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SoBrief
Creative Mind and Success

Creative Mind and Success

by Ernest Shurtleff Holmes 2007 80 pages
4.33
500+ ratings
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Key Takeaways

1. Life is a single, conscious, and creative spiritual reality

Since God is all, there is nothing to hinder Him from doing what He wishes, and the question, "How do things come into being?" is answered: God makes them out of Himself.

The ultimate reality. All that exists comes from one living, conscious source, which we call Spirit, Life, or God. Because nothing can come from nothing, everything in the visible universe must be made out of this single divine substance. There is no dead matter; rather, the physical world is simply the outer manifestation of this inner, living spiritual unity.

Our divine inheritance. As individuals, we are not separate from this source but are centers of God within God. The difference between us and the Infinite is one of degree, not of quality, meaning we use the exact same creative process in our individual lives that God uses in the Universal. When we realize this, we find ourselves living in a world of divine realities rather than illusions.

The creative mechanism. This inner activity of Life operates through self-knowing, which we experience as thought. By understanding that our minds are made out of God's mind, we can begin to use our thoughts to govern our individual worlds just as God governs the universe.

  • Life is a unified, conscious whole.
  • Matter is not dead; it is Spirit in form.
  • We are individual outlets of the Infinite Mind.

2. Your conditions are direct reflections of your inner thinking

In your life you are that cause. There is nothing but mind, and nothing moves except as mind moves it.

The law of cause. Every circumstance, condition, and experience in your life is an effect, not a cause. The true cause is always your mind, which constantly projects your thoughts into the creative medium around you. You are never at the mercy of external circumstances, because those circumstances are held in place solely by your own consciousness.

Unconscious creation. Many people suffer because they unconsciously harbor thoughts of fear, limitation, or failure, which the Law must faithfully manifest. The Law of Mind is entirely impersonal and acts like soil, growing whatever seeds of thought you plant within it, whether they are constructive or destructive. Ignorance of this law does not excuse anyone from its inevitable effects.

Reversing the flow. To change your outer conditions, you must first change your inner mental patterns. By consciously choosing to think only of success, health, and abundance, you compel the Universal Mind to return those exact conditions to you.

  • Circumstances are effects, never causes.
  • The Law of Mind is completely impersonal.
  • You are always either attracting or repelling.

3. You possess the divine right of choice to shape your destiny

If God had created us in such a way as to compel us to do or to be anything that was not of our choosing, we should not have been individuals at all, we should be automatons.

The gift of individuality. God created humans as free agents with the power of self-choice, which is the very definition of individuality. This means you have the absolute right to decide what you will think, believe, and become, operating as a master of your own micro-universe. You are not a victim of fate, but a conscious creator.

Freedom within law. True freedom does not mean operating outside of natural laws, but rather understanding and conforming to them to achieve health, happiness, and success. When you align your choices with the greater spiritual laws, you provide a starting point through which the Infinite can express its limitless potential. This alignment removes all sense of struggle and separation.

The power of decision. You cannot escape the necessity of choice; even choosing not to choose is a decision. By consciously selecting thoughts of love, beauty, and abundance, you allow the Spirit to work through you to create a magnificent life.

  • Individuality requires the power of choice.
  • We govern our worlds through mental selection.
  • Alignment with Law brings effortless freedom.

4. Success requires cultivating a positive mental atmosphere

Every business, every place, every person, everything has a certain mental atmosphere of its own. This atmosphere decides what is to be drawn to it.

The mental aura. You are constantly surrounded by a thought atmosphere, or aura, which is the direct result of your habitual thinking. This subtle energy field acts as a powerful magnet, silently drawing people, opportunities, and conditions that match its vibration while repelling those that do not. If you think thoughts of limitation, you will project an atmosphere of failure.

The vibration of success. Successful people do not become successful by accident; they carry an atmosphere of confidence, strength, and expectancy. When you embody the feeling of success, others are naturally drawn to your presence, eager to cooperate and share in your positive energy. This atmosphere makes you an irresistible force in your business and personal affairs.

