about forcing particular conditions into existence—­they will grow spontaneously out of the seed we have planted.  All we have to do now, or at any time, is to take the conditions that are ready to hand and use them on the lines of the sort of “being” towards which we are directing our Thought—­use them just as far as they go at the time, without trying to press them further—­and we shall find by experience that out of the present conditions thus used to-day, more favourable conditions will grow in a perfectly natural manner to-morrow, and so on, day by day, until, when later on we look back, we shall be surprised to find ourselves expressing all, and more than all, the sort of “being” we had thought of.  Then, from this new standpoint of our being, we shall continue to go on in the same way, and so on ad infinitum, so that our life will become one endless progress, ever widening as we go on.  And this will be found a very quiet and peaceful way, free from worry and anxiety, and wonderfully effective.  It may lead you to some position of authority or celebrity; but as such things belong to the category of “Having” and not of “Being” they were not what you aimed at, and are only by-products of what you have become in yourself.  They are conditions, and like all other conditions should be made use of for the development of still more expanded “being”; that is to say, you will go on working on the more extended scale which such a position makes possible to you.  But the one thing you would not try to do with it would be to “boss the show.”  The moment you do this you are no longer using the Word of the larger Personality, and have descended to your old level of the smaller personality, just John Smith or Mary Jones, ignorant of yourselves as being anything greater.  It is true your Word still directs the operation of the Law towards yourself—­it always does this—­but your word has become inverted, and so calls into operation the Law of Contraction instead of the Law of Expansion.  A higher position means a wider field for usefulness—­that is all; and to the extent to which you fit yourself for it, it will come to you.  So, if you content yourself with always speaking in your Thought the Creative Word of “Being” from day to day, you will find it the Way of Peace and the Secret of a Happy Life—­by no means monotonous, for all sorts of unexpected interests will be continually opening out to you, giving you scope for all the activities of which your present degree of “being” renders you capable.  You will always find plenty to do, and find pleasure in doing it, so you need never be afraid of feeling dull.

But perhaps you will say: 

“How am I to know that I am not speaking my own Word instead of that of the Creative Spirit?”

Well, the word of the smaller personality is always based on the idea of possessing, and the Word of the Spirit is always based on the idea of Becoming—­that is the criterion.  And also, if we base our speaking of the Word on the Promises of Spirit, we may be sure that we are on the right track.