The Next Time You Think You're a Failure

If you made a botch of last year, if you feel that it was a failure, that you floundered and blundered and did a lot of foolish things; if you were gullible, made imprudent investments, wasted your time and money, don't drag these ghosts along with you to handicap you and destroy your happiness all through the future.

Perhaps you made a mess of last year. Perhaps you feel it was a failure, that you struggled, made mistakes, and did many foolish things. Perhaps you were gullible, made unwise investments, and wasted your time and money. If so, don't carry these ghosts with you. Don't let them hold you back and destroy your happiness for the rest of your life.

Haven't you wasted enough energy worrying over what can not be helped? Don't let these things sap any more of your vitality, waste any more of your time or destroy any more of your happiness.

Haven't you wasted enough energy worrying about things you can't change? Don't let them drain any more of your energy, waste any more of your time, or destroy any more of your happiness.

There is only one thing to do with bitter experiences, blunders and unfortunate mistakes, or with memories that worry us and which kill our efficiency, and that is to forget them, bury them!

There is only one thing to do with bitter experiences, blunders, and unfortunate mistakes. The same goes for memories that worry us and destroy our efficiency: forget them, bury them!

To-day is a good time to "leave the low-vaulted past," to drop the yesterdays, to forget bitter memories.

Today is a good time to "leave the low-vaulted past," let go of yesterday, and forget bitter memories.

Resolve that you will close the door on everything in the past that pains and can not help you. Free yourself from everything which handicaps you, keeps you back and makes you unhappy. Throw away all useless baggage, drop everything that is a drag, that hinders your progress.

Decide to close the door on everything in the past that hurts you and cannot help you. Free yourself from everything that holds you back and makes you unhappy. Throw away all useless baggage. Drop everything that weighs you down and hinders your progress.

Enter upon to-morrow with a clean slate and a free mind. Don't be mortgaged to the past, and never look back.

Start tomorrow with a clean slate and a free mind. Don't let the past hold you back, and never look back.

There is no use in castigating yourself for not having done better.

There is no use in beating yourself up for not having done better.

Form a habit of expelling from your mind thoughts or suggestions which call up unpleasant subjects or bitter memories, and which have a bad influence upon you.

Make a habit of pushing aside thoughts or suggestions that bring up unpleasant subjects or bitter memories and affect you badly.

Every one ought to make it a life-rule to wipe out from his memory everything that has been unpleasant, unfortunate. We ought to forget everything that has kept us back, has made us suffer, has been disagreeable, and never allow the hideous pictures of distressing conditions to enter our minds again. There is only one thing to do with a disagreeable, harmful experience, and that is—forget it!

Everyone should make it a rule for life to erase every unpleasant or unfortunate experience from memory. We should forget everything that has held us back, caused us pain, or been unpleasant. We should never let the ugly images of distressing situations enter our minds again. There is only one thing to do with an unpleasant, harmful experience: forget it!

There are many times in the life of a person who does things that are worth while when he gets terribly discouraged and thinks it easier to go back than to push on. But there is no victory in retreating. We should never leave any bridges unburned behind us, any way open for retreat to tempt our weakness, indecision or discouragement. If there is anything we ever feel grateful for, it is that we have had courage and pluck enough to push on, to keep going when things looked dark and when seemingly insurmountable obstacles confronted us.

People who do worthwhile things often become terribly discouraged. At such times, they think it would be easier to go back than to push on. But there is no victory in retreating. We should always burn our bridges behind us. We should leave no way to retreat that might tempt us when we are weak, indecisive, or discouraged. If there is anything we are ever grateful for, it is having the courage and determination to push on. We are grateful that we kept going when things looked dark and the obstacles seemed impossible to overcome.

Most people are their own worst enemies. We are all the time "queering" our life game by our vicious, tearing-down thoughts and unfortunate moods. Everything depends upon our courage, our faith in ourselves, in our holding a hopeful, optimistic outlook; and yet, whenever things go wrong with us, whenever we have a discouraging day or an unfortunate experience, a loss or any misfortune, we let the tearing-down thought, doubt, fear, despondency, like a bull in a china shop, tear through our mentalities, perhaps breaking up and destroying the work of years of building up, and we have to start all over again. We work and live like the frog in the well; we climb up only to fall back, and often lose all we gain.

