Annie Besant-Attention

CONCENTRATION

The mind can think of one thing only. Fear is an acute form of negative

concentration--worry its chronic form. If you learn how to place your

mind upon a particular subject and inhibit or "shut off" all other

thoughts, the fascination of fear and worry shall have no power over you.

Most of the things you fear never happen--others can be routed by a bold

front. Even if something ugly does befall you, you have the power within

to enable you to 'bear up' heroically.

Fear is a mere negative thought-habit. It is a negative tendency in the mind.

You can best eradicate this weed from your mind by cultivating the positive attitude of Courage. There are particular sets of brain-cells being created or

destroyed by particular types of thoughts. The best way to destroy

negative brain-cells is to develop positive brain-cells. If you want to

Kill off Fear-thoughts, do not fight them. That would be like trying to

realise how dark a place is and then starting to pitch it out by the

handful. You know you cannot do it. Just open the blinds and let in

sunshine and the place will be flooded with light.

The mind hypnotised by negative thoughts has been compared by a mental

scientist to a dirty wash-bowl full of dirty water. Take the wash-bowl near a

tap and turn the tap on. The steady pour of clean water will soon wash off all the dirty water and fill the wash-bowl with clear water. So the only way

to root out and destroy evil thoughts is to turn a steady stream of

positive thoughts to overcome all fear thoughts, you should think

courage-thoughts. Don't crawl on your belly; don't call upon Heaven to

witness that despicable creature you are. No--a thousand times--no. Act

Courage. Think Courage. Say Courage. That's the way.

Turn your face towards the rising sun. Take "Courage" for your watchword. Affirm it as far as you can. Fasten it deep and strong in your mind. Always tell yourself that you are full of courage, morning, noon and night; never

tell yourself that you are weak.

Now, in order to inhibit fear-thoughts and exhibit Courage-thoughts,

you must possess CONCENTRATION. You should be able to take your mind off a certain subject and put it on something else at your will.

Do you know what Concentration means? Let me give you in my own words

something I remember reading about Napoleon. When banished to St. Helena and

suffering from disease, one day his doctor expressed his curiosity as to

the secret of his success and astonishing power. Napoleon replied

"Doctor, there are drawers in my brain. When I want to think of politics

I pull out the drawer of politics, when I want to think of Josephine, I

pull out the drawer of Law, and so on; and when I shut all these drawers,

I can go to sleep." The doctor smiled incredulity blandly. "Doctor, I can

show you this minute. Doctor, I shut all drawers"--even while saying

this, Napoleon fell with a thud on his pillow. He was fast asleep. The

man of science and medicine examined him in all ways, but Napoleon had

fallen actually fast asleep.

This is Concentration and Mind-Control. I don't admire men of Napoleon's selfish types. Their place is in dark hell. They use their power for preying upon others.

But that his powers of mind were great, I don't deny. Napoleon in his past life had been a great Yogi, but the remnants of self and cumulative force of bad Karma precipitated the bloody results you all know in connection with

Napoleon's career. No doubt, this man was only a means used by God to

bring about certain changes and revolutions.

To develop Concentration, pay attention to the daily work of your life.

Don't neglect small things. Put interest and attention into whatever

you think, say, or do. Be a wide-awake man. Don't go about your work

half-asleep. Wake up and display a few signs of life. Be progressive.

Think much and to the purpose.

WILL-POWER

You all understand this. It is that aspect of your make-up that enables

you to make your mind and body obey you. The true principle of Will is

closely interlocked with the "I am I" as I have already explained it.

Resolve at the start to do one thing once in 24 hours that you would do

if you were not afraid. Face fear and it is your slave.

Your Will-power enables you to prove things practically to yourself and to the world; to make actions match-thoughts. Give your Will much exercise in the right direction. Without Will a man is no better than a log of wood. Keep your Will strong by auto-suggestion and exercise. Try the powers of your Will on your personality till you can do anything and be anything. Say "I can and I will" in a thousand different ways and prove it too. The

requisite qualities that form valuable adjuncts to Will-power are:

1. Determination. 2. Stick-to-it-ive-ness. 3. Perseverance. 4. Invincible

and indomitable courage. 5. Non-attachment. 6. Faith in yourself.

7. Faith in God. 8. I can and I will. Repeat this affirmation often till

it becomes a constant mental trait.

AFFIRMATIONS.

1. I am fearless. I am full of courage. There is nothing to fear.

I say courage, I think, I act courage.

2. Courage is my distinct and leading trait. Everyone knows me

as a man of Indomitable courage. The criticisms and opinions of others

cannot affect me the least.

3. I am part of the Divine Self. I harm none. My nature knows

no harm. Hence no harm comes to me.

4. I am equal to anything. Nothing can crush my spirit. I can

face everything. I can face everybody.

5. My powers of resistance are strong, strong, strong. I use them

never for the aggression of others. They are for my self-defence.

6. I am absolutely fearless morally and physically.

7. I stand for absolute truthfulness and justice and manifest them

in myself.

The use of strong, positive Affirmation in the Silence is valuable in

that it gives you a firm hold of your thought so that you can "carry the

thought" mentally. The value of expressing thought in act and speech lies

in this that it clinches your thought into a permanent habit. Remember

this psychologic axiom:

1. Thoughts take form in action.

2. Action induces thought and corresponding habits.

Therefore act out the part physically. If you want a courageous mind--"act out" the part physically, in your daily life, on suitable occasions, in all earnestness as you would in a theatre or drama. In a very short time it shall become a confirmed habit. Force yourself to it. Take an interest in what you do and say. Have confident expectations of SUCCESS.

Never be daunted and cowed down by initial difficulties and failures. Never say die. If you go down--don't remain lying and moaning. Never, I say, never. Get up.

Shake yourself up free and say, like the royal lion "Come one, come all,

this rock shall fly sooner from its base than I." Have a will of your

own and be a force for good. Exercise your Will-power. Be something.

Do something.