The Six Components of the Certain Way to Getting Rich
“Your experience is not important… it’s really the presence you bring to your experience.” — Gil Fronsdale, Introduction to Meditation Week 4 (Winter, 2003), 16:31
One of the reasons that I listen to great audio programs and read great books more than once is because of the number of ideas that I miss the first time around.
I just finished “retaking” the Introduction to Meditation course offered by the Insight Meditation Center in Redwood City, CA. One of the things that jumped out at me was the above idea from Gil Fronsdale.
While Gil is talking about meditation practice in particular, the similarities to this and The Certain Way that Wallace Wattles describes in “The Science of Getting Rich” [pdf] [audio] really struck me.
In his book, Wattles tells us that it isn’t so much what we do, but how we do it that matters.
He says that it’s not your environment, not your talent, not your ability to save, and not even your specific actions, that determine whether or not you’ll get rich – we can get rich if we do things in a Certain Way. Your location, your thrift, your talent and what you do can have an effect on your riches, but they aren’t the things to focus on.
For those who haven’t read the book, here are the components that make up living in the Certain Way:
Doing Everything With Gratitude
Maintaining a Clear Mental Image of What You Desire
Make Every Action a Success
Do More Than Is Expected of You
Do All That You Can Each Day, But No More
Give More in Use Value Than You Take In Cash Value
“The men and women who practice the foregoing instructions will certainly get rich; and the riches they receive will be in exact proportion to the definiteness of their vision, the fixity of their purpose, the steadiness of their faith, and the depth of their gratitude.” — Wallace Wattles, The Science of Getting Rich, Chapter 17
Am I rich yet? Not by a long shot.
Are these six things easy to do? Nope.
But the more we focus on developing them, the more habitual (and therefore easier) they become.
I know from experience that when I practice them, my life gets better.
Every Time.
I also know that the things that I desire are coming to me… and I’m full of gratitude for that fact.
Are you?
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This post has 12 comments
December 10th, 2007
I’m not materialistic so I’ve focused on living a rich, fulfilled life by finding what I love to do and sharing it with others… in other words, making a contribution. The money has been an unexpected, but pleasant, byproduct.
December 10th, 2007
Hi Jean,
While Wattles’ book is definitely focused on both the benefits and methods of getting rich, the principles he lays out are universal.
And maybe your financial success isn’t necessarily a by product: if you are doing the things he talks about anyway, then wouldn’t they still be a result of doing those things?
I’ve often wondered this when it comes to personal development and spiritual growth “stuff”. Whether a person is doing it in an ordered, step by step fashion or just because it’s the way they are (or want to be), the results would be the same, wouldn’t it?
December 10th, 2007
Lyman,
Sure, just because a person is “spiritual” doesn’t mean they can’t be highly effective. It is possible they might enjoy the process more. Those tips above are great, but they don’t include the most important one, “Do what you love!”.
December 10th, 2007
Thanks for bringing that up, Jean. It’s also important that, if for whatever reason you can’t do what you love, that you love what you do.
December 11th, 2007
Hey Lyman – agreed that it’s so hard to do. The difference between all the LOA followers and the SOGR followers is how much effort they are willing to put in. That was the Think and Grow Rich lesson I refused to learn for a very long time, as well, but it is one we all have to.
Cheers,
Albert | UrbanMonk.Net
Modern personal development, entwined with ancient spirituality.
December 11th, 2007
Lyman,
“It’s also important that, if for whatever reason you can’t do what you love, that you love what you do.” Agreed. I actually wrote a post about that last June.
December 12th, 2007
Albert – yup, it does take effort… any change does. One of the things that I love about SOGR is how much Wattles’ stresses that the work is all to be done on ourselves and our own attitudes.
Jean – Well would you look at that!
Thanks for sharing.
December 15th, 2007
Great post Lyman. I think that sometimes things may seem too simple and that within simplicity there is truth. Take all of the other stuff out….
The more you give of yourself the better your life will turn out.
Sometimes we are not at a point where we can do what we love for whatever reason. In that case Wally says to “become bigger than your current place” which means
“Do everything with Gratitude…..
and the rest of the six components.
December 15th, 2007
Thanks, Karen.
I really hear you on simplicity… there are so many things that we add to this stuff that just aren’t necessary.
And great point about the “Be bigger than your place.” I was listening to the book on my way home from work this evening, and that was one of the things that really jumped out at me…
And here you are, reminding me. There’s something to be grateful for
.
January 1st, 2008
I can say that having all the materials things in this world, is not that important. What’s important is that you have good values and you love what you are doing. For me, having good values is important rather than having all those materials stuff in this world.
January 2nd, 2008
Hi Andrew,
Thanks for the comment. Personally, I try not to separate material values from others. It’s like saying that the brain is more important than the heart, or that the heart is more important than the lungs… none could survive without the others. All have their place, and all are important.
I appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts.
December 31st, 2008
great article, but so many of us don;t follow most or any of these. I think the reason is that we are stuck working a job we hate, doing the same repetitive stuff and not being to free ourselves
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