Most people are their own worst enemies. We constantly "spoil" the game of life with destructive thoughts and unfortunate moods. Everything depends on our courage, our faith in ourselves, and our ability to stay hopeful and optimistic. Yet whenever things go wrong, we let destructive thoughts tear through our minds like a bull in a china shop. A discouraging day, an unfortunate experience, a loss, or any misfortune can let doubt, fear, and despair take over. These thoughts may destroy the work of years, and we have to start all over again. We work and live like the frog in the well. We climb up only to fall back, and often lose all we gain.

One of the worst things that can ever happen to a person is to get it into his head that he was born unlucky and that the Fates are against him. There are no Fates, outside of our own mentality. We are our own Fates. We control our own destiny.

One of the worst things that can happen to a person is to believe they were born unlucky. They come to believe the Fates are against them. There are no Fates outside our own minds. We are our own Fates. We control our own destiny.

There is no fate or destiny which puts one man down and another up. "It is not in our stars, but in ourselves, that we are underlings." He only is beaten who admits it. The man is inferior who admits that he is inferior, who voluntarily takes an inferior position because he thinks the best things were intended for somebody else.

No fate or destiny brings one man down and raises another up. "It is not our stars, but ourselves, that make us underlings." Only a man who admits defeat is beaten. A man is inferior if he admits he is inferior. He accepts a lower position because he thinks the best things were meant for someone else.

You will find that just in proportion as you increase your confidence in yourself by the affirmation of what you wish to be and to do, your ability will increase.

As you build confidence in yourself by affirming what you want to be and do, your ability will grow accordingly.

No matter what other people may think about your ability, never allow yourself to doubt that you can do or become what you long to. Increase your self-confidence in every possible way, and you can do this to a remarkable degree by the power of self-suggestion.

No matter what others think of your abilities, never doubt that you can do or become what you long to. Build your self-confidence in every way you can. Self-suggestion can help you build it to a remarkable degree.

This form of suggestion—talking to oneself vigorously, earnestly—seems to arouse the sleeping forces in the subconscious self more effectually than thinking the same thing.

This form of suggestion means talking to yourself vigorously and earnestly. It seems to awaken the sleeping forces in your subconscious more effectively than simply thinking the same thing.

There is a force in words spoken aloud which is not stirred by going over the same words mentally. They sometimes arouse slumbering energies within us which thinking does not stir up—especially if we have not been trained to think deeply, to focus the mind closely. They make a more lasting impression upon the mind, just as words which pass through the eye from the printed page make a greater impression on the brain than we get by thinking the same words; as seeing objects of nature makes a more lasting impression upon the mind than thinking about them. A vividness, a certain force, accompanies the spoken word—especially if earnestly, vehemently uttered—which is not apparent to many in merely thinking about what the words express. If you repeat a firm resolve to yourself aloud, vigorously, even vehemently, you are more likely to carry it to reality than if you merely resolve in silence.

Words spoken aloud have a power that the same words do not have when we think them silently. Spoken words sometimes awaken dormant energies that thinking does not stir. This is especially true if we have not learned to think deeply and focus closely. Spoken words make a more lasting impression on the mind. In the same way, words we read on a printed page make a greater impression than the same words we think. And seeing objects in nature makes a more lasting impression than thinking about them. Spoken words have a vividness and force, especially when spoken earnestly and passionately. Many people do not feel that same force when they merely think about what the words express. If you state a firm resolve aloud, vigorously and even passionately, you are more likely to make it a reality than if you merely resolve in silence.

We become so accustomed to our silent thoughts that the voicing of them, the giving audible expression to our yearnings, makes a much deeper impression upon us.

We become so used to our silent thoughts that saying what we long for aloud makes a much deeper impression on us.

The audible self-encouragement treatment may be used with marvelous results in correcting our weaknesses; overcoming our deficiencies.

Encouraging ourselves out loud may produce wonderful results in correcting our weaknesses and overcoming our shortcomings.

Never allow yourself to think meanly, narrowly, poorly of yourself. Never regard yourself as weak, inefficient, diseased, but as perfect, complete, capable. Never even think of the possibility of going through life a failure or a partial failure. Failure and misery are not for the man who has seen the God-side of himself, who has been in touch with divinity. They are for those who have never discovered themselves and their God-like qualities.