Eliminating negative inputs. To build a magnetic atmosphere of prosperity, you must ruthlessly eliminate thoughts of limitation, poverty, and self-doubt. You must refuse to listen to "calamity howlers" and instead fill your mind with thoughts of courage, strength, and divine backing.

  • Your mental atmosphere determines your attraction.
  • Like attracts like in the realm of mind.
  • Confidence and strength are contagious vibrations.

5. The spoken word is a law of manifestation when backed by conviction

Our word has the exact amount of power that we put into it. This does not mean power through effort or strain but power through absolute conviction, or faith.

The creative word. Your spoken words are not empty sounds; they are spiritual messengers endowed with the power of expression. When you speak with absolute conviction, your word becomes a law unto the thing for which it is spoken, setting the Universal Mind into immediate motion. Your word is inseparable from Absolute Intelligence and Power.

Effortless power. True mental power does not require physical strain, mental struggle, or anxious effort. Instead, it relies on a calm, deep-seated trust that the creative forces of the universe are instantly acting upon your declarations. When you speak in this state of perfect trust, your words carry the weight of the Infinite.

Mindful speech. Because every word carries creative weight, you must become highly vigilant about the language you use daily. Speaking of sickness, poverty, or failure acts as a negative decree, while speaking of health, wealth, and joy establishes those realities in your life.

  • Words are molds for creative energy.
  • Conviction, not strain, gives words power.
  • Speak only what you wish to see manifested.

6. True prayer requires the "already-received" mental equivalent

We can draw from the Infinite only as much as we first think into it. It is at this point that so many fail, thinking that all they need to do is to affirm what they want and it will follow.

The mental equivalent. To demonstrate prosperity or health, you must first possess the mental equivalent of that condition within your own consciousness. You cannot experience wealth in the outer world if your inner mind is constantly dwelling on lack, because the Law can only fill the mold you provide. Your inner realization must match your outer desire.

The attitude of gratitude. True prayer is not begging a distant deity for favors, but rather accepting the gift mentally before it physically appears. By maintaining a steady attitude of thanksgiving and "already-having-received," you align your mind with the reality of infinite supply. This grateful attitude puts you in direct touch with creative power.

One-pointed focus. You must train your mind to remain fixed on your desired outcome, refusing to let outer appearances distract or discourage you. When you hold your thought one-pointed, the Spirit works through you to bring the perfect pattern into physical manifestation.

  • You must mentally embody what you wish to attract.
  • Begging implies lack; thanksgiving implies possession.
  • The Law solidifies mind into the forms of your thoughts.

7. Money is a spiritual idea, not a material limitation

If all is an expression of life, then money is an expression of life, and as such, must be good.

The spiritual nature of wealth. Money is not a dirty, material evil, but a spiritual idea representing the flow of life's abundance and supply. Because everything in the universe is made of the one divine substance, wealth is a natural, good, and necessary expression of God's infinite goodness. Holding a negative view of money only pushes it away from you.

Developing money consciousness. To acquire wealth, you must develop a "money consciousness" by unifying your mind with the concept of limitless supply. When you stop holding money away through thoughts of poverty and instead declare that the universe is daily bringing you all you can use, you open the floodgates of prosperity. You must feel the presence of supply now.

Unifying with abundance. You must train yourself to look at large concepts of wealth and say, "That means me," rather than feeling excluded from prosperity. By celebrating the success of others and claiming the same abundance for yourself, you align with the Law of Infinite Supply.

  • Money is a spiritual symbol of divine flow.
  • Poverty is a lack of mental receptivity, not a lack of supply.
  • Daily claim your share of the universe's infinite wealth.

8. Inspired action and mental alertness must accompany your thoughts

The thought of activity makes him move, and the thought of confidence makes his movements sure, and the thought of Supreme Guidance makes his work intelligent.

The law of activity. The universe is a dynamic, constantly moving stream of energy, and to align with it, you must be willing to act. While creation begins in the mind, your physical movements and mental alertness provide the necessary channels through which the Law can manifest. You must act in the outer world as though you are completely sure of your inner success.

