But, there are comparatively few people who are able to rest firmly in the “I” consciousness all the time and the others demand help while they are growing.  To such, we would say “Creep as close the Realization of the I, as possible, and rest your spiritual feet firmly upon the rock of the Real Self.”  If you feel that people, circumstances, or things are influencing you unduly, stand up boldly, and deny the influence.  Say something like this, “I DENY the power or influence of persons, circumstances, or things to adversely affect me.  I ASSERT my Reality, Power and Dominion over these things.”  These words may seem very simple, but when uttered with the consciousness of the Truth underlying them, they become as a mighty force.  You will understand, of course, that there is no magic or virtue in the words themselves—­that is, in the grouping of the letters forming the words, or the sounds of the words—­the virtue resting in the idea of which the words are the expression.  You will be surprised at the effect of this STATEMENT upon depressing, or adverse influences surrounding you.  If you—­you who are reading these words now—­feel yourself subject to any adverse or depressing influences, will then stand up erect, throwing your shoulders back, raising your head, and looking boldly and fearlessly ahead, and repeat these words firmly, and with faith, you will feel the adverse influences disappearing.  You will almost see the clouds falling back from you.  Try it now, before reading further, and you will become conscious of a new strength and power.

You are perfectly justified in thus denying adverse influence.  You have a perfect right to drive back threatening or depressing thought-clouds.  You have a perfect right to take your stand upon the Rock of Truth—­your Real Self—­and demand your Freedom.  These negative thoughts of the world in general, and of some people in particular, belong to the dark side of life, and you have a right to demand freedom from them.  You do not belong to the same idea of life, and it is your privilege—­yes, your duty—­to repel them and bid them disappear from your horizon.  You are a Child of Light, and it is your right and duty to assert your freedom from the things of darkness.  You are merely asserting the Truth when you affirm your superiority and dominion over these dark forces.  And in the measure of your Recognition and Faith, will be the power at your disposal.  Faith and Recognition renders man a god.  If we could but fully recognize and realize just what we are, we could rise above this entire plane of negative, dark world of thought.  But we have become so blinded and stupefied with the race-thought of fear and weakness, and so hypnotized with the suggestions of weakness that we hear on all sides of us, that even the best of us find it hard to avoid occasionally sinking back into the lower depths of despair and discouragement.  But, let us remember this, brothers and sisters, that these periods of “back-sliding” become less frequent, and last a shorter time, as we proceed.  Bye-and-bye we shall escape them altogether.