Never think of yourself as small, limited, or inadequate. Never see yourself as weak, ineffective, or sick. See yourself as perfect, complete, and capable. Never even consider the possibility that you might go through life as a failure or a partial failure. Failure and misery are not for the man who has seen the divine side of himself and connected with divinity. They are for those who have never discovered themselves and their God-like qualities.

Stoutly assert that there is a place for you in the world, and that you are going to fill it like a man. Train yourself to expect great things of yourself. Never admit, even by your manner, that you think you are destined to do little things all your life.

Assert confidently that there is a place for you in the world and that you will fill it like a man. Train yourself to expect great things from yourself. Never admit, even through your behavior, that you think you are destined to do little things all your life.

It is marvelous what mental strength can be developed by the perpetual affirmation of vigorous fitness, strength, power, efficiency; these are thoughts and ideals that make a strong man.

It is remarkable how much mental strength can be developed by constantly affirming your vigor, fitness, strength, power, and efficiency. These thoughts and ideals make a man strong.

The way to get the best out of yourself is to put things right up to yourself, handle yourself without gloves, and talk to yourself as you would to a son of yours who has great ability but who is not using half of it.

To get the best out of yourself, face things head-on and be tough with yourself. Talk to yourself as you would to a son with great ability who is not using even half of it.

When you go into an undertaking just say to yourself, "Now, this thing is right up to me. I've got to make good, to show the man in me or the coward. There is no backing out."

When you start a task, tell yourself, "This is up to me. I have to succeed and show whether I am a man or a coward. There is no backing out."

You will be surprised to see how quickly this sort of self-suggestion will brace you up and put new spirit in you.

You will be surprised how quickly this kind of self-suggestion boosts your confidence and lifts your spirits.

I have a friend who has helped himself wonderfully by talking to himself about his conduct. When he feels that he is not doing all that he ought to, that he has made some foolish mistake or has failed to use good sense and good judgment in any transaction, when he feels that his stamina and ambition are deteriorating, he goes off alone to the country, to the woods if possible, and has a good heart-to-heart talk with himself something after this fashion:

I have a friend who has helped himself enormously by talking to himself about his behavior. Sometimes he feels he is not doing all he should. Or he realizes he has made a foolish mistake or failed to use good sense and judgment in some dealing. At other times, he feels his stamina and ambition are declining. Whenever he feels this way, he goes off alone to the country, to the woods if possible. There he has a good heart-to-heart talk with himself, something like this:

"Now young man, you need a good talking-to, a bracing-up all along the line. You are going stale, your standards are dropping, your ideals are getting dull, and the worst of it all is that when you do a poor job, or are careless about your dress and indifferent in your manner, you do not feel as troubled as you used to. You are not making good. This lethargy, this inertia, this indifference will seriously cripple your career if you're not very careful. You are letting a lot of good chances slip by you, because you are not as progressive and up-to-date as you ought to be.

"Now, young man, you need a good talking-to and a boost in every area. You are growing stale, your standards are slipping, and your ideals are losing their shine. Worst of all, you are no longer as troubled when you do poor work, dress carelessly, or act indifferent. You are not doing well. This lack of energy, motivation, and concern will seriously harm your career if you are not very careful. You are missing many good opportunities because you are not as forward-thinking and up-to-date as you should be.

"In short, you are becoming lazy. You like to take things easy. Nobody ever amounts to much who lets his energies flag, his standards droop and his ambition ooze out. Now, I am going to keep right after you, young man, until you are doing yourself justice. This take-it-easy sort of policy will never land you at the goal you started for. You will have to watch yourself very closely or you will be left behind.

"In short, you are becoming lazy. You like to take it easy. Nobody amounts to much if they let their energy fade, their standards slip, and their ambition drain away. Now, young man, I am going to keep after you until you are living up to your potential. Taking it easy will never get you to the goal you set out to reach. You will have to watch yourself very closely, or you will be left behind.

