The Great Dynamic Forces

You have noticed the difference between the successful and strong men in any walk of life, and the unsuccessful weak men around them. You are conscious of the widely differing characteristics of the two classes, but somehow find it difficult to express just in what the difference lies. Let us take a look at the matter.

You have noticed the difference between successful, strong men in all walks of life and the unsuccessful, weak men around them. You can see that the two groups have very different qualities. But somehow, you find it hard to say exactly what the difference is. Let's take a closer look.

Buxton said: “The longer I live, the more certain I am that the great difference between men, the feeble and the powerful, the great and the insignificant, is energy and invincible determination—a purpose once fixed and then Death or Victory. That quality will do anything that can be done in this world—and no talents, no circumstances, no opportunities will make a two-legged creature a man without it.” I do not see how the idea could be more clearly expressed than Buxton has spoken. He has put his finger right in the center of the subject—his eye has seen into the heart of it.

Buxton said: “The longer I live, the more certain I am about what separates men. The difference between the weak and the powerful, the great and the insignificant, is energy and unstoppable determination. Once a man sets his purpose, he must pursue it to death or victory. That quality can accomplish anything that can be done in this world. Without it, no talents, circumstances, or opportunities can make a two-legged creature a man.” I cannot see how Buxton could have expressed the idea more clearly. He has put his finger right at the center of the subject. He has seen into its heart.

Energy and invincible determination—these two things will sweep away mighty barriers, and will surmount the greatest obstacles. And yet they must be used together. Energy without determination will go to waste. Lots of men have plenty of energy—they are full to overflowing with it; and yet they lack concentration—they lack the concentrated force that enables them to bring their power to bear upon the right spot. Energy is not nearly so rare a thing as many imagine it to be. I can look around me at any time, and pick out a number of people I know who are full of energy—many of them are energy plus—and yet, somehow, they do not seem to make any headway. They are wasting (their energy all the time. Now they are fooling with this thing—now meddling with that. They will take up some trifling thing of no real interest or importance, and waste enough energy and nervous force to carry them through a hard day’s work; and yet when they are through, nothing has been accomplished.

Energy and unstoppable determination can sweep away huge barriers and overcome the greatest obstacles. But they must be used together. Energy without determination will go to waste. Many men have plenty of energy. They are overflowing with it, but they lack focus. They lack the concentrated force that lets them direct their power to the right spot. Energy is not nearly as rare as many people imagine. At any time, I can look around and pick out several people I know who are full of energy. Many of them have energy to spare, but somehow they do not seem to make any progress. They are wasting their energy all the time. First they fool around with one thing, then they meddle with another. They take up some trivial thing of no real interest or importance. They waste enough energy and nervous force on it to get through a hard day’s work. Yet when they are done, they have accomplished nothing.

Others who have plenty of energy, fail to direct it by the power of the Will toward the desired end. “Invincible determination”—those are the words. Do they not thrill you with their power? If you have something to do, get to work and do it. Marshal your energy, and then guide and direct it by your Will—bestow upon it that “invincible determination” and you will do the thing.

Others have plenty of energy, but they fail to use their will to direct it toward their goal. “Invincible determination.” Those are the words. Don’t they thrill you with their power? If you have something to do, get to work and do it. Gather your energy, then guide and direct it with your will. Give it that “invincible determination” and you will get the job done.

Everyone has within him a giant will, but the majority of us are too lazy to use it. We cannot get ourselves nerved up to the point at which we can say, truthfully: “I Will.” If we can but screw up our courage to that point, and will then pin it in place so that it will not slip back, we will be able to call into play that wonderful power—the Human Will. Man, as a rule, has but the faintest conception of the power of the Will, but those who have studied along the occult teachings, know that the Will is one of the great dynamic forces of the universe, and if harnessed and directed properly it is capable of accomplishing almost miraculous things.

Everyone has a giant will within them, but most of us are too lazy to use it. We cannot build up enough courage to say, truthfully, “I Will.” But if we can reach that point and hold ourselves there, we can use a wonderful power: the Human Will. As a rule, people have only the faintest idea of the Will’s power. But those who have studied occult teachings know that the Will is one of the great dynamic forces of the universe. If harnessed and directed properly, it can accomplish almost miraculous things.

