Path to Prosperity - No: 3

Lesson Three - Expect Great Things Of Yourself.

Faith is an optimist because it sees the way out. Doubt is a pessimist, cannot see the way ahead and fears because not conscious of being able to cope with the uncertain.

Faith is the divine messenger sent to guide man, blinded by doubt and sin.

Your own estimate of yourself, of your ability, your standing, the weight you carry, and of the figure you cut in the world, will be out-pictured in your appearance, in your manner.

Confidence is the very basis of all achievement. There is a tremendous power in the conviction that we can do a thing. The man who has great faith in himself is relieved from a great many uncertainties as to whether he is in his right place, from doubts as to his ability, and from fears regarding his future.

F*r*e*e*d*o*m is essential to achievement. No once can do his greatest work when his mind is cramped with worry, anxiety, fear, or uncertainty, any more than he can do his best physical work with his body in a cramped position. Absolute f*r*e*e*do*m is imperative for the best brain work. Uncertainty and doubt are great enemies of that concentration which is the secret of all effectiveness.

We are told that it is faith that doubles one's power and multiplies one's ability, and that without it we can do nothing. How quickly a strong man is stripped of his power the moment he loses confidence in himself or his ability!

The habit of dwelling on difficulties and magnifying them weakens the character and paralyzes the initiative in such a way as to hinder one from ever daring to undertake great things. The man who does things is the man who sees the end and defies the obstacles.

Many people never seem to come to themselves until they have received a great humiliating defeat. This seems to touch a spring deep in their nature, setting f^r^e^e dynamic forces which enable them to do marvels.

When a man who has got the right stuff in him is made a slip and feels that he is down and out, when he sees those that know him regarding him as a failure, calling him a "has been", he makes a resolve to redeem himself from the disgrace and every red blood corpuscle in him helps him to make good.