"You are capable of something much better than what you are doing. You must start out to-day with a firm resolution to make the returns from your work greater to-night than ever before. You must make this a red-letter day. Bestir yourself; get the cobwebs out of your head; brush off the brain ash. Think, think, think to some purpose! Do not mull and mope like this. You are only half-alive, man; get a move on you!"

“You are capable of much better work than you are doing. Start today determined to achieve more by tonight than ever before. Make this a day to remember. Get moving. Clear the cobwebs and ashes from your mind. Think, think, think with a purpose! Stop brooding and moping like this. You are only half alive, man. Get moving!”

This young man says that every morning when he finds his standards are down and he feels lazy and indifferent he "hauls himself over the coals," as he calls it, in order to force himself up to a higher standard and put himself in tune for the day. It is the very first thing he attends to.

This young man says that some mornings he finds his standards have slipped and he feels lazy and indifferent. When that happens, he "hauls himself over the coals," as he calls it. He does this to push himself to a higher standard and get himself ready for the day. It is the first thing he does.

He forces himself to do the most disagreeable tasks first, and does not allow himself to skip hard problems. "Now, don't be a coward," he says to himself. "If others have done this, you can do it."

He makes himself do the most unpleasant tasks first. He doesn't let himself skip hard problems. "Now, don't be a coward," he tells himself. "If others have done this, you can do it."

By years of stern discipline of this kind he has done wonders with himself. He began as a poor boy living in the slums of New York with no one to take an interest in him, encourage or push him. Though he had little opportunity for schooling when he was a small boy, he has given himself a splendid education, mainly since he was twenty-one. I have never known any one else who carried on such a vigorous campaign in self-victory, self-development, self-training, self-culture as this young man has.

Through years of strict self-discipline like this, he has transformed himself in remarkable ways. He started out as a poor boy in the slums of New York. No one took an interest in him, encouraged him, or pushed him forward. Though he had little chance to attend school as a boy, he gave himself an excellent education, mostly after age twenty-one. I have never known anyone else who worked so hard to master, develop, train, and educate himself as this young man has.

At first it may seem silly to you to be talking to yourself, but you will derive so much benefit from it that you will have recourse to it in remedying all your defects. There is no fault, however great or small, which will not succumb to persistent audible suggestion. For example, you may be naturally timid and shrink from meeting people; and you may distrust your own ability. If so, you will be greatly helped by assuring yourself in your daily self-talks that you are not timid; that, on the contrary, you are the embodiment of courage and bravery. Assure yourself that there is no reason why you should be timid, because there is nothing inferior or peculiar about you; that you are attractive and that you know how to act in the presence of others. Say to yourself that you are never again going to allow yourself to harbor any thoughts of self-depreciation or timidity or inferiority; that you are going to hold your head up and go about as though you were a king, a conqueror, instead of crawling about like a whipped cur; you are going to assert your manhood, your individuality.

At first, talking to yourself may seem silly. But you will benefit so much that you will turn to it to correct all your faults. No fault, however great or small, can resist persistent spoken suggestions. For example, you may be naturally timid and shy away from meeting people. You may also doubt your own ability. If so, you will be greatly helped by telling yourself each day that you are not timid. Tell yourself that, on the contrary, you are courage and bravery itself. Assure yourself that there is no reason to be timid because there is nothing inferior or strange about you. Tell yourself that you are attractive and know how to behave around others. Say that you will never again allow yourself to dwell on thoughts of self-criticism, timidity, or inferiority. Tell yourself that you will hold your head up and walk like a king, a conqueror. You will no longer crawl around like a beaten dog. You will assert your manhood and your individuality.

If you lack initiative, stoutly affirm your ability to begin things, and to push them to a finish. And always put your resolve into action at the first opportunity.

If you lack initiative, firmly affirm your ability to start things and see them through. Always act on your resolve at the first opportunity.

You will be surprised to see how you can increase your courage, your confidence, and your ability, if you will be sincere with yourself and strong and persistent in your affirmations.

You will be surprised how much you can build your courage, confidence, and ability if you are honest with yourself and make strong, persistent affirmations.

I know of nothing so helpful for the timid, those who lack faith in themselves, as the habit of constantly affirming their own importance, their own power, their own divinity. The trouble is that we do not think half enough of ourselves; do not accurately measure our ability; do not put the right estimate upon our possibilities. We berate ourselves, belittle, efface ourselves, because we do not see the larger, diviner man in us.

