglittlethingsinagreatwayeveryday.
Soyoudon’thavetolookforsomethingreallybig.Startrightwhereyouare.Doyourbestateverythingyoudo.
Holliwellgoesontosay,“ItisGod’swillthatmanshouldnotonlyuse,butenjoy,everygoodintheuniverse.TheLawofGoddeniesmannothing.Manisborntoberich.”
IcreatedaprogramyearsagothatwasbasedoneverythingIhadlearnedatthetime.ItwascalledYouWereBornRichbecauseit’strue—youwerebornrich.Youhavedeepreservoirsoftalentandabilitywithinyou.You’reprobablyjustalittleshortofmoney.ButasHolliwellsayshere,“Thepowersinherentwithinyouareinexhaustible.”
Iwantyoutothinkaboutthatforamoment.Youhavepowersthatareinexhaustible!Thisisalaw.
Hesaid,“Eachnormalpersonisendowedwithacompletesetoffacultieswhich,ifproperlydevelopedandscientificallyapplied,willensuresuccess,ever-growingsuccess.”
ThegreatNapoleonHillsaid,“Aneducated[person]isnot,necessarily,onewhohasanabundanceofgeneralorspecializedknowledge.Aneducated[person]isonewhohassodevelopedthefacultiesofhismindthathemayacquireanythinghewants,oritsequivalent,withoutviolatingtherightsofothers.”
Butwe’renottaughttodevelopthosefaculties.We’retaughttolivebyourfivesenses.Doyouknowwhatthatdoes?Itprogramsustolivefromtheoutsidein.Itprogramsustolivefromthebottomup.WhatdoImeanbythat?Imean,welivefromthephysicaluptotheintellectualorthespiritual.You’relettingthephysicalcontrolthehigher,butitdoesn’tworkthatway.
Godworksfromthehighertothelower.Spiritalwaysmanifestsfromthehighertothelower,fromthenonphysicaltothephysical.Ifyou’regoingtoliveinharmonywiththelaw,that’sthewayyou’regoingtohavetowork.You’regoingtohavetoworkfromthethoughttothething,andnotfromthethingtothethought.
NowwhatdoImeanbythat?Imean,don’tletyourbankaccountdictateyourfinancialstatus.
OneofthethingsIaskpeoplewhentheyfirstcometoworkwithmeiswhat’sthemostyou’veeverearnedinayear?Irememberaskingoneofmyoldbusinesspartnersthatquestion.Hesaid,“$100,000.”Hewasprettyproudofitandthatwasprettygoodmoney.
Isaid,“IfyoudoexactlywhatItellyou,I’llshowyouhowtochangethatintoamonthlyincome.”Anddoyouknowthatwithinmonthshewasearningthatasamonthlyincome?That’swhatwedo.Weteachpeoplehowtoturntheirannualincomeintotheirmonthlyincomebysettingupmultiplesourcesofincome.
EarlierImentionedthatHolliwellsaidthateachnormalpersonhasacompletesetoffacultiesthatwillensuregreaterandgreatersuccesswhenthey’redevelopedproperly.We’vetalkedaboutthosefacultiesbeforesoIwon’tgointoanygreatdetailaboutthemnow.But,remember,youhaveperception—that’sthewayyoulookatlife,yourwill—thatteachesyoutoconcentrate,yourmemory.There’snosuchthingasabadmemory;youhaveperfectmemory.Youhavereason—that’syourabilitytothink—andyouhaveintuitionandimagination.Theseareallphenomenalmentaltools.Youcandevelopthemto
experiencegreaterandgreatersuccess.You’regoingtohavetousethemifyou’regoingtolivefromtheinsideout.
Holliwellgoeson:“Everymancontainswithinhimselfthecapacityforendlessdevelopment.”
Endlessdevelopment!Idon’tknowaboutyou,butthatexcitesme.I’vebeenworkingonthisnowforoverfifty-fiveyearsandIknowthatI’mgoingtostudyforthenextfifty-fiveyears.Ijustwanttokeepgettingbetteratit.
Nexthesays,“AdvancementintoallthingsistheLaw’sgreatpurpose.BylearningtoworkwiththeLawinpromotingthataim,manmaybuildhimselfintogreaterandgreatersuccess.”
