1. Illustrations given in the last chapter entitled "How Riches Come To Us" will have conveyed to the reader the fact that the first step toward getting rich is to convey the idea of our desires to the formless substance.
2. This being true, then I must see that in order to do so, it becomes necessary to relate myself to the formless intelligence in a harmonious way.
3. To secure this harmonious relation is a matter of such primary and vital importance that Mr. Wattles gives some space to its discussion here and gives instructions which, if the reader will follow them, will be certain to bring the person into perfect unity of mind with the supreme power, or God.
4. The whole process of mental adjustment and attunement can be summed up in one word: Gratitude.
Second, I believe that this substance gives me everything I desire.
Third, I relate myself to it by a feeling of deep and profound gratitude. 5. Many people who order their lives rightly in all other ways are kept in poverty by their lack of gratitude. Having received one gift from God, they cut the wires which connect them with him by failing to make acknowledgment.
6. It is easy to understand that the nearer we live to the source of wealth, the more wealth we shall receive. And it is easy also to understand that the soul that is always grateful lives in closer touch with God than the one which never looks to God in thankful acknowledgment. The more gratefully we fix our minds on the supreme when good things come to us, the more good things we will receive, and the more rapidly they will come. And the reason simply is that the mental attitude of gratitude draws the mind into closer touch with the source from which the blessings come.
7. If it is a new thought to anybody that gratitude brings our whole mind into closer harmony with the creative energies of the universe, then consider it with full attention, until it is seen as a scientific fact. The good things I already have, came to me along the line of obedience to certain laws. Gratitude will lead my mind out along the ways by which things come, and it will keep me in close harmony with creative thought, and prevent me from falling into competitive thought.
8. Gratitude alone can keep me looking toward the all, and prevent me from falling into the error of thinking of the supply as limited - and to do that would be fatal to my hopes.
9. There is a law of gratitude, and if I am to get the results I seek, it is absolutely necessary that I should observe the law. The law of gratitude is the natural principle that action and reaction are always equal and in opposite directions.
10. The grateful outreaching of my mind in thankful praise to the supreme intelligence is a liberation or expenditure of force. It cannot fail to reach that to which it is addressed, and the reaction is an instantaneous movement toward me.
11. "Draw nigh unto God, and he will draw nigh unto you." That is a statement of psychological fact. And if my gratitude is strong and constant, the reaction in formless substance will be strong and continuous; the movement of the things I desire will be always toward me. Notice the grateful attitude that Jesus took, how he always seems to be saying, "I thank thee, Father, that thou hearest me." -- I must always be mentally and emotionally clear that: I cannot exercise much power without gratitude, for it is gratitude that keeps me connected with power.
12. But the value of gratitude does not consist solely in getting me more blessings in the future. Without gratitude I cannot long keep from dissatisfied thought regarding things as they are.
13. IF I permit my mind to dwell with dissatisfaction upon things as they are, I begin to lose ground. If I fix attention upon the common, the ordinary, the poor, the squalid, and the mean - then my mind takes the form of these things. Then I would transmit these forms or mental images to the formless. And the common, the poor, the squalid, and the mean would come to me. To permit my mind to dwell upon the inferior is to become inferior and to surround myself with inferior things. On the other hand, to fix my attention on the best is to surround myself with the best, and to become the best.
14. The creative power within us makes us into the image of that to which we give our attention. We are of thinking substance, too, and thinking substance always takes the form of that which it thinks about.
15. The grateful mind is constantly fixed upon the best. Therefore it tends to become the best. It takes the form or character of the best, and will receive the best.
16. Also, faith is born of gratitude. The grateful mind continually expects good things, and expectation becomes faith. The reaction of gratitude upon one's own mind produces faith, and every outgoing wave of grateful thanksgiving increases faith. The person who has no feeling of gratitude cannot long retain a living faith, and without a living faith I cannot get rich by the creative method, as we shall see in the following chapters.
17. It is necessary, then, to cultivate the habit of being grateful for every good thing that comes to me to give thanks continuously. And because all things have contributed to my advancement, I should include all things in my gratitude.
18. Do not waste time thinking or talking about the shortcomings or wrong actions of plutocrats or trust magnates. Their organization of the world has created my opportunity; all I get really comes to me because of them. Do not rage against corrupt politicians. If it were not for politicians we should fall into anarchy and my opportunity would be greatly lessened.
19. God has worked a long time and very patiently to bring us up to where we are in industry and government, and he is going right on with his work. There is not the least doubt that he will do away with plutocrats, trust magnates, captains of industry, and politicians, as soon as they can be spared. But in the meantime, they are all very necessary. Remember and be grateful that they are all helping to arrange the lines of transmission along which our riches will come to us. Gratitude will bring me into harmonious relations with the good in everything, and the good in everything will move toward me.
First, I believe that there is one intelligent substance, from which all things proceed.
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