“Energy and Invincible Determination”—aren’t they magnificent words? Commit them to memory—press them like a die into the wax of your mind, and they will be a constant inspiration to you in hours of need. If you can get these words to vibrating in your being, you will be a giant among pygmies. Say these words over and over again, and see how you are filled with new life—see how your blood will circulate—how your nerves will tingle. Make these words a part of yourself, and then go forth anew to the battle of life, encouraged and strengthened. Put them into practice. “Energy and Invincible Determination ,,—let that be your motto in your work-a-day life, and you will be one of those rare men who are able to “do things.”

“Energy and Invincible Determination.” Aren’t those magnificent words? Memorize them. Stamp them into your mind as a die stamps wax. They will be a constant inspiration when you need them. If you can make these words vibrate within you, you will be a giant among pygmies. Say them over and over, and see how they fill you with new life. Feel your blood circulate and your nerves tingle. Make these words a part of yourself. Then go back into the battle of life, encouraged and strengthened. Put them into practice. Make “Energy and Invincible Determination” your motto in your everyday work. You will be one of those rare men who can “do things.”

Many persons are deterred from doing their best by the fact that they underrate themselves by comparison with the successful ones of life, or rather, overrate the successful ones by comparison with themselves.

Many people are discouraged from doing their best because they underestimate themselves compared with successful people. Or rather, they overestimate successful people compared with themselves.

One of the curious things noticed by those who are brought in contact with the people who have “arrived” is the fact that these successful people are not extraordinary after all. You meet with some great writer, and you are disappointed to find him very ordinary indeed. He does not converse brilliantly, and, in fact, you know a score of everyday people who seem far more brilliant than this man who dazzles you by his brightness in his books. You meet some great statesman, and he does not seem nearly so wise as lots of old fellows in your own village, who waste their wisdom upon the desert air. You meet some great captain of industry, and he does not give you the impression of the shrewdness so marked in some little bargain-driving trader in your own town. How is this, anyway? Are the reputations of these people fictitious, or what is the trouble?

People who meet those who have “arrived” often notice something curious. These successful people are not so extraordinary after all. You meet a great writer and are disappointed to find him quite ordinary. He is not a brilliant conversationalist. In fact, you know twenty everyday people who seem far more brilliant than this man whose books dazzle you. You meet a great statesman, and he seems less wise than many old men in your own village. They waste their wisdom on empty air. You meet a great captain of industry, and he seems less shrewd than a small-time trader in your town who drives hard bargains. How can this be? Are these people's reputations false, or what is the problem?

The trouble is this: You have imagined these people to be made of superior metal, and are disappointed to find them made of the same stuff as yourself and those about you. But, you ask, wherein does their greatness of achievement lie? Chiefly in this: Belief in themselves and in their inherent power, in their faculty to concentrate on the work in hand, when they are working, and in their ability to prevent leaks of power when they are not working. They believe in themselves, and make every effort count. Your village wiseman spills his wisdom on every corner, and talks to a lot of fools; when if he really were wise he would save up his wisdom and place it where it would do some work. The brilliant writer does not waste his wit upon every comer; in fact, he shuts the drawer in which he contains his wit, and opens it only when he is ready to concentrate and get down to business. The captain of industry has no desire to impress you with his shrewdness and “smartness.” He never did, even when he was young. While his companions were talking and boasting, and “blowing,” this future successful financier was “sawin’ wood and sayin’ nuthin’.”

The trouble is this: You imagined these people were made of superior material. You are disappointed to find they are made of the same stuff as you and those around you. But, you ask, what makes their achievements great? Chiefly this: They believe in themselves and their natural power. They believe in their ability to focus on the task at hand when working. They also believe in their ability to keep from wasting power when they are not working. They believe in themselves and make every effort count. Your village wise man spills his wisdom on every corner and talks to a lot of fools. If he were really wise, he would save his wisdom and put it to work where it could do some good. The brilliant writer does not waste his wit on everyone he meets. In fact, he shuts the drawer where he keeps his wit. He opens it only when he is ready to focus and get down to business. The captain of industry has no desire to impress you with his shrewdness and “cleverness.” He never did, even when he was young. While his companions were talking and boasting and “bragging,” this future successful financier was “sawing wood and saying nothing.”

