The Game of Life and How to Play It

My friend gave me a book last year, The Game of Life and How to Play It, by Florence Scovel Shinn. I zipped through the first few chapters and I immediately felt better. A few days later I visited a friend who was going through a painful experience so I lent my book to her. A few days later I asked her if I could have it back because I needed it and she had loaned it to another friend. On the day of my grandmother’s funeral, the second friend gave it back to me. She also gave me some reaaly cool though belated (LOL) birthday gifts. Somehow, I managed to lose the book and the letter I wrote for my grandmother at the funeral. Hmmm.

A few months later my friend came to the rescue (again). This time he gave me The Writings of Florence Scovel Shinn which includes; The Game of Life, Your Word Is Your Wand, The Power of the Spoken Word, and The Secret Door To Success. It’s a very easy read and I began skimming through chapters jumping around and reading certain parts. I found myself reading certain parts over and over again.

The book eventually ended up on my bookshelf. Today it found its way back into my hands. Here are a few excerpts from Chapter One.

Most people consider life a battle, but it is not a battle, it is a game.

It is a game that cannot be played successfully without the knowledge of spiritual law.

Whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap.

What he gives he will receive.

If he gives hate, he will receive hate; if he gives love, he will receive love; if he gives criticism he will receive criticism; if he lies, he will be lied to; if he cheats, he will be cheated.

Keep thy heart (or imagination) with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life. (Prov. 4:23)

This means that what man images, sooner or later externalizes in his affairs.

A person with an imaging faculty trained to image only good, brings into his life “every righteous desire of his heart” – health, wealth, love, friends, perfect self expression, his highest ideals.

Know Thyself

Intuition – being taught from within

There is always plenty on man’s pathway; but it can only be brought into manifestation through desire, faith, or the spoken word.

Ask and it shall be given you, seek and ye shall find, knock, and it shall be opened unto you (Mat 7:7)

We are often startled by having a wish suddenly fulfilled.

Nothing stands between man and his highest ideals and every desire of his heart, but doubt and fear. When man can “wish without worrying” every desire will be instantly fulfilled.

The object of the game of life is to see clearly one’s good and obliterate all mental pictures of evil.

Every thought, every word is impressed upon it (the subconscious mind) and carried out in amazing detail. It is like a singer making a record on a phonographic plate. Every note and tone of the singer’s voice is registered. If he coughs or hesitates, it is registered also. So let us break all the bad records in the subconscious mind, the records which we do not wish to keep and make new and beautiful records.

Any man who does not know the power of the word, is behind the times.

So how good are you at imagining only good things? How would you rate the quality of your own life? Do these words mean anything to you?

I’ll keep you posted on my records - the new ones. Beautiful and sweet.