I know of nothing more helpful for timid people who lack faith in themselves than constantly affirming their own importance, power, and divinity. The trouble is that we do not think nearly enough of ourselves. We do not accurately measure our abilities or properly value our possibilities. We criticize, belittle, and diminish ourselves because we do not see the greater, more divine person within us.

Try this experiment the very next time you get discouraged or think that you are a failure, that your work does not amount to much—turn about face. Resolve that you will go no further in that direction. Stop and face the other way, and go the other way. Every time you think you are a failure, it helps you to become one, for your thought is your life pattern and you can not get away from it. You can not get away from your ideals, the standard which you hold for yourself, and if you acknowledge in your thought that you are a failure, that you can't do anything worth while, that luck is against you, that you don't have the same opportunity that other people have—-your convictions will control the result.

Try this experiment the next time you feel discouraged. Try it when you think you are a failure or that your work doesn't amount to much. Turn around. Decide that you will go no further in that direction. Stop, face the other way, and go the other way. Every time you think you are a failure, you help yourself become one. Your thoughts are the pattern for your life, and you cannot escape them. You cannot escape your ideals or the standards you set for yourself. You may believe that you are a failure and can't do anything worthwhile. You may believe that luck is against you and that you don't have the same opportunities as others. If you accept these beliefs, they will control the result.

There are thousands of people who have lost everything they valued in the world, all the material results of their lives' endeavor, and yet, because they possess stout hearts, unconquerable spirits, a determination to push ahead which knows no retreat, they are just as far from real failure as before their loss; and with such wealth they can never be poor.

Thousands of people have lost everything they valued in the world, all the material results of their life's work. Yet they have strong hearts, unbreakable spirits, and a determination to move forward without ever retreating. Because of these qualities, they are just as far from real failure as they were before their loss. With such wealth, they can never be poor.

A great many people fail to reach a success which matches their ability because they are victims of their moods, which repel people and repel business.

Many people fail to achieve the success their abilities deserve because they are at the mercy of their moods. Those moods drive away people and business.

We avoid morose, gloomy people just as we avoid a picture which makes a disagreeable impression upon us.

We avoid gloomy, miserable people just as we avoid a picture that makes an unpleasant impression on us.

Everywhere we see people with great ambitions doing very ordinary things, simply because there are so many days when they do not "feel like it" or when they are discouraged or "blue."

Everywhere we see people with big ambitions doing very ordinary things. That is simply because, on so many days, they don't "feel like it" or feel discouraged or "blue."

A man who is at the mercy of a capricious disposition can never be a leader, a power among men.

A man who cannot control his unpredictable moods can never be a leader or a force among men.

It is perfectly possible for a well-trained mind to completely rout the worst case of the "blues" in a few minutes; but the trouble with most of us is that instead of flinging open the mental blinds and letting in the sun of cheerfulness, hope, and optimism, we keep them closed and try to eject the darkness by main force.

A well-trained mind can completely drive away even the worst case of the "blues" in a few minutes. But most of us keep our mental blinds closed and try to force out the darkness. Instead, we should fling them open and let in the sunshine of cheerfulness, hope, and optimism.

The art of arts is learning how to clear the mind of its enemies—enemies of our comfort, happiness, and success. It is a great thing to learn to focus the mind upon the beautiful instead of the ugly, the true instead of the false, upon harmony instead of discord, life instead of death, health instead of disease. This is not always easy, but it is possible to everybody. It requires only skilful thinking, the forming of the right thought habits.

The greatest art is learning to clear the mind of its enemies, the enemies of our comfort, happiness, and success. It is a great thing to learn to focus on the beautiful instead of the ugly, the true instead of the false. It is also a great thing to focus on harmony instead of discord, life instead of death, and health instead of disease. This is not always easy, but everyone can do it. It requires only skillful thinking and the formation of good thought habits.

The best way to keep out darkness is to keep the life filled with light; to keep out discord, keep it filled with harmony; to shut out error, keep the mind filled with truth; to shut out ugliness, contemplate beauty and loveliness; to get rid of all that is sour and unwholesome, contemplate all that is sweet and wholesome. Opposite thoughts can not occupy the mind at the same time.

