BEFORE delving into the fundamental principles on which this lesson is based, keep in mind that it is practical—that it brings you the discoveries of more than twenty-five years of research—and that it has the approval of the world’s leading scientific men and women who have tested every principle involved.
Skepticism is a lethal foe of progress and self-development. You might as well stop reading now if you want to approach this lesson with the impression that it was prepared by some long-haired thinker who had never tested the principles on which the lesson is based.
Surely, this is not a time for skepticism, because we have seen more of nature’s rules exposed and exploited than in the entire history of the human race. Within three decades, we have witnessed the mastery of the air; we have explored the ocean; we have nearly annihilated distances on the planet; we have harnessed lightning and made it turn the wheels of industry; we have made seven blades of grass grow where only one previously grew; and we have instantaneous communication between the world’s nations. True, we are living in an age of illumination and unfoldment, but we have only touched the surface of knowledge. However, once we have unlocked the gate that leads to the secret power that is held within us, we will be able to get the knowledge that will make all previous discoveries fade into insignificance in comparison.
Thought is the most highly structured kind of energy known to man, and we are living in an age of experimentation and research that will undoubtedly lead us to a better knowledge of the enigmatic force known as thought that resides within us. We’ve already learned enough about the human mind to know that, with the help of the auto-suggestion principle, a man can rid himself of the accumulated consequences of a thousand generations of terror. We have already found that fear is the primary cause of poverty, failure, and unhappiness of a thousand different kinds. We have previously established that a guy who masters fear may accomplish success in almost any endeavor, despite all attempts to defeat him.
The development of self-confidence begins with the exorcism of fear, the demon that sits on a man’s shoulder and whispers into his ear, “You can’t do it – you’re scared to try – you’re afraid of public opinion – you’re afraid you’ll fail – you’re afraid you don’t have the skill.”
This fear demon is approaching close quarters. Science has discovered a lethal weapon with which to launch it, and this lesson on self-confidence has provided you with this weapon to employ in your struggle against the age-old adversary of progress, fear.
