X. Firmness

This term does not have to be defined - you all know what it means. It is the faculty of stability; fixity; decision; perseverance; tenacity; manifestation of the determined will. Too much of it may make you mulish, and stubborn - but very few of you have too much of it, along the right lines. You need to develop it by the threefold-method along the lines of "putting your hand to the plow, and looking not backward"; sticking to your original plans, de spite the talk of others; resisting tendencies to "side-track" you. This is the faculty that keeps the will to the task, like the chisel to the metal, until the work is done. Be firm as a rock against which beat the storms, but which yields not an inch, nor is it hurt a particle. Have a mind of your own, and hold to what you believe is right. See your object, and march straight to it, firm in your determination and purpose. By all means develop the faculty of firmness.

XI. Hope

This is the faculty of expectation, and anticipation. It gives us one of the three features of success - "Earnest Expectation." You must believe in your success and must "earnestly expect" it. Cultivate hope and "earnest expectation" by all means. Be not a mere dreamer or visionary, through excessive hope - but cultivate desire; then develop earnest expectation; then will to act. Each of these features is necessary to the great three. Develop it by the threefold-method, along the lines of "looking on the bright side," visualization; "looking aloft"; not worrying; and belief in the efficacy of earnest demand accompanied by earnest work. Visualization is the greatest incentive to hope and earnest expectation. When you can see the thing done "in your mind's eye," you have started to build in earnest - the rest is a mere matter of detail and work.

XII. Mirthfulness

This is the faculty of humor. By all means cultivate the sense of humor. It will save you from more follies and ridiculous positions than anything else. And cultivate the cheerful spirit for it will make life easier for you. and will lubricate the machinery of work and endeavor. It will also make friends for you, and will tend to remove the obstacles which the world throws in the way of people who are sour, disagreeable and "grouchy." Smile and the world smiles with you; frown and you get a frown. Develop this faculty, by all means, by the threefold-method, along the lines of humor, joy, cheerfulness.

And, so, now I have called your attention to the faculties most prominent in the dynamic individual. 1 have not spoken of his religious or moral faculties, because these lessons are dealing with another part of his make-up. But do not imagine that the qualities named here have no connection with the religious or moral life. There is nothing that I have recommended here that will not apply as well to the minister as the business man - to the priest as well as the salesman. The same mental qualities that make a bad man "great" and "strong" will maka a good man "great" and "strong." Morals are one thing and degrees of strength another. Good men may be strong or weak; bad men may also be strong or weak. And in the degree of "strength" will be the degree of influence, for good or evil, that a man will manifest. With this in mind, I think that it would he a great thing for the world, if some one were to distribute this book among the "good" men of the world. The evil men have a knowledge of the subject, already.

In closing this chapter, let me remind you that these mental states, cultivated and developed as I have shown you, will manifest themselves in your outward manner and demeanor, as mental suggestions to those with whom you come in contact. The symbol will spring from the inner reality. And they will also manifest in the shape of currents of Desire-Force and "Will-Power, which will sweep far and wide, as well as near and close, influencing and affecting those within their field of induction. From these mental states will flow a strong stream of power which will tend to "draw" to you that which you demand and desire; and which will also tend to "force and compel" the things that you so will. You are a great centre of power, which radiates from you continually. Realize this, and endeavor to charge that force with the best qualities and properties, that while you are asserting your own individual rights, you will still be doing something toward the great work of strengthening the race, to the end that it may produce more real individuals ready and capable of playing their part in the great drama of life on the stage of the universe.

This talk is along new lines and is radical in the treatment given the subject. It is as "meat for strong men, and not milk for babes." There is no "bromide" or "pink-tea effects" in it. It is vital, radical, and positive. Its message is "Strength." All truth that is worth while, renders its possessor stronger - if any teachings cannot stand this test, discard them. Nature's Law is toward producing strong individuals - fall in with it, and Nature will come to your aid, for then you will be one of its chosen ones. Fall in with the law of evolution - do not run contrary to it. In the one ease, you are nourished, supported, strengthened and encouraged - in the other, you are relentlessly crowded out by the operations of the law.

If you get one-half the benefit from the study of this book that I obtained from the writing of it, you will be well repaid for your task. It is as a "live wire," charged with the elemental force, energy and truth about certain occult natural laws. It contains a message for you, which I trust you will heed - for you need it. If you are an individual, this teaching is just what you want. And the same is true if you are not one, but want to be one. But, if you are a weakling, and prefer to remain so, instead of rising and claiming your birthright of strength - your heritage of power; then by ail means remain as you are, and go on your own way. Leave these teachings for the others of your brethren, who will not sell their birthright of power for the mess of pottage of negative content, and sheep-like passivity, but who are boldly claiming their own, and demanding their rightful portion - these strong brothers of yours, the individuals who are the coming inheritors of the earth.

I have tried to infuse my words with the strong, vital energy, which I feel surging through me as I write out this message of strength to you. I trust that these words will act as a current of verbal "electrons," each carrying its full charge of dynamic power. And I trust that each word will act to so fill you with the Mind-Power that gave them birth, and will thus awaken in you a similar mental state, desire and will, to be strong, forceful, and dynamic - determined to assert your individuality in being and doing that which the universal creative desire and will is hoping that you will be and do. 1 send to you this message charged with the very dynamic vibrations of my brain, as it transforms and converts the Mind-Power into thoughts and words. I send it to you - yes, you, who are now reading the words - with all the energy, force and power at my command, to the end that it may pierce your armor of indifference, fear, and doubt, and "I Can't." And that reaching into your heart of de-sire, it may fill you with the very spirit of individuality, conscious egohood, perception of reality, and realization of the "I." So that from hence on your battle cry will be changed, and you will plunge into the thick of the fight, filled with the Berserker rage, like the Icelandic hero of old, and shouting your positive cry of freedom, "I Can; I Will; I Dare; I Do!" you will mow your way clear through the ranks of the horde of ignorance, and negativity, and reach the heights beyond. This is my message to you - the individual!