Success Through A Positive Mental Attitude

A Magnificent Obsession will conquer in spite of the obstacles that stand in its way! Many years ago, a student at the University of Chicago and his friends went to hear a lecture by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle on spiritualism. They went for a lark. They meant to scoff. One of these students, J. B. Rhine, was impressed by the seriousness of the speaker. He began to listen. Certain ideas impressed him. He couldn't dismiss them from his mind. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle referred to men of great repute who were searching into the realm of psychic phenomena. J. B. Rhine decided to investigate and to engage in some research.

In referring to the incident some time ago, Dr. Rhine, Director of The Parapsychology Laboratory at Duke University in North Carolina, said: "There were things said there that I should have known as a college student. During and after the lecture I began to recognize some of them. My education had omitted many of the things that were important, such as ways of seeking the unknown. I began to see some of the faults of the educational system of the day."

He became interested in the freedom of all to secure new knowledge. He began to resent a system whereby seeking the truth in any form, or on any issue, became a taboo. He began to develop a burning desire to learn the truth scientifically regarding man's psychic powers. His burning desire turned into a Magnificent Obsession.

Rhine had planned to devote his life to college teaching. He was warned that he would lose his reputation and that his earning power as a teacher would be impaired. His friends and college professors ridiculed him and endeavored to discourage him.

Some began to shun him. "I must find out for myself," he told a scientist friend.

The friend responded: "When you do find out, keep it to yourself! No one is going to believe!"

He did keep his discoveries to himself until he was able to develop confirmed scientific proof. Today he is honored and respected throughout the world.

Over the past forty-five years his battles have been figuratively knuckle fighting every inch of the ground in combating taboos, ignorance, antagonism, and ridicule.

One of the greatest obstacles with which Dr. Rhine has been constantly plagued over the years has been the lack of the necessary money for expanding his research. At one time, for example, his only EEG machine was assembled from the remains of one found in a junk pile.

It had been discarded by a hospital.

Have you ever thought that you can develop a Magnificent Obsession by becoming a part of a great cause and by sharing a part of what you have? If you have, you already realize that there are many college and university professors today whose Magnificent Obsessions are to seek the truth in various fields so that all mankind may be benefited by their discoveries. Because such persons spend all their time in searching for these truths, they are almost always handicapped by the lack of money to buy necessary equipment, provide for their own livelihood and the livings of others engaged in working on the project, etc.

You can become a part of such a cause and thus fulfill a magnificent obsession of your own. You can find such a dedicated person in almost any college or university.

Money and a Magnificent Obsession! You might ask: How can we mention money in the same breath with a Magnificent Obsession? If you did we would respond: "Isn't money good?"

Is money good? Is money good? Many negative-minded persons say, "Money is the root of all evil." But the Bible says: Love of money is the root of all evil. And there is a big difference between the two even though one little word makes the difference.

It has been amazing to the authors to observe negative-minded persons react unfavorably to Think and Grow Rich and its contents. For these negative-minded persons might earn in a single year more than they now earn in a lifetime by changing their attitude from negative to positive. To do this it would be necessary to clear the cobwebs from their thinking regarding money.

In our society money is the medium of exchange. Money is power. Like all power, money can be used for good or for evil. Think and Grow Rich has motivated many thousands of its readers to acquire great wealth through PMA. They have been inspired in Think and Grow Rich by the biographies of such men as: Henry Ford, William Wrigley, Henry L. Doherty, John D. Rockefeller, Thomas Alva Edison, Edward A. Filene, Julius Rosenwald, Edward J. Bok, and Andrew Carnegie.