Soyoumightsay,“Whatisthewinformeinreallystudyingtheselaws?”Well,that’sit!You’regoingtobuildyourselfintoagreaterandgreatersuccess.Now,that’saphenomenalidea!You’regoingtoearnmoremoney.Anditwilljustkeepgoing.Iwentfromearning$4,000ayeartoearningmillions.Andit’seasier.Idon’tworkashard.
NapoleonHillsaidittakesnomoreenergytoworkforthebigideathanitdoesforthesmallone.Well,that’swhatwe’resayinghere.
Whatelsecanyouexpect?Well,you’regoingtohavemorefriends—betterfriends.You’regoingtoliveinahealthierbody.You’regoingtoenjoyyourworkmore.You’regoingtodowhatyouwanttodo.Livethewaythatyouwanttolive.
Nowlistentothis.Holliwellsaid,“AlltheprocessesofNaturearesuccessful.Natureknowsnofailures.”That’shuge!
Hecontinues:“Sheneverplansanythingbutsuccess.Sheaimsatresultsineveryformandmanner.Tosucceedinthebestandfullestsenseofthetermwemust,withNatureasourmodel,copyhermethods.Inherprinciplesandlawsweshalldiscoverallthesecretsofsuccess.”
Isn’tthatexciting?Wesucceedwhenwemodelnature.Iknowonething.Thetidealwaysgoesoutandthetidealwayscomesin.Thenightalwaysfollowstheday.Winterneverfollowswinter.Thisisthelawatwork.It’sperfectinallofnature.Andwecandothesamething.
Next,hesaid,“Inherprinciplesandlawsweshalldiscoverallthesecretsofsuccess.Infiniteresourcesareatman’sdisposal.Therearenolimitstohispossibilities.”
Thinkaboutit.Infinite.Thatmeanstherearenolimitsonourability.Andthen:“Hefocusesandindividualizestheelements,forces,andprinciples
ofthewholeworld.”Thewholeworld!That’sabitofastretch,isn’tit?
Doyouknowthateverythinginthisuniversewillrushtoyouraidwhenyouareworkinginharmonywiththelaw?Thisisn’tsomedecisionbysomeemotionalorcapriciousGodsittingonacloud.Thisistheabsolutelawoftheuniverse.ThelawistheuniformandorderlymethodoftheomnipotentGod.It’sthewayeverythingworks.Andeverythingworksperfectly.
Holliwellcontinues:“Hecandevelopawonderfulintelligence;thus,alllife’squestionsmaybeanswered,allNature’ssecretsdiscovered,andallhumanproblemssolved.Nothingisimpossible.”
Nowyoumaybethinkingthattheworldisindireneedofthis.Oh,youaresoright!
Butdoyouknowit’sbecausewe’relivinginharmonywiththelawthatwecanlivethewaywedo?Doyouknowtherearesomepeoplewhohaveneverseenatoilet?Doyouknowtherearesomepeoplewhohaveneverseenanelectricstove?Doyouknowthatthewholeworldlivedlikethatnotlongago?Doyouknowthattheelectriclightisabrandnewidearelativetomostpeopleintheworld?Doyouknowthateverythingwe’vegotthatwetakeforgrantedisrelativelynew?
Allofthishappenedjustinthelastcenturyorso.Thinkaboutit.Andithashappenedbecausewestartedtounderstandthelaw.Thinkofwhatyoucandowhenyouunderstandthelaw.
Holliwellsaid:
Higherfaculties,remarkabletalents,superiorinsight,andgreaterpoweraredormantinall,andbyspecialpsychologicalmethods,theseexceptionalelementscanbedevelopedtoanextraordinarydegreeforactualandpracticaluse.Everymindcandevelopgreatness.ItissimplyamatterofKNOWINGHOW.Trueself-help,self-discovery,self-knowledge,andtheproperinstructionsinapplyingone’sfacultiesandusingone’sforceswilladvanceanyperson.
Yousee,themindisperfect.Itisperfectandmanisnot.Wecanthinkandourthoughtsturnintothings.
Holliwellsaid:
Practicewillensureefficiency;usewillbringforthresults.Success,therefore,iswithinthereachofeveryaspiringman.Doyouwishtosucceed?Youcan.Youpossessalltheessentialswithinyourself;allyouneedistogainarightunderstandingoftheprinciplesandlawsupon
whichsuccessisbased,andthentoapplytherightmethodsofoperatingthesecausesuntilsuccessisearned.
