has been a failure.
[6] It must not be deduced from this that the author deprecates
large achievement. There must always be the few who have to
bear huge responsibilities. The real success of the lives of
these great ones depends entirely upon their MOTIVE. If they
seek merely power, fame and self-aggrandisement, then their
life, no matter how it may APPEAR otherwise, can be only a
failure. If, however, their motive is SERVICE, then their life
is truly successful, no matter how it may appear to be
otherwise.
The writer's experience has been that it is necessary that we should
always be progressing, achieving, overcoming and endeavouring to
succeed. One of the greatest laws of the Universe is progress,
therefore it is fatal to stand still. We must go forward, we must
achieve, we must accomplish things. If we do so, we may find that
many things which cost us much effort, and hard work are not worth
the having, yet all the time we are learning, through experience,
and are being strengthened and prepared for greater things. Through
repeated failure to find true satisfaction we arrive finally at true
knowledge, wisdom and understanding. We are wise then, if, with the
world at our feet, we can be satisfied with a very moderate material
success, and turn our attention and aspirations to higher and better
things.
In concluding this chapter let it be pointed out that success and
achievement will not drop ready made from heaven into your lap. All
who succeed are gluttons for work, toiling whilst others play and
sleep. All teaching to the contrary is erroneous. To think that
success is going to come to you when it is unmerited, simply because
you make use of "affirmations" or employ mental "treatments," is folly
of the first water. On the other hand, to use the inner forces in
an occult way, so as to compel material things or "success,"
so-called, in any shape or form, to come to you, is black magic. One
who stoops to such practices becomes a black magician, earning for
himself a terrible retribution. There is only one way to succeed in
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