PUPIL: Is one apt to be "hypnotized," and thus hindered in progress, by the thoughts of others about one? Sometimes I seem to be making real progress when suddenly, and for no apparent reason, there is an almost uncontrollable impulse and feeling of "oh what is the use!"

I am like a ship without a rudder, trying to plow through some invisible, and invincible, force, and "getting nowhere fast," as the saying is.

At best these experiences are long, long detours off the main road. What causes these episodes?

MASTER: You gave it its right name in the beginning.

It is hypnotism; but as a rule it is self-hypnotism, almost unconsciously done because of the old habits of thought; and it comes as the result of your letting things other than your aim hold your attention.

Your efforts to control your thoughts should be steady, continuous, with no unguarded moments. Mere spasmodic efforts, however strongly indulged in at the times of their occurrence to you, will never take you very far on the road to the new goal you have set.

Before you study any further in these lessons, yes right now, make up your mind positively that you are entering upon the study to win, and that you will make an earnest, steady, continuous effort to do so. My own personal remedy for overcoming any tendency to slip back into the old rut of wrong thinking, and I assure you that I have always found it a most potent and sure panacea, is, believe it or not, that wonderful thing, derisively called "old-fashioned and out of date" by some, -The Lord's Prayer.

Go carefully over the Lord's Prayer every day.

If you do not already know it thoroughly, memorize it, so that you can repeat it anywhere, anytime, silently if you like. Us it, repeat it carefully, slowly, and with much depth of feeling, as often as there is the least tendency to slip off your path. After you have finished with your reading, or repetition of the Prayer, then take up your mental picture again, mentally seeing, feeling, believing, knowing that you are already in possession of whatever it is that you want. This is what Jesus meant when He said for us to always, "ask believing that ye already have and ye shall have!" If you will do these things, very soon you will find that you ARE on the road to Freedom and Joy, and it will constantly grow easier for you to stay on the highway, without so many detours.