THE rules
that apply to your action at home must apply to your action everywhere. Never
forget for an instant that this is a perfect world, and that you are a god
among gods. You are as great as the greatest, but all are your equals.
Rely
absolutely on your perception of truth. Trust to the inner light rather than to
reason, but be sure that your perception comes from the inner light; act in
poise and calmness; be still and attend on God. Your identification of yourself
with the All-Mind will give you all the knowledge you need for guidance in any
contingency that may arise in your own life or in the lives of others. It is
only necessary that you should be supremely calm, and rely upon the eternal
wisdom that is within you. If you act in poise and faith, your judgment will
always be right, and you will always know exactly what to do. Do not hurry or
worry; remember Lincoln
in the dark days of the war. James Freeman Clarke relates that after the battle
of Fredericksburg, Lincoln alone furnished a supply of faith and
hope for the nation. Hundreds of leading men, from all parts of the country,
went sadly into his room and came out cheerful and hopeful. They had stood face
to face with the Highest, and had seen God in this lank, ungainly, patient man,
although they knew it not.
Have
perfect faith in yourself and in your own ability to cope with any combination
of circumstances that may arise. Do not be disturbed if you are alone; if you
need friends they will be brought to you at the right time. Do not be disturbed
if you feel that you are ignorant, the information that you need will be
furnished you when it is time for you to have it. That which is in you
impelling you forward is in the things and people you need, impelling them
toward you. If there is a particular man you need to know, he will be
introduced to you; if there is a particular book you need to read it will be
placed in your hands at the right time. All the knowledge you need is coming to
you from both external and internal sources.
Your
information and your talents will always be equal to the requirements of the
occasion. Remember that Jesus told his disciples not to worry as to what they
should say when brought before the judges; he knew that the power in them would
be sufficient for the needs of the hour. As soon as you awaken and begin to use
your faculties in a great way you will apply power to the development of your
brain; new cells will be created and dormant cells quickened into activity, and
your brain will be qualified as a perfect instrument for your mind.
Do not
try to do great things until you are ready to go about them in a great way. If
you undertake to deal with great matters in a small way- that is, from a low
viewpoint or with incomplete consecration and wavering faith and courage-you
will fail. Do not be in a hurry to get to the great things. Doing great things
will not make you great, but becoming great will certainly lead you to the
doing of great things. Begin to be great where you are and in the things you do
every day. Do not be in haste to be found out or recognized as a great personality.
Do not be disappointed if men do not nominate you for office within a month
after you begin to practice what you read in this book. Great people never seek
for recognition or applause; they are not great because they want to be paid
for being so. Greatness is re ward enough for itself; the joy of being
something and of knowing that you are advancing is the greatest of all joys
possible to man.
If you
begin in your own family, as described in the preceding chapter, and then
assume the same mental attitude with your neighbors, friends, and those you
meet in business, you will soon find that people are beginning to depend on
you. Your advice will be sought, and a constantly increasing number of people
will look to you for strength and inspiration, and rely upon your judgment.
Here, as
in the home, you must avoid meddling with other people’s affairs. Help all who
come to you, but do not go about officiously endeavoring to set other people
right. Mind your own business. It is no part of your mission in life to correct
people’s morals, habits, or practices. Lead a great life, doing all things with
a great spirit and in a great way; give to him that asks of you as freely as
you have received, but do not force your help or your opinions upon any man. If
your neighbor wishes to smoke or drink, it is his business; it is none of yours
until he consults you about it. If you lead a great life and do no preaching,
you will save a thousand times as many souls as one who leads a small life and
preaches continuously.
If you
hold the right viewpoint of the world, others will find it out and be impressed
by it through your daily conversation and practice. Do not try to convert
others to your point of view, except by holding it and living accordingly. If
your consecration is perfect you do not need to tell anyone; it will speedily
become apparent to all that you are guided by a higher principle than the
average man or woman. If your identification with God is complete, you do not
need to explain the fact to others; it will become self-evident.
To become
known as a great personality, you have nothing to do but to live. Do not
imagine that you must go charging about the world like Don Quixote, tilting at
windmills, and overturning things in general, in order to demonstrate that you
are somebody. Do not go hunting for big things to do. Live a great life where
you are, and in the daily work you have to do, and greater works will surely
find you out. Big things will come to you, asking to be done.
Be so
impressed with the value of a man that you treat even a beggar or the tramp
with the most distinguished consideration. All is God. Every man and woman is
perfect. Let your manner be that of a god addressing other gods. Do not save
all your consideration for the poor; the millionaire is as good as the tramp.
This is a perfectly good world, and there is not a person or thing in it but is
exactly right; be sure that you keep this in mind in dealing with things and
men.