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THOUGHT VIBRATIONS ~
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5. THE SECRET OF THE WILL While
psychologists may
differ
in their theories regarding the nature
of the Will, none deny its existence, nor question its power.
All persons recognize the power of strong Will. All see how it may be used to overcome the greatest obstacles. But few realize that the Will may be developed and strengthened by intelligent practice. They feel that they could accomplish wonders if they had a strong Will. But instead of attempting to develop it--they content themselves with vain regrets. They sigh--but do nothing. Those who have investigated the subject closely know that Will-Power--with all its latent possibilities and mighty powers--may be developed, disciplined, controlled and directed, just as may be any other of Nature's forces. It does not matter what theory you may entertain about the nature of the Will--you will obtain the results if you practice intelligently. Personally, I have a somewhat odd theory about the Will. I believe that every man has, potentially, a strong Will--and that all he has to do is to train his mind to make use of it. I think that--in the higher regions of the mind of every man--is a great store of Will-Power awaiting his use. The "Will-current" is running along the psychic wires--and all that it is necessary to do is to raise the mental trolley-pole and bring down the power for your use. And the supply is unlimited--for your little storage battery is connected with the great powerhouse of the Universal Will-Power--and the power is inexhaustible. Your Will does not need training--but your Mind does. The
Mind is
the instrument--and
the supply of Will-Power is proportionate to the fineness of the
instrument through which it manifests.
But you needn't accept this theory if you don't like it. This lesson will fit your theory, as well as mine. He who has developed his Mind so that it will allow the Will-Power to manifest through it has opened up wonderful possibilities for himself. Not only has he found a great power at his command, but he is able to bring into play--and use--faculties, talents and abilities of whose existence he has not dreamed. This secret of the Will is the magic key which opens all doors. The late Donald G. Mitchell once wrote: Resolve
is what makes a man
manifest; not puny resolve, but crude determination; not errant
purpose--but that strong and indefatigable will which treads down
difficulties
and danger, as a boy treads down the heaving frost-lands of winter;
which kindles his eye and brain with a proud pulse-beat toward the
unattainable. Will makes men giants.
Many of us feel that if we would but exert our Will, we might accomplish wonders. But somehow we do not seem to want to take the trouble. At any rate--we do not get to the actual willing point. We put it off from time-to-time and talk vaguely of "some day." But that some day never comes. We instinctively feel the power of the Will, but we haven't enough energy to exercise it, and so drift along with the tide--unless perhaps some "friendly difficulty" arises... some "helpful obstacle" appears in our path... or some "kindly pain" stirs us into action--in either of which cases we are compelled to assert our Will and thus begin to accomplish something. The trouble with us is that we do not want to do the thing enough to make us exert our Will-Power. We don't want to hard enough. We are mentally lazy and of weak Desire. If you do not like the word "Desire"--substitute for it the word "Aspiration." (Some people call the lower impulses "Desires" and the higher, "Aspirations." It's all a matter of words--take your choice.) That is the trouble. Let a man be in danger of losing his life--let a woman be in danger of losing a great love--and you will witness a startling exhibition of Will-Power from an unexpected source. Let a woman's child be threatened with danger, and she will manifest a degree of Courage and Will that sweeps all before it. And yet the same woman will quail before a domineering husband and will lack the Will to perform a simple task. A boy will do all sorts of work--if he but considers it play. And yet he can scarcely force himself to cut a little firewood. Strong Will follows strong Desire. If
you
really want to do a thing very much--you can usually develop the
Will-Power to accomplish it.
The trouble is that you have not really wanted to do these things--and yet you blame your Will. You say that you do want to do it--but if you stop to think you will see that you really want to do something else more than the thing in question. You are not willing to pay the price of attainment. Stop
a moment and analyze
this
statement and apply it in
your own case:
You are mentally lazy--that's the trouble. Don't talk to me about not having enough Will. You have a great storehouse of Will awaiting your use--but you are too lazy to use it. Now, if you are really in earnest about this matter--get to work--and first find out what you really want to do. Then start to work--and do it. Never
mind about the
Will-Power.
You'll find a full supply of that, whenever you need it. The thing to do is to get to the point where you will resolve to do. That is the real test--the resolving. Think
of these things a
little--and make up your mind
whether or not you really want to be a Willer--sufficiently hard to get
to work.
Many excellent essays and books have been written on this subject, all of which agree regarding the greatness of Will-Power--the most enthusiastic terms being used. But few have anything to say about how this power may be acquired by those who have it not--or who possess it, in but a limited degree. Some have given exercises designed to "strengthen" the Will--which exercises really strengthen the Mind, so that it is able to draw upon its store of power. But they have generally overlooked the fact that in autosuggestion is to be found the secret of the development of the Mind so that it may become the efficient instrument of the Will. AUTOSUGGESTION:
"I
AM using my Will-Power."
Say
these words several
times--earnestly and positively--immediately
after finishing this article.
Then repeat them frequently during the day, at least once an hour--and particularly when you meet something that calls for the exercise of Will-Power. Also repeat them several times after you retire and settle yourself for sleep. Now, there is nothing in the words unless you back them up with the thought. In fact, the thought is "the whole thing"--and the words only pegs upon which to hang the thought. So think of what you are saying--and mean what you say. You must use faith at the start--and use the words with a confident expectation of the result. Hold the steady thought that you are drawing on your storehouse of Will-Power, and before long you will find that thought is taking form in action and that your Will-Power is manifesting itself. You will feel an influx of strength with each repetition of the words. You will find yourself overcoming difficulties and bad habits--and will be surprised at how things are being smoothed out for you. EXERCISE:
Perform
at least one disagreeable
task each day during the month.
If there is any especially disagreeable task which you would like to shirk--that is the one for you to perform. This is not given to you in order to make you self-sacrificing or meek--or anything of that sort. It is given you to exercise your Will. Anyone can do a pleasant thing cheerfully--but it takes Will to do the unpleasant thing cheerfully. And that is how you must do the work. It will prove a most valuable discipline to you. Try it for a month--and you will see where it "comes in." If you shirk this exercise, you had better stop right here and acknowledge that you do not want Will-Power--and are content to stay where you are--and remain a weakling. $11.95 + FREE Shipping! Click on bookcover to look inside book   |
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