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LESSON VIII. CONCENTRATION GIVES MENTAL POISE

Books: The Power of Concentration

The Mental Demand is the potent force in achievement. The

attitude of the mind affects the expression of the face,

determines action, changes our physical condition and regulates

our lives.



I will not here attempt to explain the silent force that achieves

results. You want to develop your mental powers so you can effect

the thing sought, and that is what I want to teach you. There is

wonderfu
power and possibility in the concentrated Mental

Demand. This, like all other forces, is controlled by laws. It

can, like all other forces, be wonderfully increased by

consecutive, systematized effort.



The mental demand must be directed by every power of the mind and

every possible element should be used to make the demand

materialize. You can so intently desire a thing that you can

exclude all distracting thoughts. When you practice this

singleness of concentration until you attain the end sought, you

have developed a Will capable of accomplishing whatever you wish.



As long as you can only do the ordinary things you will be

counted in the mass of mediocrity. But just as quick as you

surpass others by even comparatively small measure, you are

classed as one of life's successes. So, if you wish to emerge

into prominence, you must accomplish something more than the

ordinary man or woman. It is easy to do this if you will but

concentrate on what you desire, and put forth your best effort.

It is not the runner with the longest legs or the strongest

muscles that wins the race, but the one that can put forth the

greatest desire force. You can best understand this by thinking

of an engine. The engine starts up slowly, the engineer gradually

extending the throttle to the top notch. It is then keyed up to

its maximum speed. The same is true of two runners. They start

off together and gradually they increase their desire to go

faster. The one that has the greatest intensity of desire will

win. He may outdistance the other by only a fraction of an inch,

yet he gets the laurels.



The men that are looked upon as the world's successes have not

always been men of great physical power, nor at the start did

they seem very well adapted to the conditions which encompassed

them. In the beginning they were not considered men of superior

genius, but they won their success by their resolution to achieve

results in their undertakings by permitting no set-back to

dishearten them; no difficulties to daunt them. Nothing could

turn them or influence them against their determination. They

never lost sight of their goal. In all of us there is this silent

force of wonderful power. If developed, it can overcome

conditions that would seem insurmountable. It is constantly

urging us on to greater achievement. The more we become

acquainted with it the better strategists we become, the more

courage we develop and the greater the desire within us for

self-expression in activity along many lines.



No one will ever be a failure if he becomes conscious of this

silent force within that controls his destiny. But without the

consciousness of this inner force, you will not have a clear

vision, and external conditions will not yield to the power of

your mind. It is the mental resolve that makes achievement

possible. Once this has been formed it should never be allowed to

cease to press its claim until its object is attained. To make

plans work out it will, at times, be necessary to use every power

of your mind. Patience, perseverance and all the indomitable

forces within one will have to be mustered and used with the

greatest effectiveness.



Perseverance is the first element of success. In order to

persevere you must be ceaseless in your application. It requires

you to concentrate your thoughts upon your undertaking and bring

every energy to bear upon keeping them focused upon it until you

have accomplished your aim. To quit short of this is to weaken

all future efforts.



The Mental Demand seems an unreal power because it is intangible;

but it is the mightiest power in the world. It is a power that is

free for you to use. No one can use it for you. The Mental Demand

is not a visionary one. It is a potent force, which you can use

freely without cost. When you are in doubt it will counsel you.

It will guide you when you are uncertain. When you are in fear it

will give you courage. It is the motive power which supplies the

energies necessary to the achievement of the purpose. You have a

large store house of possibilities. The Mental Demand makes

possibilities realities. It supplies everything necessary for the

accomplishment, It selects the tools and instructs how to use

them. It makes you understand the situation. Every time you make

a Mental Demand you strengthen the brain centers by drawing to

you external forces.



Few realize the power of a Mental Demand. It is possible to make

your demand so strong that you can impart what you have to say to

another without speaking to him. Have you ever, after planning to

discuss a certain matter with a friend, had the experience of

having him broach the subject before you had a chance to speak of

it? Have you ever, in a letter, made a suggestion to a friend

that he carried out before your letter reached him? Have you ever

wanted to speak to a person who, just then walked in or

telephoned. I have had many such responses to thought and you and

your friends have doubtless experienced them, too.



These two things are neither coincidences nor accidents, but are

the results of mental demand launched by strong concentration.



The person that never wants anything gets little. To demand

resolutely is the first step toward getting what you want.



The power of the Mental Demand seems absolute, the supply

illimitable. The mental demand projects itself and causes to

materialize the conditions and opportunities needed to accomplish

the purpose. Do not think I over estimate the value of the Mental

Demand. It brings the fuller life if used for only righteous

purposes. Once the Mental Demand is made, however, never let it

falter. If you do the current that connects you with your desire

is broken. Take all the necessary time to build a firm

foundation, so that there need not be even an element of doubt to

creep in. Just the moment you entertain "doubt" you lose some of

the demand force, and force once lost is hard to regain. So

whenever you make a mental demand hold steadfastly to it until

your need is supplied.



I want to repeat again that Power of Mental Demand is not a

visionary one. It is concentrated power only, and can be used by

you. It is not supernatural power, but requires a development of

the brain centers. The outcome is sure when it is given with a

strong resolute determination.



No person will advance to any great extent, until he recognizes

this force within him. If you have not become aware of it, you

have not made very much of a success of your life. It is this

"something" that distinguishes that "man" from other men. It is

this subtle power that develops strong personality.



If you want a great deal you must demand a great deal. Once you

make your demand, anticipate its fulfillment. It depends upon us.

We are rewarded according to our efforts. The Power of Mental

Demand can bring us what we want. We become what we determine to

be. We control our own destiny.





Get the right mental attitude, then in accordance with your

ability you can gain success.



And every man of AVERAGE ability, the ordinary man that you see

about you, can be really successful, independent, free of worry,

HIS OWN MASTER, if he can manage to do just two things.



First, remain forever dissatisfied with what he IS doing and with

what he HAS accomplished.



Second, develop in his mind a belief that the word impossible was

not intended or him. Build up in his mind the confidence that

enables the mind to use its power.



Many, especially the older men, will ask:



"How can I build up that self-confidence in my brain? How can I,

after months and years of discouragement, of dull plodding,

suddenly conceive and carry out a plan for doing something that

will mike life worth while and change the monotonous routine?



"How can a man get out of a rut after he has been in it for years

and has settled down to the slow jog-trot that leads to the

grave?"



The answer is the thing can be done, and millions have done it.



One of the names most honored among the great men of France is

that of Littre, who wrote and compiled the great French

dictionary--a monument of learning. He is the man whose place

among the forty immortals of France was taken by the great

Pasteur, when the latter was elected to the Academy.



Littre BEGAN the work that makes him famous when he was more than

sixty years old.



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