Article March 25, 1967 Issue

Basis for Individual Progress

[For young adults]

SHIRLEY ANN FULTON

If you could have your desired goals suddenly become a part of your experience, what kind of an individual would you like to be and what would you like to attain?

Christian Science shows us how to progress rapidly toward right goals. Mrs. Eddy states: "I learned long ago that the world could neither deprive me of something nor give me anything, and I have now one ambition and one joy. But if one cherishes ambition unwisely, one will be chastened for it."^{Miscellaneous Writings, p. 281;} If one's motives for trying to improve are not genuine and if one looks to the world to give him what he desires, certainly he is placing other gods before the one God, and he can expect to be disciplined. Also, his progress in Truth will be hampered.

Motives for attaining success which spring from impurity in human consciousness may include feelings of inferiority, superiority, revenge, envy, false pride, self-glorification, and the like. These emotions block the pure inspiration that flows naturally from divine Mind to its idea, man. What is impure is unreal, for God, good, who created all, imparts only purity to His creation. Then, if one harbors impure, therefore unreal, elements in his thought, his endeavors will fail to accomplish the desired good. If one's thought contains the pure elements of unselfed love, meekness, humility, unselfishness, and gratitude, such as Christ Jesus constantly manifested, one becomes a transparency for the inspiration of Truth. He works for the glory of God. Therefore God will guide him to practical and useful applications of his spiritual understanding.

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