Part 9 (1/2)

Man has banished many of his fears already. It is not a long run of the centuries since he quaked before the gloom of the forest, the solitude of the hills, the fog of the vast sea, and, creating innumerable G.o.ds and devils by that wizard of distortion, the imagination, lodged them in every object of existence under and in the heavens. He has gotten rid of these.

But when we observe the fear of water, the fear of tornadoes, the fear of lightning, the fear of fire, the fear of disease, the fear of accident, the fear of death, the fear of ridicule, the fear of public opinion, the fear of bankruptcy, the fear of self, the fear for self, the fear of others, the fear of failure, the fear of devils, the fear of a vindictive G.o.d, the fear of the future, the fear of a h.e.l.l--Oh, then, we know that the sun of light is not at his meridian height. We can yet get rid of these also. This is one of the world's tasks. This is your task, if you would make the most of your self and life.

”There is yet very much land to be possessed.” No one will possess all of that land in the present stage of existence. Some will be able to claim more than others, but they will err if they a.s.sume themselves to be favorites, and the ”others” will do worse than err if they complain, ”We, alas, are down on our luck.” Be a.s.sured of one thing: all may be rid of their fears and the whole ma.s.s of distress induced by fears. All may acquire dauntless yet serene courage. In that state, if it be of the highest, as it may be, will come to them a peace, a happiness, an influx of buoyancy, a confidence, a sense of well-being, the like of which they have never known.

PRIME DENIALS AND AFFIRMATIONS.

You who now read this page are, thus, invited to begin our study by denying and affirming, as follows:

FIRST--THE DAILY REGIME OF DENIAL:

I deny the existence of error, so far as I am concerned.

I deny disease to be my necessary portion.

I deny the need of any of my fears.

I deny the reality of any cause for fear.

I deny that I am less than a king.

I deny that ignorance is an essential part of my lot.

I deny that poverty is decreed to me.

I deny that I am low-born or of bad blood.

I deny that I am ”down on my luck.”

I deny by my life that others are my superiors.

I deny that anything can hurt the essential ME.

I deny a vindictive G.o.d.

I deny that slavery is religious.

I deny that I am not the friend of the White Life.

I deny that I am mean, low or ign.o.ble in morals.

I deny that my best life depends on creeds.

I deny that the Universe is not for me.

I deny that health is not my rightful claim.

I deny that I am unhappy or depressed.

I deny that I am weak and a nonent.i.ty.

I deny that I shall not unfold forever.

I deny all that is opposed to my best welfare.

SECOND--THE DAILY REGIME OF AFFIRMATION.

I affirm truth to be my desire and possession.

I affirm health to be my rightful claim.

I affirm fearlessness of that which I have feared I affirm cause and reason only for courage.

I affirm that reason is independent of fear.

I affirm my sovereign selfhood.