THOUGHT AND PURPOSE
Until thought is linked with purpose there is no
intelligent accomplishment. with the majority the bark of thought is allowed
to "drift" upon the ocean of life. Aimlessness is a vice, and
such drifting must not continue for him who would street clear of catastrophe
and destruction.
They who have no central purpose in their life fall an easy prey to
petty worries, fears, troubles, and self-pityings, all of which are indications
of weakness, which lead, just as surely as deliberately planned sins (though
by a different route), to failure, unhappiness, and loss, for weakness
cannot persist in a power-evolving universe.
A man should conceive of a legitimate purpose in his heart, and set
out to accomplish it. He should make this purpose the centralizing point
of his thoughts. It may take the form of a spiritual ideal, or it may be
a worldly object, according to his nature at the time being. Whichever
it is, he should steadily focus his thought-forces upon the object he had
set before him. He should make this purpose his supreme duty and should
devote himself to its attainment, not allowing his thoughts to wander away
into ephemeral fancies, longings, and imaginings. This is the royal road
to self-control and true concentration of thought. Even if he fails again
and again to accomplish his purpose–as he must until weakness is overcome–the
strength of character gained will be the measure of his true success, and
this will form a new starting point for future power and triumph.
Those who are not prepared for the apprehension of a great purpose,
should fix the thoughts upon the faultless performance of their duty, no
matter how insignificant their task may appear. Only in this way can the
thoughts be gathered and focussed, and resolution and energy be developed.
Once this is done, there is nothing which may not be accomplished.
The weakest soul knowing its own weakness, and believing this truth–that
strength can only be developed by effort and practice– will, thus believing,
at once begin to exert itself. And, adding effort to effort, patience to
patience, and strength to strength, will never cease to develop and will
at last grow divinely strong.
As the physically weak man can make himself strong by careful and patient
training, so the man of weak thoughts can make them strong by exercising
himself in right thinking.
To put away aimlessness and weakness and to begin to think with purpose
is to enter the ranks of those strong ones who only recognize failure as
one of the pathways to attainment. Who make all conditions serve them,
and who think strongly, attempt fearlessly, and accomplish masterfully.
Having conceived of his purpose, a man should mentally mark out a straight
pathway to its achievement, looking neither to the right nor left. Doubts
and fears should be rigorously excluded. They are disintegrating elements
which break up the straight line of effort, rendering it crooked, ineffectual,
useless. Thoughts of doubt and fear can never accomplish anything. They
always lead to failure. Purpose, energy, power to do, and all strong thoughts
cease when doubt and fear creep in.
The will to do springs from the knowledge that we can do. Doubt and
fear are the great enemies of knowledge, and he who encourages them, who
does not slay them, thwarts himself at every step.
He who has conquered doubt and fear has conquered failure. His every
thought is allied with power, and all difficulties are bravely met and
overcome. His purposes are seasonably planted, and they bloom and bring
forth fruit that does not fall prematurely to the ground.
Thought allied fearlessly to purpose becomes creative force. He who
knows this is ready to become something higher and stronger than a bundle
of wavering thoughts and fluctuating sensations. He who does this has become
the conscious and intelligent wielder of his mental powers.
Next Chapter: THE THOUGHT-FACTOR IN ACHIEVEMENT