Butyoumustearnit.Thereisnofreelunch.I’vejusttouchedonthefirstpageoftheLawofSuccess.Asyougetintothis,
you’regoingtorealizethatthere’sgreathelpeverywherearoundus.Wecanhaveeverythingwewant.Wecanenjoyallthegoodwewanttoenjoy.Butonlyifweworkinharmonywiththelaw.
IstartedearningoveramilliondollarswhenIstartedcleaningoffices.Butyouknow,IthinkcleaningtheofficeswasalmostincidentaltowhatIwasdoing.Icouldhavebeendoinganything.
Ihadtofindoutwhathappenedtome.WhydidIchange?WhydidIgofrombeingalosertoearningmorethanamilliondollars?
WhatIreallydidwasIchangedmybeliefaboutwhoIam.Ihadreadallofthereligiousbooks;Ihaveaphenomenallibraryofreligiousandself-helpbooks.Ihaveoverthreethousandbooksinmypersonallibraryalone.Butitwasn’tuntilI’dreadThinkandGrowRichthateverythingstartedtochange.Ihadgiventhatbooktootherpeoplebutnothinghappened.
SoIstartedtostudytofigureoutwhyIhadchanged.IttookmenineyearsandwhatIarrivedatisthatIhadchangedmybeliefaboutwhoIam.
Doyouknowthatifyoureallyanalyzemostofyourbeliefs,you’dfindtheyhavenofoundation?Webelievelies.
Nowyousay,“Well,Ibelievethat.”Andyet,ourbehaviorwouldindicatethatwe’veneverheardofit.That’sbecausethere’samissinglink.It’snotobvious.It’sinside.
Yoursuccessdoesn’tcomefromwhatyoudo.It’showyoudoit—it’swhat’sgoingoninside.Itcomesfromlivinginharmonywiththelaw.There’sabigdifference.
E
CLASSTWENTY-ONE
IT’SNOTABOUTTHEMONEY
HavingtheFreedomtoDoWhatYouWant
verythingwewantisalreadyhere—it’ssimplyamatterofgettingit.It’samatterofbecomingawareofitspresence.Themainthingistokeepthe
mainthingthemainthing.Whatisthemainthing?Themainthingisfreedom.IhadamentornamedBillGove.Billisgonenow,buthesaid,“IfIwantto
befree,I’vegottobeme.NotthemeIthinkyouthinkIshouldbe.NotthemeIthinkmywifethinksIshouldbe.NotthemeIthinkmykidsthinkIshouldbe.IfIwanttobefree,I’vegottobeme.And,Ibetterknowwhomeis.”
Idon’tknowhowmuchyouknowaboutyourself,butIknowwhenIstartedtostudythis,Iknewverylittleaboutme.Iknewmyname,myweight,myheight,mygender,myaddress,myphonenumber...beyondthatIdidn’tknowverymuch.
Thinkaboutthisforamoment.Timeandmoneyfreedom.Wewanttimeandmoneyfreedom.Well,youwillbeamazedathowmuchfreetimeyouhavewhenyouneverhavetothinkaboutmoney.Ifyou’vegotmoneyproblems,itconsumesyourtime.
WhenIwasindebteveryoneusedtophonemeandask,“Where’sthemoney,where’sthemoney?”
Isaid,“IfIknewwherethemoneywas,youwouldn’thavetophoneme!”Iearned$4,000ayearandIowed$6,000.That’snotagoodpositiontobein.
Yousee,IwasactuallyhopelessbecauseIwouldhavehadtotakeeverycentIearnedforeighteenmonthsjusttogetoutofdebt.AndIwouldhavenothingto
liveon.IthinktherearealotofpeoplewholivelikeIwasliving.It’snotfun.It’snotevenliving—itisexisting.
Sowhatdowemeanbytimeandmoneyfreedom?Wewanttohaveenoughtimetodowhatwewanttodowhenwewanttodoit.Andwewanttohavethemoneytobeabletoaffordit.
ItusedtobethatifIwentinastore,Iwouldlookatthepricetagandleave.ButIwanttobeabletowalkinifIseesomethingIwantandthepricetagbethelastthingIlookat.Youlookatmostpeoplewhentheygoshoppingandthefirstthingtheylookatisthepricetag.They’renotgettingwhattheywantatall.They’regettingwhattheythinktheycanafford.Littledotheyknowtheycouldbuythewholestore.Somebodydid.It’simportantthatwegetthisstraight.
