Mind is the creator of everything. You should therefore guide it to create only good. If you cling to a certain thought with dynamic will power, it finally assumes a tangible outward form. When you are able to employ your will always for constructive purposes, you become the controller of your destiny.
There are three important ways to make your will dynamic: (1) choose a simple task or an accomplishment that you have never mastered and determine to succeed with it; (2) be sure you have chosen something constructive and feasible, then refuse to consider failure; (3) concentrate on a single purpose, using all abilities and opportunities to forward it.
But you should always be sure, within the calm region of your inner self, that what you want is right for you to have, and in accord with God’s purposes.
You can then use all the force of your will to accomplish your object; keeping your mind, however, centered on the thought of God – the source of all power and all accomplishment.
The human brain is a storehouse of life energy. This energy is constantly employed in muscular movements; in the working of the heart, lungs, and diaphragm; in cellular metabolism and chemicalization of blood; and in carrying on the work of the telephonic sensory motor system (the nerves), Besides this, a tremendous amount of life energy is required in all processes of thought, emotion and will.
Overcome fear by faith
Fear exhausts life energy; it is one of the greatest enemies of dynamic will power. Fear causes the life force that ordinarily flows steadily through the nerves to be squeezed out, and the nerves themselves to become as though paralyzed. Fear doesn’t help you to get away from the object of fear; it only weakens your will power.
Fear causes the brain to send an inhibiting message to all bodily organs. It constricts the heart, checks the digestive functions, and causes many other physical disturbances. When the consciousness is kept on God, you will have no fears; every obstacle will then be overcome by courage and faith.
A “wish” is desire without energy. After a wish may come “intention” – the plan to do a thing, to fulfill a wish or desire. But “will” means: “I act until I get my wish.” When you exercise your will power you release the power of life energy – not when you merely wish passively to be able to obtain an objective.
New efforts after failure bring true growth
Even failures should act as stimulants to your will power and to your material and spiritual growth. When you have failed in any project it is helpful to analyze every factor in the situation in order to eliminate all chances in the future that you might repeat the same errors.
The season of failure is the best time for sowing the seeds of success. The bludgeon of circumstances may bruise you, but keep your head erect. Always try once more, no matter how many times you have failed. Fight when you think that you can fight no longer, or when you think that you have already done your best, or until your efforts are crowned with success. A little story will make this point clear.
A and B were fighting. After long time A said to himself: “I cannot go on any longer.” But B thought: “Just one more punch,” and he gave it, and down went A. You must be like that; give a last punch. Use the unconquerable power of will to overcome all difficulties in life.
New efforts after failure bring true growth. But they must be well planned and charged with increasing intensity of attention and with dynamic will power.
Excerpted from ‘The Law of Success’. The 121st birth anniversary of Paramhansa Yogananda will be celebrated on January 5
Paramhansa Yogananda
