The Secret of Success - 23 Self Help Classics

William Walker Atkinson

Everyone in the world wants to attain something that is generally equal to success - reaching a goal. Success is as distinctive as fingerprints because everyone lives a life of their own. In fact, individuality leads to success as it allows people to break free from tradition and rules that hold them back from achieving their dreams. This requires each person to find their own path to being successful, as along the lines of one's

individuality is the secret of success. Leaders are self-assertive and directive, while followers are without individuality and

initiative (i.e. sheep). Great people enjoy living through following their inward convictions of personal strength and

ability. Individual expression allows us to find our inner self (“I”) and express it, which is mandatory for success.

The “I” is one's real self and it uses the mind to know, but without “I” the mind is nothing. To get in touch with the “I”

means becoming a great being and power, and is required to become an individual. “Me” is personality, the outer shell of physical appearance, and is made up of characteristics, traits, habits, thoughts, expressions and motions. Spirit is energy, vivacity, courage and enthusiasm. To have spirit means to be

possessed with life and vigor, which leads to power and life and comes from the core of self, as defined by “I am.” Spirit is

developed by instinct and intuition, by listening to that inner voice, conscious, or intuition. When two animals or people meet, their spirits battle to see which is stronger and will become the leader. This battle is not determined by physical strength, intellect or culture alone, but by the manifestation and recognition of spirit.

The second wind, or third or fourth, is when the body

opens the reserves to dispense vital energies, after the physical body has become exhausted. People have so much more life to offer than most realize, and the majority of people stroll

through life without any hustle or bustle or vigor, which is spirit.

Most people lack the desire or incentive, the “want to hard enough” attitude, and this desire is what stimulates will;

without it, people will not accomplish anything. Earnest and enthusiasm are useful in fueling desire, and can be trained so a person can control and apply desire, interest or incentive when it is time to get something accomplished. This is one secret of success, that a person will not be anymore exhausted after applying desire, incentive or interest than they are from doing routine chores. Will is defined here as a vital power that is an acting force that can control other mental functions, as well as

other people through projection of itself. Will and “I” go

together (will is power controlled by “I”). Desires are developed to allow the will to grow, and the application of auto-suggestion and constant attention is required for desire and will to

manifest. Will is always present, but the individual must learn how to use it. A carefully trained will provides energy and invincible determination to make one powerful enough to

overcome all odds. Will is the power behind determination and persistence added to resolve to accomplish a purpose.

Enthusiasm, “to be inspired,” is really soul power and inspired interest. The more interest that is applied to

something, the more confidence, desire and enthusiasm that is put forth. Vibrations of success follow enthusiasm and personal magnetism. “Did I do my best” always equals success, while

“what's the use” breeds failure. Attachments are often

mistaken for desire instead of looking for true inner desire of our spirit. Desire motivates every action based on the natural law of life. Man can master the “I” and control desire, and can even create desire instead of nonchalantly going with the

desires that evolve through the Law of Averages.

To create desire, first form a clear, vivid mental image of qualities, things, details, specifics of the completed whole desire as a reality. Imagination is a real faculty of mind that

makes a mold for things. Practice and perseverance are required to constantly focus mental images. Desire, craving, demand and longing are all qualities that help to fuel the fire of action. When something is desired enough and demanded, the individual will think about it as commonplace as eating and sleeping.

The Law of Attraction operates by attracting things

together based on interests, and the opposite law is repulsion.

The law is universal, and affects all things physical and spiritual of life. In science, cohesion, or a chemical affinity, causes

atoms to join together, for example. For instance, if an

individual wants to accomplish or be successful they cannot do it alone. Groups, alliances, agreements, and arrangements must be formed in accordance with desire, and by the Law of Attraction and mental imagery the events and circumstances will come to garner success. The Law of Attraction is founded upon desire and will, and is necessary for success. Desire is important for success because it sets into motion the Law of Attraction. Desire-force is basic human life power and the stronger the energy generated, the more this leads to greater action of the Law of Attraction. Will is developed by natural force of mental influence. Thoughts of fear are detrimental to success and all negativity must be vanquished from the mind

via auto-suggestion and replaced with happy thoughts (always think of the positive; make the best of any situation).

Vibrations are both positive and negative, and by replacing the negative ones with positive vibrations, the negativity is reduced and eventually replaced.

The key to personal magnetism is enthusiasm thanks to a firm, confident and honest belief. Personal magnetism-types are loving, warm, attractive and friendly, and they attract others through their personality. Someone who is cold,

intellectual, thoughtful, and rational is non-magnetic, and fails to generate attraction from others the same way as a person who is magnetic. This can be seen during elections where the best candidate may not get the votes because he or she is not attracting enough good vibes based on their appearance, aloof attitude or being a know-it-all. Everyone wants to be led by someone who can identify with them, and even though leaders are smarter and more intellectual than the most people, it is necessary for them to “work the crowd” and use their smarts to dumb themselves down in order to win the contest. An

audience wants to feel with their heart, not think with their heads. This is another reason people who are uneducated refuse to listen to experts about any topics, because they are not attracted to the style or manner in which the expert is

reaching out to them.

Personality is stage presence, and just as actors play various characters on stage, so do everyone in real life. Erving Goffman, a sociologist, defined this as symbolic interactionism and it is a major social theory about social interactions in

everyday life. In order to use personality to gain success, one must think how they want to be because this will unfold into action. The art of taking interest in others is important for success, and it involves using personal magnetism to be

agreeable towards others to influence them. However, do not become over involved and sacrifice one's own self. A middle ground must be established between being socially involved and committed to one's success. A way to do this with other people is to find something interesting in everyone that is met and focus on that interest. By the Law of Compensation any interest given will become interest received. Be a good listener, and listen with interest. Do not overwhelm or bore with

personal experiences, and talk about what the other person is interested in or just let them do all of the talking. This will work for personal and business communications for success in

persuading others. Self-control (keeping one's temper) is important, as anger is a sign of weakness and will

disadvantage the irate person. Keep a controlled voice, calm,

low, steady, and without passion. Be neat, clean and have self-respect; express quality in appearance and dress with a refined taste. Think of what type of personality is required to be

successful, and build this up from the inside out. Earnest desire, confident expectation and a firm resolve are the three traits that make accomplishment and lead to success.

In document 23 Self Help Classics (Page 173-180)