Doyouknowthatthere’saninfinitesourceofsupply?Allreligionandallsciencehavealwaystaughtthat.Thisisnotmyidea.ThisissomethingIhavebecomeawareof.Whenyou’redealingwithinfinite,youcannevertakemorethanyourshare.Thereisanabundanceforeverybody.
IrememberRayStanford.Hetookoutawadofmoney—themanalwayshadalotofmoneyandIneverhadany—andtoldmethatmoneycouldn’ttalkbutitcanhear.Ifyoucallit,itwillcome.Ineverforgotthat.Iwascallingitbutitdidn’tcome.ItcamewhenIunderstoodabundance.WhenIunderstoodthespiritofopulence.
Yousee,youcannevertakemorethanyourshare.We’redealingwiththeinfinite.
Iwantyoutothinkaboutthisforamoment.Ourworldischanging.Itischangingsodramaticallyandsorapidlythatitisalmostridiculous.Youknow,itwasn’ttoolongagothatwhenIdidaseminarI’dhaveagreatbigchalkboard.AndI’dhavealotofdampclothsbecauseyou’vegottocleantheboard.I’dneedlotsofdryclothssoIcouldkeepworkingandIneededlotsofchalk.Today,Ihavealittlethree-poundcomputer.IcanmakeallofthesepicturesandIcantouchabuttonandvavoom!,thepictureschange.
Thisworldisgettingsmaller;it’snotgettingbigger.We’reonlyhoursawayfromanywherenow.Youcandobusinessallovertheworld.Ihavebusinessesallovertheworld.
LastThursdayIwasworkinginDublin.ThisThursdayIaminMelbourne.Itwasn’ttoolongagothatitwouldhavebeentheexperienceofalifetimetodo
that.Nowyoucanknockitoutinaweek,plusdoawholelotofotherthingsaswell.Thisworldreallyisgettingsmaller.Thechiphaschangedourwholelife.
In1970—that’sbeforesomeofyouwereevenhere—IwasonaprograminChicagowithEricHoffer,theauthorofaterrificlittlebookcalledTheTrueBeliever.Thisbookisaclassic.Anyway,duringthisprogram,Hoffersaid,“Intimesofchangelearnersinherittheearth;whilethelearnedfindthemselvesbeautifullyequippedtodealwithaworldthatnolongerexists.”
Intimesofchange,thelearnerswillinherittheearth.Itookthattobemetaphoricforyouwillbehappy,healthyandprosperous.Yousee,in1970thingswerereallychanging,butbycomparisonwithnow,theyweren’tevenwarmingup.Lookatthespeedwe’removingattoday.
Intimesofchange,thelearnerswillinherittheearth,whilethelearnedfindthemselvesbeautifullyequippedtodealwithaworldthatnolongerexists.See,schoolleavesuswiththeideathatthere’ssuchathingasalearnedoraneducatedperson.Doyouknowthere’snosuchthingasaneducatedperson?Idon’tknowwhothoughtofit,butitisn’tso.There’snosuchthingasalearnedperson.You’reeitherlearningoryou’renot.
Yetthepeoplewhogetthedegree,andthinktheyhavearrived,arewonderingwhathappened.Thisworldischanging.Ifyouwanttokeepgoing,you’vegottokeepstudying.You’vegottokeeplearning.Itshouldbeapartofyourdailyexperience—thesameaseatingortakingashower.It’sgottobesomethingwe’redoingallthetime.Ifwedo,we’llinherittheearth;we’llbehappy,healthyandprosperous.Bymanypeople’sstandards,atmyageapersonisconsideredold,yetIhavemoreenergythanmostpeoplewhoaretwenty-three.Iearnallkindsofmoney;Ihaveallkindsoffun;Ihaveallkindsofwonderfulfriendsallovertheworld.ButthatisbecauseIjustkeepstudying.Ifyoustopstudying,itallgoesaway.It’sthatsimple.
Thechipinourcomputershaschangedtheworld.Ithaschangeditlikenightandday.NowIknowtherearepeopleinthisroomwhohaveneverstudiedthethingswe’retalkingabout.YououghttothankGodthatyou’rehere.Yousee,Ihappentobelievethatyou’realwaysintherightplacefortherightreasonattherighttime.Thisisthemostpowerfulstuffthatyou’reevergoingtolayyourhandson.I’vegotlicensetobragaboutitbecausenoneofitismine.