The best way to keep darkness out is to fill your life with light. To keep discord out, fill your life with harmony. To keep error out, fill your mind with truth. To shut out ugliness, think about beauty and loveliness. To get rid of all that is sour and unhealthy, think about all that is sweet and wholesome. Opposite thoughts cannot occupy the mind at the same time.

No matter whether you feel like it or not, just affirm that you must feel like it, that you will feel like it, that you do feel like it, that you are normal and that you are in a position to do your best. Say it deliberately, affirm it vigorously and it will come true.

Whether you feel like it or not, tell yourself that you must feel like it, that you will feel like it, and that you do feel like it. Tell yourself that you are normal and able to do your best. Say it deliberately and affirm it vigorously, and it will come true.

The next time you get into trouble, or are discouraged and think you are a failure, just try the experiment of affirming vigorously, persistently, that all that is real must be good, for God made all that is, and whatever doesn't seem to be good is not like its creator and therefore can not be real. Persist in this affirmation. You will be surprised to see how unfortunate suggestions and adverse conditions will melt away before it.

The next time you get into trouble, feel discouraged, or think you are a failure, try this experiment. Strongly and repeatedly affirm that all that is real must be good. God made all that exists, and whatever does not seem good is not like its creator. Therefore, it cannot be real. Keep affirming this. You will be surprised to see how negative thoughts and unfavorable conditions melt away before it.

The next time you feel the "blues" or a fit of depression coming on, just get by yourself—if possible after taking a good bath and dressing yourself becomingly—and give yourself a good talking-to. Talk to yourself in the same dead-in-earnest way that you would talk to your own child or a dear friend who was deep in the mire of despondency, suffering tortures from melancholy. Drive out the black, hideous pictures which haunt your mind. Sweep away all depressing thoughts, suggestions, all the rubbish that is troubling you. Let go of everything that is unpleasant; all the mistakes, all the disagreeable past; just rise up in arms against the enemies of your peace and happiness; summon all the force you can muster and drive them out. Resolve that no matter what happens you are going to be happy; that you are going to enjoy yourself.

The next time you feel the "blues" or a spell of depression coming on, find a place to be alone. If possible, first take a good bath and dress in clothes that look good on you. Then give yourself a serious talking-to. Speak to yourself as earnestly as you would to your own child or a dear friend. Imagine that person deep in despair and tormented by sadness. Drive out the dark, horrible images that haunt your mind. Clear away all the depressing thoughts, suggestions, and other rubbish troubling you. Let go of everything unpleasant, all your mistakes and all the troubles of the past. Rise up against the enemies of your peace and happiness. Gather all the strength you can and drive them out. Resolve that, no matter what happens, you will be happy and enjoy yourself.

When you look at it squarely, it is very foolish—almost criminal—to go about this beautiful world, crowded with splendid opportunities, and things to delight and cheer us, with a sad, dejected face, as though life had been a disappointment instead of a priceless boon. Just say to yourself, "I am a man and I am going to do the work of a man. It's right up to me and I am going to face the situation."

When you look at it honestly, it is foolish, almost criminal, to go through this beautiful world looking sad and discouraged. The world is full of wonderful opportunities and things that delight and cheer us. Yet you look as though life has disappointed you instead of being a priceless gift. Just say to yourself, "I am a man, and I am going to do a man's work. It's up to me, and I am going to face the situation."

Do not let anybody or anything shake your faith that you can conquer all the enemies of your peace and happiness, and that you inherit an abundance of all that is good.

Do not let anyone or anything shake your belief that you can overcome all threats to your peace and happiness. Believe, too, that you inherit an abundance of all that is good.

We should early form the habit of erasing from the mind all disagreeable, unhealthy, death-dealing thoughts. We should start out every morning with a clean slate. We should blot out from our mental gallery all discordant pictures and replace them with the harmonious, uplifting, life-giving ones.

We should develop the habit early of clearing our minds of all unpleasant, unhealthy, and deadly thoughts. We should start every morning with a clean slate. We should erase all clashing pictures from our mental gallery and replace them with harmonious, uplifting, life-giving ones.

