Because human existence is a state of flux, human beings are constantly undergoing adjustment to new friends, new work, new environment, and different conditions of living. He who can adjust himself easily to the changing conditions of the material sense of existence, especially without a regret for the past or a dread of the future, is indeed wise.

From Christian Science one quickly learns that real being is changeless and permanent. One recognizes and admits that nothing in the divine kingdom needs improvement, revision, or adjustment. The real individuality of man, so far above that which is discerned by the physical senses, is spiritual and forever held in the rhythmic order of harmony and perfection. The divine Mind knows its own perfection, and it knows no opposition to infinite being. God's man, then, Mind's reflection, is not confronted with difficulty, perplexity, or embarrassment. He is never out of adjustment with divine facts and the true harmony of being.

Real consciousness, continuously aware of concord in the least detail of existence, has no sense of departed joy or impending doom, a miserable past or a not yet attained heaven, a present dominated by troubled memories or imminent calamity. To divine Truth and its likeness there never has been any sense of discouragement or disturbance.

It is only to material sense that there seems to be maladjustment and friction between an individual and his environment and conditions. The spiritual fact, when understood, always dissipates false impressions and erroneous beliefs. As we bring our thought into agreement with the spiritual fact, striving to overcome all that is not Godlike in our thinking, we find peace and felicitous adjustment in our human affairs.

If we feel disturbed and chafed by the friction of our human circumstances, our thought is out of tune with the divine Mind. Then it is evident that the remedy is to bring our thought into accord with infinite Life and Love and subjugate the arguments of material selfhood. Paul learned this secret of human adjustment, for he said, "I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content." ^{Phil. 4:11;} Moreover, Paul learned this lesson in the midst of persecution, shipwreck, viper bite, and numerous other vicissitudes. Paul was aware that contentment is from within not from without, that is, it is a state of consciousness, not a perception of the senses; hence, he did not permit his thought to be distracted from spiritual Truth by any human argument.

Human thought, imbued with the spiritual facts of being, has resilience. When buffeted, it may bend but soon springs back to normalcy and usually rises higher in the scale of being as a result of the experience. Contentment is the result of a conscious awareness of the presence and power of divine Mind, omnipresent good. One practices the scientific method of overcoming error by denying its verity, disbelieving in it, repudiating it. This is not difficult when thought is imbued with the allness of God, good, and the omnipotence of Truth.

Is your environment out of tune with you? Does it irk you? Do people disturb and upset you? If this seems to be so, then ask yourself this important question: How much of Christ, Truth, is expressed in my thinking? It is not our environment but our viewpoint that needs changing.

Mrs. Eddy writes, "The nature of the individual, more stubborn than the circumstance, will always be found arguing for itself,—its habits, tastes, and indulgences." ^{Miscellaneous Writings, p. 119;} A false sense of self chafes at its surroundings, frets over its limitations, and becomes overwhelmed by disturbances. By uprooting selfishness in our consciousness we will gain a greater sense of harmony with eternal Principle and thus lose the false sense of friction and menace in our environment. The Bible states succinctly, "Be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." ^{Rom. 12:2;}

If one is distressed by any external thing, it is not this thing that disturbs him but his judgment of it or his response to it. This thought was a great help to a student of Christian Science when certain occurrences were very trying to him. He could see at once that what he was dealing with was a state of consciousness; all he needed to do was change his point of view. The circumstances were disturbing to him only with his permission. Instead of agreeing with the suggestions of affliction, he changed his judgment and vigorously denied that these incidents could cause him suffering or even disturb him. He based this conviction on the perfection of reality and his own likeness to Soul, Spirit. By patient continuance in this scientific method of adjustment he found that the sense of affliction gradually faded from his consciousness. He found peace of mind, not because the environment changed but because his thought was transformed by spiritual sense.

In the world, we may have to adjust ourselves sweetly to conditions that are not always the most desirable or satisfying. Mrs. Eddy admonishes, "From a human standpoint of good, mortals must first choose between evils, and of two evils choose the less; and at present the application of scientific rules to human life seems to rest on this basis." ^{Mis., p. 289;} So while we may have to adjust in our human relations, it is nonetheless true that our scientific thoughts do not have to admit of any amalgamation, compromise, or vacillation. We do not have to let material belief enter into our consciousness of being, substance, or identity. Spirit, the only substance, is the cause, force, and law of harmony. As we overcome our false beliefs of matter as real and substantial, we gain the peace and glory of being.

The scientific method of adjustment demands that we overcome in our consciousness every suggestion of a presence, power, or thing that is unlike God, Soul. In this way harmony becomes increasingly evident as the law underlying all true activity and provision. Thus we learn, as Mrs. Eddy declares in Science and Health, that "discord is the nothingness named error. Harmony is the somethingness named Truth." ^{Science and Health, p. 276.}