Alertness and enthusiasm. A successful business or life requires an atmosphere of motion, change, and vibrant energy. By maintaining a state of mental alertness and physical readiness, you signal to the world and to the Law that you are ready to receive and manage abundance. People are naturally drawn to active, lively environments.

Avoiding mental ruts. To keep your creative juices flowing, you must constantly seek new ideas, embrace change, and avoid falling into lazy, inactive habits. Even small physical changes in your environment can stimulate new mental pathways and invite fresh opportunities.

  • Action is the outer expression of inner belief.
  • Alertness attracts opportunities; stagnation repels them.
  • Work with confidence, knowing you are divinely guided.

9. Universal love is the ultimate force for attracting friends and opportunities

The God who is love cannot hear the prayer of the man who is not love. Love and co-operation will yet be found to be the greatest business principle on earth.

The drawing power of love. Love is not merely a religious sentiment; it is a profound scientific law of attraction that binds the universe together. When you send out genuine vibrations of love and goodwill to all people, you align yourself with the Universal Mind, which is rooted in love. This alignment draws friends, companions, and opportunities to you effortlessly.

Seeing the divine in others. To attract true friendship and harmonious relationships, you must train yourself to see the good in everyone, refusing to dwell on their perceived shortcomings. By holding a mental picture of all people as perfect expressions of the Divine, you cause them to reflect that goodness back to you. This practice destroys all negative, chaotic thoughts.

The ultimate business principle. Cooperation and love are far more powerful than competition or hostility in building a lasting, successful life. When you operate from a place of universal love, you build an unbreakable foundation of trust and mutual support that ensures long-term prosperity.

  • Love is the primary impulse of all creation.
  • You must give love to receive love.
  • Seeing the good in others brings out their best.

10. You can transcend past mistakes by changing your mental cause

The law is not broken, it would still work out if we continued to use it in the wrong way; but when we reverse the cause, that is, think and act in a different way, then we have changed the flow of the Law.

Transcending karma. While it is true that we reap what we sow, you are never permanently bound by past mistakes or negative conditions. By changing your present attitude and reversing your thoughts, you instantly alter the direction and flow of the Universal Law in your life. The Law does not change, but your relationship to it does.

Forgiving the past. To free yourself from old limitations, you must completely let go of past errors, forgive yourself, and refuse to dwell on them. The moment you replace thoughts of limitation with thoughts of freedom, the old "sins" are blotted out and have no more power over you. You must resolutely set your face toward the light of your new understanding.

A fresh start. The Law of Attraction is always operating in the present moment, waiting for you to plant new, perfect seeds of thought. By maintaining a calm determination to think only of what you want to experience, you rise above previous conditions and step into your divine birthright of freedom.

  • You can change the flow of the Law at any time.
  • Forgiveness neutralizes the effects of past negative thinking.
  • Every moment offers a fresh opportunity to create success.

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Review Summary

4.33 out of 5
Average of 500+ ratings from Goodreads and Amazon.

Reviews for Creative Mind and Success are mostly positive, averaging 4.33/5. Many readers appreciate Holmes' exploration of consciousness, thought power, and the Law of Attraction, praising its spiritual depth and practical wisdom. Several note its relevance to modern self-help and its integration of God and universal consciousness. Critics find it too vague or "woo-woo," dismissing it as an early version of The Secret. Readers with spiritual inclinations tend to resonate most strongly, while skeptics find the concepts unsubstantiated. Its brevity and accessible writing style are frequently highlighted as strengths.

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About the Author

Ernest Shurtleff Holmes was an influential American writer, teacher, and leader within the New Thought movement. He founded Religious Science, a spiritual philosophy known as "The Science of Mind," which integrated universal truths drawn from world religions. Holmes authored numerous metaphysical books, most notably The Science of Mind, and established Science of Mind magazine, published continuously since 1927. Previously studying Divine Science, he became an ordained minister before developing his own spiritual framework. His teachings have inspired generations of metaphysical students and teachers, and his influence extends significantly into the broader modern self-help movement.

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