The next time you feel jaded, discouraged, completely played out and "blue," you will probably find, if you look for the reason, that your condition is largely due to exhausted vitality, either from overwork, overeating, or violating in some way the laws of digestion, or from vicious habits of some kind.

The next time you feel worn out, discouraged, completely exhausted, and "blue," look for the reason. You will probably find that your condition is largely due to a lack of energy. This may come from overwork, overeating, or disrupting your digestion in some other way. It may also come from harmful habits of some kind.

The "blues" are often caused by exhausted nerve cells, due to overstraining work, long-continued excitement, or over-stimulated nerves from dissipation. This condition is caused by the clamoring of exhausted nerve cells for nourishment, rest, or recreation. Multitudes of people suffer from despondency and melancholy, as a result of a run-down condition physically, due to their irregular, vicious habits and a lack of refreshing sleep.

The "blues" are often caused by exhausted nerve cells. The cells may be exhausted by overwork, prolonged excitement, or nerves overstimulated by excessive indulgence. In this condition, the exhausted nerve cells are crying out for nourishment, rest, or recreation. Many people suffer from sadness and despair because their bodies are worn down by irregular, harmful habits and a lack of refreshing sleep.

When you are feeling "blue" or discouraged, get as complete a change of environment as possible. Whatever you do, do not brood over your troubles or dwell upon the things which happen to annoy you at the time. Think the pleasantest, happiest things possible. Hold the most charitable, loving thoughts toward others. Make a strenuous effort to radiate joy and gladness to everybody about you. Say the kindest, pleasantest things. You will soon begin to feel a wonderful uplift; the shadows which darkened your mind will flee away, and the sun of joy will light up your whole being.

When you feel "blue" or discouraged, change your surroundings as completely as you can. Whatever you do, don't brood over your troubles or dwell on what's bothering you. Think the most pleasant, happy thoughts you can. Hold the most charitable, loving thoughts toward others. Make a strong effort to spread joy and happiness to everyone around you. Say the kindest, most pleasant things. You will soon begin to feel wonderfully uplifted. The shadows darkening your mind will disappear, and the sun of joy will light up your whole being.

Stoutly, constantly, everlastingly affirm that you will become what your ambitions indicate as fitting and possible. Do not say, "I shall be a success sometime"; say, "I am a success. Success is my birthright." Do not say that you are going to be happy in the future. Say to yourself, "I was intended for happiness, made for it, and I am happy now."

Firmly and constantly affirm that you will become what your ambitions show is right and possible for you. Do not say, "I will succeed someday." Say, "I am a success. Success is my birthright." Do not say that you will be happy in the future. Say to yourself, "I was meant for happiness, made for it, and I am happy now."

If, however, you affirm, "I am health; I am prosperity; I am this or that," but do not believe it, you will not be helped by affirmation. You must believe what you affirm and try to realise it.

However, if you affirm, "I am health. I am prosperity. I am this or that," but do not believe it, the affirmation will not help you. You must believe what you affirm and try to make it real.

Assert your actual possession of the things you need; of the qualities you long to have. Force your mind toward your goal; hold it there steadily, persistently, for this is the mental state that creates. The negative mind, which doubts and wavers, creates nothing.

Affirm that you already possess the things you need and the qualities you long to have. Direct your mind toward your goal. Keep it focused there steadily and persistently, because this state of mind creates. A negative mind that doubts and wavers creates nothing.

"I, myself, am good fortune," says Walt Whitman. If we could only realize that the very attitude of assuming that we are the real embodiment of the thing we long to be or to attain, that we possess the good things we long for, not that we possess all the qualities of good, but that we are these qualities—with the constant affirming, "I myself am good luck, good fortune; I am myself a part of the great creative, sustaining principle of the universe, because my real, divine self and my Father are one"—what a revolution would come to earth's toilers!

"I, myself, am good fortune," says Walt Whitman. Imagine the revolution that would come to the world's workers if we could only realize the power of this attitude. We must assume that we embody what we long to be or achieve, and that we have the good things we long for. We must assume not that we possess all the qualities of good, but that we are those qualities. And we must constantly affirm, "I myself am good luck, good fortune; I am myself a part of the great creative, sustaining principle of the universe, because my real, divine self and my Father are one."