|
|
|
self help, self empowerment, self fulfillment... |
|
The Game of Life and How to Play It by Florence Scovel ShinnTable of Contents The Game About The Game of LifeFlorence Scovel Shinn’s 1925 classic The Game of Life and How to Play It is yet another earlier, and in my opinion superior, version of recent blockbuster The Secret. Born in 1871, Scovel Shinn worked as an artist before becoming a teacher of metaphysics (or as she calls it “Truth”). The Game of Life is the first of a series of works outlining Scovel Shinn’s particular take on the philosophy of abundance. Essentially, she asserts that life can offer all we desire; we simply have to ask for it, and prepare for it, in the absolute belief that what we want is already ours. The Game of Life has numerous Biblical quotes, which can sometimes make its reading more difficult. Rather than Scripture bashing the Good Book is interpreted as a metaphorical work. God is within each of us, and the various enemies and battles are our own inner demons (fear, doubt, negativity…) and our attempts to overcome them. Much emphasis is given to affirmations (speaking the Word). These are simply power phrases repeated over and over for the purpose of training one’s lower self to labor towards our highest ideals. Many model affirmations are given, though best results will probably be obtained by tailoring these to suit individual circumstances. Though following The Game of Life’s advice requires considerable courage. The book has many examples of how following one’s hunches (intuition), even in direct opposition to the reasoning mind, invariably lead us inthe right direction. Eg the man driven to buy a smart coat he could ill afford and shortly after received a ten thouand dollar commission (no small sum in the 1920’s). The Game of Life and How to Play It deserves a place among the self help classics and should appear on the reading lists of all those wishing to make the best of their own particular journeys. |