Thorstein Veblen - Achieving Prosperity - Ultimate Collection

You have been given the means of remedying your defects. If you do not avail yourself of its benefits, it is simply because you do not want to. If you have Desire strong within you, you will do it. If you lack the strong desire, I cannot help you. If you prefer to sell your glorious birthright of Mental Control for the mess of pottage of present indulgence, that is your own business. You are your own master. Make of yourself what you will.

Table of Content

Definition of the term - Exoteric and esoteric meanings - A valuable acquirement -Thought combined with action - Volitional concentering - How to "arrive" - Advantages of concentering - Means of doing the best work - Getting the full result of your work -Cure for discouragement - Work out your own salvation - Don't be a human doormat - Get down to business – Heaven’s not a loafing place - Work robbed of its terrors - Remedy for the "blues" - A specific for discouragement - Concentering no easy task - A simple experiment - Advantages of concentering - No more waste effort or lost motion -Focusing the attention - Focusing thought - A valuable remedy for mental and physical exhaustion – Explanation - Requisites of concentering.

In ordinary conversation, we make frequent use of the word "Concentration," in the sense of "bringing together," or "diminishing in bulk and increasing in strength," or "consolidating," etc. In order to avoid an erroneous conception, I have preferred to use the term "Concentering." A plain definition of the word "Concentering" is "the bringing to a common center," or "focusing." Carry in your mind the analysis of the word, thus "Con-CENTER," - "to bring to a center."

The word "concenter" has its exoteric, or common meaning, and its esoteric, or hidden, meaning, when used in connection with the exercise of the powers of the mind. The exoteric idea is the concentering of the mind upon the one particular thought or action, inhibiting all outside thoughts or impressions. The esoteric idea is the concentering of the mind upon the Ego, the I AM, inhibiting all outside thoughts or impressions. The esoteric idea is the concentering of the mind upon the Ego, the I AM, inhibiting all thoughts of the material body or of the grosser self, and dwelling the higher regions of the Soul. The First mentioned form of concentering is a most valuable acquirement for man in his everyday life; the second form is a most desirable acquirement for those who would know more of their real self, and who aspire to know something of the secrets of THE SILENCE. In this lesson I will speak exclusively of the practical side of concentering, that being the purpose of this work. I have, however, given the reader hints of the esoteric phase, that he may know how to proceed if he is attracted to the same.

The art of concentering upon a give thought or action is one of the most desirable acquirements, which a man can possess. We have been told the advantage of "doing a thing with all our might," and "doing one at a time, and doing it well," etc. We all know of the painter who attributed his excellent work to the fact that he "mixed brains in his painting," and of the miner who "put a little brains into his pick."

We know that the simplest task is better performed, if we but combine concentered thought with the action. Workmen differ in degree according to the amount of concentered thought placed in their work. The man who "takes an interest in his work," and who finds an intellectual pleasure in his daily task, is the man who does the best work, and is also the happier man. The man who keeps his eye on the clock, or who "leaves his pick in the air at the sound of the whistle," is a mere machine, and will never amount to anything, unless he changes his point of view regarding work. The man who "thinks with his hands," or who can "carry a message to Garcia," is in demand. He is a scarce article, and many employers are looking for him. When will our boys learn to appreciate this fact?

Well, what has all this to do with Concentering? Just this, that the interest and brains that a man puts into his work is the result of an exercise of volitional concentering. The man who practices concentering in his daily life, shuts out distracting impressions, and gives his best thought force to the task before him, and does better work by reason thereof, whether he be day laborer, architect, clerk, salesman, poet, painter or banker. Every man who has "arrived" has developed the art of concentering. He may not realize it, but he has, just the same. And more, any man who will develop the art of concentering will "arrive." Try it and be convinced. Why, you can see it for yourself; it cannot help producing the result. If you concenter on an object, and hold the thought firmly, you cannot help doing the best work, and if you do the best work you will receive the proper reward, providing you have the sense with which you were born, and have not allowed yourself to be hypnotized into a belief that you are a worm of the dust, or a human doormat. If you do the best work, you will find a market for your services; if your present employer doesn't appreciate you, there are plenty of others who will. But you will have to do the work - don't forget that. No man is going to be fool enough to pay you for something that you do not do. Oh, no, he is not built that way, and he would not "arrive" if he did. But, just the same, he will not permit you to leave his employ for that of his rival, if you do the best work, and you will do the best work if you only will get down to business, and concenter. If you have been discouraged by your apparent lack of success in your vocation, just you learn how to concenter and do it; spit on your hands and take a fresh grip, a little high up, and pull for all you're worth. You just pull hard enough, and something will be sure to give at the other end of the rope. Don't you waste your time complaining of the "oppression of Capital" and all that sort of thing. If you are a "concentering" man, Capital will soon fall all over itself to secure your services, or to buy your goods. Can't you see it, man? Of course you do. Well, then, stop fooling around about it, and get to work in earnest. Get a move on, and hustle. If you refuse to accept the means of financial salvations now offered you, why just lie around and be a human doormat all your life; who cares! If a man is too lazy to be saved, why, just let him be -the other thing. It serves him right. Some of you fellows need a man around you with a spiked club, with instructions to give you a good bang every time you slack up and engage in mental wool-gathering. Stop your "moaning" and get down to business. Some people spend their life in dreaming of the hereafter, where they expect to spend their time "loafing around the throne." Now, they're sure to be fooled about that. All Nature is in motion, and God is working hard every day, and I believe that when you get to the other shore you will be confronted with a sign having thereon inscribed the words, "NO LOAFING PERMITTED." If you take an interest in your work, you rob it of its terrors. Start in, man, and work out your own salvation from poverty and unhappiness. Do it, and do it NOW.

The man who can concenter has at his hand a sure remedy for the "blues." How? Why, just by shutting off the unpleasant thought and concentering on a brighter subject. Now, don't say that you can't do this. You can do it, if you acquire the "knack." Thousands of people have found this plan a specific for the "blues," discouragement, worry, fear, and the rest. Try it, and you will find that life will appear entirely different to you. Try it, and you will feel so good that you would not call the President your cousin. Try it, and you will "feel the thrill of life along your keel," and will thank God that you are alive, instead of curing the day when you were born. You will do your work better; you will feel better; you will be better. Is it not worth the trial?