IlikethewayBillGatesputit.Hesaid,“Onethingisclear:Wedon’thavetheoptionofturningawayfromthefuture.Noonegetstovoteonwhethertechnologyisgoingtochangeourlives.”
Thisisn’tademocraticprocess.Thisisthedeal.Andyou’reeitherapartofitoryou’renot.Youseethisdealisstrictlybetweenyouandyourself.Nooneelseisinvolved.
Yourproblemsareneveraboutanyoneelse.Ifyouhaveaproblem,thepersonyoushouldhaveaconsultationwithisalwaysavailable.That’sagoodthingtoremember.
Nowthinkaboutthis.Howmanywouldagreethatfinancialsuccesshasalottodowithbeingintherightplaceattherighttime?Howmanywouldagreewiththat?
Almosteveryoneagreeswiththat.Well,there’ssomethingthat’smissinghere.You’vegottobeawarethatyou’reintherightplaceattherighttime.Theopportunitiesarealwayscomingatus.Ifwe’renotaware,wemissthem.Yourresultsareanexpressionofyourlevelofawareness.Ifyouwereawareofhowtoearnmoremoney,doyouthinkthatyouwouldeversettleforearningless?Ofcoursenot!
Remember,everyreligionandallscienceteachusthateverythingwe’veeverwantedisalreadyhere.Thatbeingtrue,whydon’twehavemorethanwehave?Becausewe’renotawareofit.Ifyouexpandyourlevelofawareness,yourwholelifewillchange.
Youmaybewonderinghowtoexpandyourlevelofawareness.Youdoitthrougheffectiveeducationcombinedwithprofessionalcoachingoverareasonableperiodoftime.
Oneofthekeyconceptstocreatingwealthistounderstandthatmoneyisnotthegoal.That’sright,Isaid,moneyisnotthegoal.
Frequently,peoplewilltellmethattheywanttomakemoney.However,Iknowitisnotmoneytheyarereallyafter.It’sthethingsthatmoneycanbuyandthefreedomoftimetodowhattheyreallywant.Whileyoumaythinkthisisaninsignificantdifference,itisactuallythereasonsomanypeopleneverbecomewealthy.
Mostofusweretaughtthroughoutourchildhoodthatthewholepointofmakingmoneyistosockitawayandbuildournestegg.Wethinkofthisasatypeofinsuranceagainstbadfortune,accidentsoroldagewhenwecannolongerwork.Thewealthyknowthatmoneyonlyworkswhenitisinmotion—notwhenit’ssittinginabankaccount.Youmustunderstandthatwealthisan
ongoingjourneyofgrowthandcirculation,andifthatcirculationisstopped,thentheflowofmoneywillcease.
Whileitmayseemthattherearemanyroadblocksonyourjourneytowealth,theonlyrealobstacleiswhatyoubelieve,thinkandfeelaboutmoney.Mostofuswereraisedwiththecliché“Seeingisbelieving,”whichisaskepticalandnegativeviewoflife.Still,wehearitthroughoutourlifeuntilitbecomesapartofourthoughtprocesswithoutevenrealizingit.Wealthypeopleunderstandthatthisclichéisexactlybackward—youmustbelieveinwhatyoucanachievebeforeyouwillseeithappeninyourlife.Wealthypeopleknowthat“Believingisseeing.”Theonlythingthatseparatesamillionairefromyourightnowisawealthymind-set,andthefoundationofthatmind-setisbelief.
Doesthismeanthatthewealthyhavesomespecialskillorknowledge?No—buttheydopossesssomekeycharacteristicsthathelpthembecomewealthy.
Thefirstofthesecharacteristicsisawillingnesstolistentotheirownheart.Ifyoucouldbecomewealthybylisteningtothemasses,thenthemasseswouldbewealthyandtheyarenot.Itisanaturaltendencytoasktheopinionsofthoseweloveorrespect.Unfortunately,welistentotheircommentsandbiaseswithouttakingintoaccounttheresultsintheirownlives.Wemakeadecisiontolistenbasedonouremotionalattachmentratherthanbylookingatwhattheyhaveachieved.Howcananyonewhohasnotaccumulatedwealthadviseyouonhowtodoit?Theycan’t.
