to the level of secondary causation, which is the region of doubts, fears,
and limitations, all of which we are impressing upon the universal
subjective mind with the inevitable result that it will build up
corresponding external conditions. But if we realize that the region of
secondary causes is the region of mere reflections we shall not think of
our purpose as contingent on any conditions whatever, but shall know that
by forming the idea of it in the absolute, and maintaining that idea, we
have shaped the first cause into the desired form and can await the result
with cheerful expectancy.

It is here that we find the importance of realizing spirit's independence
of time and space. An ideal, as such, cannot be formed in the future. It
must either be formed here and now or not be formed at all; and it is for
this reason that every teacher, who has ever spoken with due knowledge of
the subject, has impressed upon his followers the necessity of picturing to
themselves the fulfilment of their desires as _already accomplished_ on the
spiritual plane, as the indispensable condition of fulfilment in the
visible and concrete.

When this is properly understood, any anxious thought as to the _means_ to
be employed in the accomplishment of our purposes is seen to be quite
unnecessary. If the end is already secured, then it follows that all the
steps leading to it are secured also. The means will pass into the smaller
circle of our conscious activities day by day in due order, and then we
have to work upon them, not with fear, doubt, or feverish excitement, but
calmly and joyously, because we _know_ that the end is already secured, and
that our reasonable use of such means as present themselves in the desired
direction is, only one portion of a much larger co-ordinated movement, the
final result of which admits of no doubt. Mental Science does not offer a
premium to idleness, but it takes, all work out of the region of anxiety