Imagining the Ideal

You are a thinking center in original substance, and the thoughts of original substance have creative power; whatever is formed in its thought and held as a thought-form must come into existence as a visible and so-called material form, and a thought-form held in thinking substance is a reality; it is a real thing, whether it has yet become visible to mortal eye or not. This is a fact that you should impress upon your understanding—that a thought held in thinking substance is a real thing; a form, and has actual existence, although it is not visible to you. You internally take the form in which you think of yourself; and you surround yourself with the invisible forms of those things with which you associate in your thoughts.

You are a thinking center in original substance, and the thoughts of original substance have creative power. Whatever takes shape in its thought and is held as a thought-form must become visible in a so-called material form. A thought-form held in thinking substance is a reality. It is a real thing, whether human eyes can see it yet or not. You should firmly grasp this fact: a thought held in thinking substance is a real thing. It has form and actually exists, although you cannot see it. Within yourself, you take the form you imagine yourself to have. And you surround yourself with the invisible forms of the things you associate with in your thoughts.

If you desire a thing, picture it clearly and hold the picture steadily in mind until it becomes a definite thought-form; and if your practices are not such as to separate you from God, the thing you want will come to you in material form. It must do so in obedience to the law by which the universe was created.

If you want something, picture it clearly. Keep that picture steady in your mind until it becomes a definite thought-form. And if your actions do not separate you from God, what you want will take material form and reach you. This must happen in obedience to the law that created the universe.

Make no thought-form of yourself in connection with disease or sickness, but form a conception of health. Make a thought-form of yourself as strong and hearty and perfectly well; impress this thought-form on creative intelligence, and if your practices are not in violation of the laws by which the physical body is built, your thought-form will become manifest in your flesh. This also is certain; it comes by obedience to law.

Do not create a thought-form of yourself as sick or diseased. Instead, picture yourself in good health. Create a thought-form of yourself as strong, energetic, and completely well. Impress this thought-form on creative intelligence. If your habits do not violate the laws that build the physical body, your thought-form will become physical reality. This result is also certain. It comes from obeying these laws.

Make a thought-form of yourself as you desire to be, and set your ideal as near to perfection as your imagination is capable of forming the conception. Let me illustrate: If a young law student wishes to become great, let him picture himself (while attending to the viewpoint, consecration, and identification, as previously directed) as a great lawyer, pleading his case with matchless eloquence and power before the judge and jury; as having an unlimited command of truth, of knowledge, and of wisdom. Let him picture himself as the great lawyer in every possible situation and contingency; while he is still only the student in all circumstances, let him never forget or fail to be the great lawyer in his thought-form of himself. As the thought-form grows more definite and habitual in his mind, the creative energies, both within and without, are set at work. He begins to manifest the form from within; and all the essentials without, which go into the picture, begin to be impelled toward him. He makes himself into the image and God works with him; nothing can prevent him from becoming what he wishes to be.

Create a thought-form of yourself as you want to be. Make your ideal as close to perfection as you can imagine. Let me give an example: If a young law student wants to become great, he should picture himself as a great lawyer. As he does so, he should attend to the viewpoint, consecration, and identification, as previously directed. He should picture himself arguing his case before the judge and jury with unmatched eloquence and power. He should imagine having an unlimited command of truth, knowledge, and wisdom. He should picture himself as the great lawyer in every possible situation and circumstance. Although he is still only a student in every situation, he must always be the great lawyer in his thought-form. As the thought-form becomes clearer and more habitual in his mind, creative energies within and outside him begin working. He begins to express that image from within. And all the outside essentials that make up the picture begin to be drawn toward him. He shapes himself into the image, and God works with him. Nothing can prevent him from becoming what he wants to be.

In the same general way the musical student pictures himself as performing perfect harmonies, and as delighting vast audiences; the actor forms the highest conception he is capable of in regard to his art, and applies this conception to himself. The farmer and the mechanic do exactly the same thing. Fix upon your ideal of what you wish to make of yourself; consider well and be sure that you make the right choice; that is, the one which will be the most satisfactory to you in a general way. Do not pay too much attention to the advice or suggestions of those around you; do not believe that any one can know, better than yourself, what is right for you. Listen to what others have to say, but always form your own conclusions. DO NOT LET OTHER PEOPLE DECIDE WHAT YOU ARE TO BE. BE WHAT YOU FEEL THAT YOU WANT TO BE.

In much the same way, the music student imagines himself playing perfect harmonies and delighting huge audiences. The actor imagines the highest standard he can for his art, then pictures himself meeting that standard. The farmer and the mechanic do exactly the same thing. Settle on your ideal of who you want to become. Think carefully and make sure you choose what will satisfy you most overall. Do not pay too much attention to the advice or suggestions of those around you. Do not believe that anyone can know better than you what is right for you. Listen to what others have to say, but always draw your own conclusions. DO NOT LET OTHER PEOPLE DECIDE WHO YOU WILL BE. BE WHO YOU FEEL YOU WANT TO BE.

Do not be misled by a false notion of obligation or duty. You can owe no possible obligation or duty to others which should prevent you from making the most of yourself. Be true to yourself, and you cannot then be false to any man. When you have fully decided what thing you want to be, form the highest conception of that thing that you are capable of imagining, and make that conception a thought-form. Hold that thought-form as a fact, as the real truth about yourself, and believe in it.

Do not let a false sense of obligation or duty mislead you. No obligation or duty to others should prevent you from making the most of yourself. Be true to yourself, and you cannot be false to anyone else. Once you have fully decided what you want to be, imagine the highest version of that ideal you can. Turn that image into a thought-form. Hold that thought-form as a fact, as the real truth about yourself, and believe in it.

Close your ears to all adverse suggestions. Never mind if people call you a fool and a dreamer. Dream on. Remember that Bonaparte, the half-starved lieutenant, always saw himself as the general of armies and the master of France, and he became in outward realization what he held himself to be in mind. So likewise will you. Attend carefully to all that has been said in the preceding chapters, and act as directed in the following ones, and you will become what you want to be.

Ignore all negative suggestions. Don't worry if people call you a fool and a dreamer. Keep dreaming. Remember that Bonaparte, a half-starved lieutenant, always pictured himself commanding armies and ruling France. He became in reality what he believed himself to be in his mind. You will do the same. Pay close attention to everything said in the earlier chapters, and follow the instructions in the chapters ahead. Then you will become what you want to be.