Asecondcharacteristicofthewealthyistheabilitytoactwhenopportunitiespresentthemselves.Opportunityisoftenimaginedtobesomethingthatyoucan’tmissorpassup.However,Iknowfrompersonalexperiencethatopportunityisoftenonlyawhisperthatcomesduringsomeofthemosttryingtimesoflife.Ifyoureadthelifestoriesofverywealthyandsuccessfulpeople,youwillfrequentlyfindtheywerefiredfromjobs,kickedoutofschoolordealtwithsignificantpersonaltragediesthatotherpeoplewouldviewasdevastating.Instead,theyviewedthechallengesasopportunitiesandprospered.
Thewealthyalsounderstandthatwealthisanongoingprocess.Itisnotadestinationyouarriveatonedayandthenstop.Itisalsorarelyaccomplishedovernight—althoughitcanoccurinashortperiodoftime.However,ifyougainwealthbeforeyouhavegainedawealthymind-set,thenyouareindangeroflosingthatwealthforever.Wehaveallheardofthosewhowinthelotteryonlytobenearpennilessafewyearslater.Sincetheywerenevertaughttothinkwealthy,theyhaveverylittlechanceofachievingwealththatlasts,andultimatelytheylosewhatmoneytheyhave.
Thosewithawealthymind-setdowhattheylove—andmakemoneyatit.OftenIseeindividualswhoareseekingwealthlikeit’ssomethingoutsidethat
theyhavetosearchfor.Inreality,wealthexistswithinyou.Youhaveactivitiesandhobbiesthatyouloveandyoucanmaketheseintoyourbusinessifyouchooseto.Thosewhoaresuccessfulandcreateagreatdealofwealthdosobecausetheyaredoingsomethingtheylove.Themoneyfollowsandisjustalogicalresultofthemrealizingtheirdream.Moneyisnotthedream.
Whetheryougrowupintheworstcircumstanceorhaveeveryadvantage,youhavetheexactsamepotentialinsideofyoutocreatethelifeyouwant.Nomatterhowmanytimesyoureadorhearsomeonetalkabouthowtobecomewealthy,yourlifewillneverchangeuntilyoubelievethatitcan—believingisseeing.
M
CLASSTWENTY-TWO
COUNTYOURBLESSINGS
AnAttitudeofGratitudeChangesEverything
akesurethatyou’regratefuleveryday.Idon’tcarewhatyoursituationis,thereissomethingforyoutobegratefulfor.Therearepeoplewhoare
livingonlessthan$50ayear,aresick,havelosttheirhome.Soforsome,itmightbejustbeinggratefulforeachbreathortheabilitytofeelthesunontheirface.Butforthegeneralpopulation,wehavesomuchtobegratefulfor.
Expressinggratitudeworkslikemagic.IrememberdoingaseminarinPhoenixonedaywhenSandyGallagher,mybusinesspartner,wasgoingthrougharoughtimeinherlife.IwasleavingtownandsheaskedifwecouldgrabacupofcoffeebeforeIflewout.
SowewenttoacoffeeshopandsheaskedifIcouldgivehertwoorthreeideastohelphermaintainagoodattitude.Isaidsureandtookanapkinthatwasonthetable.Igrabbedapenandwroteonthetopofthenapkin:“Everymorningthinkoftenthingsthatyouaregratefulfor.”Then,Isaid,“Whenyougetfinishedwritingthetenthingsdown,sendlovetothreepeoplewhoarebotheringyou.”
Nowmostpeoplehavedifficultydoingthat.Ifsomeoneisreallybotheringthem,theysendbadenergytothatperson.Don’tdothat,sendlovetothem.Thepersonwhoisbotheringyouhasnothingtodowiththis.It’sthevibrationyou’reputtingyourselfin.You’reputtingyourselfintoawonderfulvibrationbysendinglovetothem.
ThethirdthingItoldSandytodowastobequietforfiveminutesandaskforguidancefortheday.
Well,SandywasheadingtoHawaiitospendsometimewithhersisterandmothersoshehadthemgetinvolvedwiththisthree-prongedpracticeeachmorning:writingdowntenthingstobegratefulfor,sendinglovetothreepeoplewhoarebotheringyou,andsittingquietlyforfiveminutesandaskingforguidancefortheday.
Onthefirstmorning,Sandy,hersisterandhermotherthoughtitwasalittlebitofadumbidea,buttheydiditanyway.Andtoday,eachoneofthemwilltellyouitchangedtheirlives.
WallaceWattlesdedicatedanentirechaptertothetopicofgratitudeinTheScienceofGettingRich.Onthefirstpage,hesaid,“Thewholeprocessofmentaladjustmentandatunementcanbesummedupinoneword,gratitude.”
