OR THE LAW OF ATTRACTION IN THE THOUGHT WORLD
by William Walker Atkinson
Chapter
V
THE SECRET OF THE WILL
WHILE psychologists may differ in their theories regarding the nature
of the Will, none deny its existence, nor question its power. All persons
recognize the power of strong Will - all see how it may be used to overcome
the greatest obstacles. But few realize that the Will may be developed
and strengthened by intelligent practice. They feel that they could accomplish
wonders if they had a strong Will, but instead of attempting to develop
it, they content themselves with vain regrets. They sigh, but do nothing.
Those who have investigated the subject closely know that Will Power,
with all its latent possibilities and mighty powers, may be developed,
disciplined, controlled and directed, just as may be any other of Nature's
forces. It does not matter what theory you may entertain about the nature
of the Will, you will obtain the results if you practice intelligently.
Personally, I have a somewhat odd theory about the Will. I believe that
every man has, potentially, a strong Will, and that all he has to do is
to train his mind to make use of it. I think that in the higher regions
of the mind of every man is a great store of Will Power awaiting his use.
The Will current is running along the psychic wires, and all that it is
necessary to do is to raise the mental trolley-pole and bring down the
power for your use. And the supply is unlimited, for your little storage
battery is connected with the great powerhouse of the Universal Will Power,
and the power is inexhaustible. Your Will does not need training - but
your Mind does. The mind is the instrument and the supply of Will Power
is proportionate to the fineness of the instrument through which it manifests.
But you needn't accept this theory if you don't like it. This lesson will
fit your theory as well as mine.
He, who has developed his mind so that it will allow the Will Power to
manifest through it, has opened up wonderful possibilities for himself.
Not only has he found a great power at his command, but he is able to
bring into play, and use, faculties, talents and abilities of whose existence
he has not dreamed. This secret of the Will is the magic key which opens
all doors.
The late Donald G. Mitchell once wrote: "Resolve is what makes a
man manifest; not puny resolve, but crude determination; not errant purpose
- but that strong and indefatigable will which treads down difficulties
and danger, as a boy treads down the heaving frost-lands of winter; which
kindles his eye and brain with a proud pulse-beat toward the unattainable.
Will makes men giants."
Many of us feel that if we would but exert our Will, we might accomplish
wonders. But somehow we do not seem to want to take the trouble - at any
rate; we do not get to the actual willing point. We put it off from time
to time, and talk vaguely of "some day," but that some day never
comes.
We instinctively feel the power of the Will, but we haven't enough energy
to exercise it, and so drift along with the tide, unless perhaps some
friendly difficulty arises, some helpful obstacle appears in our path,
or some kindly pain stirs us into action, in either of which cases we
are compelled to assert our Will and thus begin to accomplish something.
The trouble with us is that we do not want to do the thing enough to make
us exert our Will Power. We don't want to hard enough. We are
mentally lazy and of weak Desire. If you do not like the word Desire substitutes
for it the word "Aspiration." (Some people call the lower impulses
Desires, and the higher, Aspirations - it's all a matter of words, take
you choice.) That is the trouble. Let a man be in danger of losing his
life - let a woman be in danger of losing a great love - and you will
witness a startling exhibition of Will Power from an unexpected source.
Let a woman's child be threatened with danger, and she will manifest a
degree of Courage and Will that sweeps all before it. And yet the same
woman will quail before a domineering husband, and will lack the Will
to perform a simple task. A boy will do all sorts of work if he but considers
it play, and yet he can scarcely force himself to cut a little fire-wood.
Strong Will follows strong Desire. If you really want to do a thing very
much, you can usually develop the Will Power to accomplish it.
The trouble is that you have not really wanted to do these things, and
yet you blame your Will. You say that you do want to do it, but if you
stop to think you will see that you really want to do something else more
than the thing in question. You are not willing to pay the price of attainment.
Stop a moment and analyze this statement and apply it in your own case,
You are mentally lazy - that's the trouble. Don't talk to me about not
having enough Will. You have a great storehouse of Will awaiting your
use, but you are too lazy to use it. Now, if you are really in earnest
about this matter, get to work and first find out what you really want
to do -then start to work and do it. Never mind about the Will
Power - you'll find a full supply of that whenever you need it. The thing
to do is to get to the point where you will resolve to do. That
the real test - the resolving. Think of these things a little, and make
up your mind whether or not you really want to be a Willer sufficiently
hard to get to work.
Many excellent essays and books have been written on this subject, all
of which agree regarding the greatness of Will Power, the most enthusiastic
terms being used; but few have anything to say about how this power may
be acquired by those who have it not, or who possess it in but a limited
degree. Some have given exercises designed to "strengthen" the
Will, which exercises really strengthen the Mind so that it is able to
draw upon its store of power. But they have generally overlooked the fact
that in auto-suggestion is to be found the secret of the development of
the mind so that it may become the efficient instrument of the Will.
AUTO-SUGGESTION
I AM Using My Will Power.
Say these words several times earnestly and positively, immediately after
finishing this article. Then repeat them frequently during the day, at
least once an hour, and particularly when you meet something that calls
for the exercise of Will Power. Also repeat them several times after you
retire and settle yourself for sleep. Now, there is nothing in the words
unless you back them up with the thought. In fact, the thought is "the
whole thing," and the words only pegs upon which to hang the thought.
So think of what you are saying, and mean what you say. You must use Faith
at the start, and use the words with a confident expectation of the result.
Hold the steady thought that you are drawing on your storehouse of Will
Power, and before long you will find that thought is taking form in action,
and that your Will Power is manifesting itself. You will feel an influx
of strength with each repetition of the words. You will find yourself
overcoming difficulties and bad habits, and will be surprised at how things
are being smoothed out for you.
EXERCISE
Perform at least one disagreeable task each day during the month. If there
is any especially disagreeable task which you would like to shirk, that
is the one for you to perform. This is not given to you in order to make
you self-sacrificing or meek, or anything of that sort - it is given you
to exercise your Will. Anyone can do a pleasant thing cheerfully, but
it takes Will to do the unpleasant thing cheerfully; and that is how you
must do the work. It will prove a most valuable discipline to you. Try
it for a month and you will see where "it comes in." If you
shirk this exercise you had better stop right here and acknowledge that
you do not want Will Power, and are content to stay where you are and
remain a weakling.
