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 steer clear of catastrophe and destruction.

Until thought is connected to purpose, nothing can be achieved intelligently. Most people let the boat of thought "drift" on the ocean of life. Aimlessness is a vice. Anyone who wants to steer clear of disaster and destruction must stop drifting.

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.

People with no central purpose in life easily fall prey to petty worries, fears, troubles, and self-pity. All these are signs of weakness and lead to failure, unhappiness, and loss just as surely as deliberately planned sins. Though the route is different, the outcome is just as certain, because weakness cannot survive in a universe developing strength.

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; but whichever it is, he should steadily focus his thought-forces upon the object, which he has 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 necessarily 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.

A man should choose a worthy purpose in his heart and set out to achieve it. He should make this purpose the center of his thoughts. His purpose may be a spiritual ideal or a worldly goal, depending on his nature at the time. Whatever his goal, he should steadily focus his thoughts on achieving it. He should make this purpose his highest duty and devote himself to achieving it. He should not let his thoughts drift into passing fantasies, longings, and imaginings. This focused effort is the surest path to self-control and true concentration. He may fail again and again to achieve his purpose, as he inevitably will until he overcomes his weakness. Even if he fails, the strength of character he gains will be the measure of his true success. This strength will give him a new starting point for greater power and future 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, which being done, there is nothing which may not be accomplished.

Those who are not ready to grasp a great purpose should focus on carrying out their duties without fault. They should do so no matter how insignificant their task may seem. Only in this way can they focus their thoughts and develop determination and energy. Once they have done so, there is nothing they cannot accomplish.

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.

Even the weakest soul, aware of its own weakness, can believe this truth: strength can only be developed through effort and practice. With this belief, that soul will immediately begin to make an effort. By adding effort to effort, patience to patience, and strength to strength, that soul will never stop growing. In the end, that soul will become 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.

A physically weak man can grow strong through careful, patient training. In the same way, a man with weak thoughts can strengthen them by practicing 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.

To give up aimlessness and weakness and start thinking with purpose is to join the ranks of the strong. Strong people see failure only as one of the paths to success. They make all circumstances work for them. They think with strength, act without fear, and achieve with skill.

Having conceived of his purpose, a man should mentally mark out a straight pathway to its achievement, looking neither to the right nor the 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 never accomplished anything, and never can. They always lead to failure. Purpose, energy, power to do, and all strong thoughts cease when doubt and fear creep in.

Once a man has chosen his purpose, he should map out a straight path toward achieving it. He should look neither to the right nor to the left. He must firmly shut out doubts and fears. They break up his focused effort, making it unfocused, ineffective, and useless. Thoughts of doubt and fear have never accomplished anything and never can. They always lead to failure. Purpose, energy, the ability to act, and all strong thoughts stop 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.

The will to act comes from knowing that we can act. Doubt and fear are the great enemies of knowledge. Anyone who encourages doubt and fear instead of destroying them holds himself back 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 wisely overcome. His purposes are seasonably planted, and they bloom and bring forth fruit, which does not fall prematurely to the ground.

A man who has overcome doubt and fear has overcome failure. Every thought he has is backed by strength, and he faces all difficulties bravely and overcomes them wisely. His goals are planted at the right time. They bloom and bear fruit, and the fruit does not fall to the ground before it is ripe.

Thought allied fearlessly to purpose becomes creative force: he who knows this is ready to become something higher and stronger than a mere bundle of wavering thoughts and fluctuating sensations; he who does this has become the conscious and intelligent wielder of his mental powers.

Thought fearlessly joined with purpose becomes a creative force. A man who knows this is ready to become something greater and stronger than a bundle of wavering thoughts and shifting feelings. A man who does this consciously and intelligently controls his mental powers.