Now,let’slookattheterm“mentaladjustment.”Ifwehavechallengesinourlifethataredominatingourthinking—ashortageofmoney,abusinessproblem,arelationshipproblem—wewillhaveatendencytofocusontheproblem.Andbydoingthat,weaddenergytowhat?Theproblem!Andthentheproblemgrows.
WallaceWattlesissayingdon’tdothat.Getintotheprocessofmentaladjustment.Seewhatyouwant.Don’tspendanytimelookingatwhatyoudon’twant.
Wattlessaid,“Thewholeprocessofmentaladjustmentandatunementcanbesummedupinoneword:gratitude.Theatunementisgettinginharmonywiththelaw.
Howcouldweputthatintoaction?Well,let’slookatitthisway.Whenyouseemtobeoverwhelmedwithproblems,juststopwhateveryou’redoingandblockallofthatstuffout.Then,thinkaboutallofthethingsthatyouhavetobegratefulfor.Iknowthat’saprettybigorder,butifyoudoit,everythingwillstarttoshiftinaninstant.Justlikesnappingyourfingers.Whenyouchangethewayyoulookattheproblems,theproblemswillchange.
Gratitudeisapowerfulprocessforshiftingyourenergyandbringingmoreofwhatyouwantintoyourlife.Begratefulforwhatyoualreadyhaveandyouwillattractmoregoodthings.Ifyoujuststudythisoneword,“gratitude,”everydayforamonth,Iguaranteethatyourlifewillshift.
Wattlesalsosaid,“Thegratefulmindisconstantlyfixeduponthebest;therefore,ittendstobecomethebest;ittakestheformorcharacterofthebestandwillreceivethebest.”
“Gratitude”isabeautifulword,butit’salsooneofthemostmisunderstoodwordsinanylanguage.Yousee,gratitudehooksyouupwithyoursourceofsupply.Itliterallyputsyouinharmonywithyoursourceofsupplysothatthegoodineverythingwillmovetowardyou.
Y
CLASSTWENTY-THREE
IT’STIMETOSTRETCH
YourGreatIdeaWhoseTimeHasCome
oudon’tgetenergy.Peoplesay,“Wheredoesshegetallthatenergy?”Nobodygetsenergy.Everybodyreleasesenergy.Itflowstoandthrough
us.There’snoshortageofenergy.You’llseeapersoncomehomefromworkandsay,“Ijusthaven’tgotany
energy.”Youknowwhattheirproblemis?They’rebored!They’rebored.Boredomistheabsenceofacreativeidea.Theymayhavenevergivenbirthtoacreativeidea!Theyjustsortofgothroughlifeinalockstep-typefashion.Doingwhateverybodydoes.Itstartedwhentheywerelittlekids—goingoutandbeingliketheotherlittlekids,whichistheonlythingtheycan’tbelike—andsotheyspendtheirwholelifetryingtobeliketheotherlittlekids.
I’vealwaysgotabigidea.IgoaftergoalsIhavenoideahowwe’llreach.ButIknowwe’regoingto—Iknowwe’regoingto.AndthefactthatIdon’tknowhowtodoitdoesn’tscareme.Itturnsmeon.
I’vealwaysfoundthatbigideasgrowevenbiggerwhenthey’rediscussedandmulledoverinarelaxedsettingthat’scompletelyseparatefromaconferenceroomorboardroom.Infact,manyofthebestideasI’vecreatedhave
comefromsittingatmykitchentable,doodlingandbrainstormingandlookingoutthewindow.Ithappensrightthereinmykitchen.
AlfredAdleroncesaid,“Iamgratefulfortheideathathasusedme.”Whenyoufallinlovewithanidea,youwillbegratefulforthatideabecauseitwillmoveyouintoaction.
Whatideaswindyouupandmakeyouwanttomoveintoaction?Ifyou’renotsure,getquietandvisualize.Visualizationiswhereeverythingstarts.Whenyouthinkaboutit,everythingbeginswithapicture.AndtheLawofTransmutationtellsusthatenergyisalwaysmovingintoform.YouandIhavebeengivencreativefacultiesunlikeanyotherformoflifesowehavetheabilitytocreatethevisionortheimageinourmind.
Everythingyouseerightnowallstartedasanimageinsomebody’smind.Wealwaysseethegeniusinsomebodyelse,butneverinourselves.Youarecreative,powerful,innovativeandyouhavegeniuslockedupwithinyoujustwaitingtobeunleashed.Don’tgoanotherdaydownthepathofalifethatisn’tcompletelysatisfying.