The great people of the world—that is, those who have “arrived”—are not very different from you, or me, or the rest of us—all of us are about the same at the base. You have only to meet them to see how very “ordinary” they are, after all. But, don’t forget the fact that they know how to use the material that is in them; while the rest of the crowd does not, and, in fact, even doubts whether the true stuff is there. The man or woman who “gets there,” usually starts out by realizing that he or she is not so very different, after all, from the successful people that they hear so much about. This gives them confidence, and the result is they find out that they are able to “do things.” Then they learn to keep their mouths closed, and to avoid wasting and dissipating their energy. They store up energy, and concentrate it upon the task at hand; while their companions are scattering their energies in every direction, trying to show off and let people know how smart they are. The man or woman who “gets there,” prefers to wait for the applause that follows deeds accomplished, and cares very little for the praise that attends promises of what we expect to do “some day,” or an exhibition of “smartness” without works.

The great people of the world, those who have “arrived,” are not very different from you, me, or anyone else. At the core, we are all about the same. You only have to meet them to see how “ordinary” they really are. But don't forget that they know how to use what's inside them. Most people don't, and they even doubt whether they have the right stuff in them. The man or woman who “gets there” usually starts by recognizing something. They realize they aren't so different from the successful people they hear so much about. This realization gives them confidence, and they discover that they can “do things.” Then they learn to keep their mouths shut and avoid wasting their energy. They store up energy and focus it on the task at hand. Meanwhile, their companions scatter their energy in every direction, trying to show off and let people know how smart they are. The man or woman who “gets there” prefers to wait for the applause that follows completed work. They care very little for praise earned by promises of what we expect to do “some day.” They also care little for praise earned by showing off their “smartness” without getting anything done.

One of the reasons that people who are thrown in with successful men often manifest success themselves, is that they are able to watch the successful man and sort of “catch the trick” of his greatness. They see that he is an everyday sort of man, but that he thoroughly believes in himself, and also that he does not waste energy, but reserves all his force for the actual tasks before him. And, profiting by example, they start to work and put the lesson into practice in their own lives.

One reason people who spend time with successful men often become successful themselves is that they can watch them and “catch the trick” of their greatness. They see that a successful man is an ordinary person, but he completely believes in himself. They also see that he does not waste energy, but saves all his strength for the tasks before him. Learning from his example, they get to work and put the lesson into practice in their own lives.

Now what is the moral of this talk? Simply this: Don’t undervalue yourself, or overvalue others. Realize that you are made of good stuff, and that locked within your mind are many good things. Then get to work and unfold those good things, and make something out of that good stuff. Do this by attention to the things before you, and by giving to each the best that is in you, knowing that plenty of more good things are in you ready for the fresh tasks that will come. Put the best of yourself into the undertaking on hand, and do not cheat the present task in favor of some future one. Your supply is inexhaustible. And don’t waste your good stuff on the crowd of gapers, watchers and critics who are standing around watching you work. Save your good stuff for your job, and don’t be in too much of a hurry for applause. Save up your good thoughts for “copy” if you are a writer; save up your bright schemes for actual practice, if you are a business man; save up your wisdom for occasion, if you are a statesman; and, in each case, avoid the desire to scatter your pearls before—well, before the gaping crowd that wants to be entertained by a “free show.”

What is the lesson of this talk? Simply this: Don’t undervalue yourself or overvalue others. Realize that you are made of good stuff, and that many good things are locked within your mind. Then get to work, bring out those good things, and make something of that good stuff. Pay attention to what is before you, and give each task your best. Know that plenty more good things are ready inside you for the new tasks that will come. Put your best into the task at hand. Don’t shortchange it for the sake of some future task. Your supply is inexhaustible. And don’t waste your good stuff on the crowd of gawkers, onlookers, and critics standing around watching you work. Save it for your job, and don’t be too eager for applause. If you are a writer, save your good thoughts for your writing. If you are a businessperson, save your bright ideas for actual practice. If you are a statesman, save your wisdom for when it is needed. In every case, resist the urge to scatter your pearls before, well, the gaping crowd that wants a “free show.”

Nothing very “high” about this teaching, perhaps, but it is what many of you need very much. Stop fooling, and get down to business. Stop wasting good raw material, and start to work making something worth while.

Perhaps there is nothing very “high” about this teaching, but it is what many of you badly need. Stop fooling around and get down to business. Stop wasting good raw material and start making something worthwhile.