Yousayyouhaveideasfloodingyourmindeveryday.Wonderful!Sonowwhat?
Ideasareuselessifyoudon’ttakeactiontomakethemhappen.Butifyoudo,onegoodideacouldchangeyourentirelife.Itcanchangetheworld!
Howwouldyouliketohavehadtheideaforthecomputerthatyouworkon,orFacebookorTwitter?Stopandthinkofwhatthepeoplewhocreatedthesmartphoneearned.Wouldn’tyoujustlovetobeonthereceivingendofthat?
Unfortunately,almostallideasarestillborn.Peoplethinkaboutthembuttheydieinsidetheperson’smind.Beautifulideas.Ideasthatcouldchangethelifeofthepersonwhoisentertainingthem.Buttheyneverseethelightofday.
Why?It’slikeIsaidearlier—it’sthestartthatstopsmostpeople.Butthethingthat
issittingonyourshoulderswillcreateideas.Andeverythingaroundyouisnothingbuttheexpressionofanidea.
Youstartedoutwithaverybeautifulimagination.ButtheygotyouinschoolandWham!,theyknockeditoutofyou.Theycalleditnotpayingattention.
Well,letthatgo.Don’tlivethereanymore.AndrewCarnegie,whowasthewealthiestmanintheworldintheearly1900s,saidheknewnothingaboutthemanufacturingorthemarketingofsteel.Andyethebecamethewealthiestmanintheworldinthesteelbusiness.
Nowhowdidhedothat?Hediditwithateam.Nooneinthehistoryoftheworldwhohaseverdone
anythingofanyconsequencehaseverdoneitontheirown.Stoplettingyourideasdieinsideofyou.Gethelpwhereyouneeditsothey
canbeborn.Dedicateyourlifetoaworthyidea—anideasobigandexhilaratingthatyou’regratefulfortheideathathasusedyou.
O
AFTERWORD
nethingshouldbeclearfromevenacasualperusalofBobProctor’slectures—heisnotatypicalmotivationalspeaker.Thetruthis,Bob
Proctordoesnotseehimselfasamotivationalspeaker.Heteachesmethodliving,muchthesameasStellaAdlertaughtmethodacting.Hedoesn’tprovideBand-Aidsfortheproblemsandchallengeswefaceeachday.Andhedoesn’taddresssymptoms.Hegoesrighttothecauseofwhat’skeepingusstucksowecanmoveontoabiggerlife.
BobProctorhasanexaltedideaoflife.Hebelievesyoushouldn’tjustbecontent,youshouldbejoyful.Yourbodyshouldn’tjustfeelOKandbepainfree,itshouldbevibrantlyhealthyandenergetic.Youshouldn’tjustbeabletopaythebillsandtakeavacationonceayear,youshouldhaveallthemoneyyouwanttodoeverythingyouwanttodo.
Bobdoesn’thopeallofthosethingscanhappen,heknowstheycanhappenandtheywillhappenifyoulearntodoonething:liveinharmonywiththelawsoftheuniverse.
Bobdidn’tcometothisrealizationquicklyoreasily.IttookdecadesofstudyingNapoleonHill’sThinkandGrowRich,yearsofworkingwithhismentorEarlNightingaleandavoraciousappetitetolearneverythinghecanaboutuniversallaws.Bobhasbeenstudyingandapplyingthismaterialeverydaysince1961.
Thisisnotaconventional“how-to”bookbecauseBobisnotaconventionalman.Infact,heabhorsconformingandbeingnormal.Hesaysweshouldnever
followthemassesbecausethemassesdon’tknowwhotheyare,wherethey’regoingorwhattheyreallywant.
Insteadofprovidingacookie-cutterequationforlivingahealthy,happyandwealthylife,thelessonsinthisbookhaveabroadergoal.Thepurposeoftheseclassesistoraiseyourlevelofawarenessofwhoyouareandwhatisreallypossibleforyouwhenyouliveinharmonywithuniversallaws.That’snotsomethingyoucanlearnovernight,inamonthorinaclass.It’salifelongjourney.Butknowthis:asyoustarttounderstandtheselawsandmakeaconsciousefforttoapplythem,yourlifewilljustkeepgettingbetterandbettereveryday.
—SANDRAGALLAGHER
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