"THE GAME OF LIFE..."

Shortly into my Life Coaching experience, Jay asked me to read a  book by Florence Scovel Shinn titled:  The Game of Life and How to Play It.  "It's a quick read," he explained.  "Just tell me what you think."

Well, as I began the book, what I thought was, "Florence Scovel Shinn is nutty as a fruitcake."  She wrote her book in the early 1920s, shortly before my Mom started college.  I only bring that up because my mother had a friend there named "Pan" after Peter Pan.  Before any exam, Pan would bring the applicable books and notes to the local Catholic church, carefully stack them on the front pew, sit on them and pray.  Even if Pan had not read Florence Scovel Shinn, she was most certainly on the same wave-length.  I remember laughing and laughing at that story. 

Florence Scovel Shinn was a participant in the "New Thought" movement of the early "20s and, per the introduction to her book, attempted "to bring metaphysical ideas down to earth for everyday people."  I immediately "poo-poohed" Florence, read the first three chapters and put The Game of Life... aside, picking up Jack Canfield's The Success Principles. 

I've never been known as a quick study, but somewhere in Chapter Six of The Success Principles, I began to hear echoes of--could it be--Florence Scovel Shinn.  I am gobbling up every word of Jack Canfield, underlining and taking notes, and all of a sudden I'm reading a contemporary version of Florence's advice.  Wham!  I have had an epiphany. 

On my next visit with Jay I asked, "Do you really believe that positive affirmations will make things come true...ala Florence Scovel Shinn?"  "Well," he answered, "I do believe that positive attracts positive, and negative will attract more negativity."  My slowness in understanding ephemeral concepts is, no doubt, a burden for a life coach.  After all, our entire first session had been about the power of positive affirmations in rewiring the brain.  OK, so now, maybe I'm beginning to grasp the concept.

Let's look at a little of Florence's work as it pertains to affirmations.  First of all, an affirmation must be believable to you or, as Florence would say, "...absolutely satisfying and convincing to (your) own consciousness..."  Affirmations must also be "carefully worded", unlimited but specific, and cover all your ground.  For example:  "Infinite Intelligence, give me the right house, equally as charming as this, [appropriate when your perfect house deal falls through] the house which is mine by divine right."  If you're a little uncomfortable bringing in the divine (Florence never hesitates), I'm sure you can work around it.

Or this:  Pretend you are what you hope to be.  Florence calls it "make believe," whereas Jack Canfield describes it in minute Jack Canfield detail, and others label it "imagining," "imaging," or "visioning."  Whatever you call it, do it (don't force it) and watch the results.

I'm a little afraid to look like a "New Thought" throwback but, as I skimmed Florence again this morning, more and more caught my eye.  She is extremely spiritual (in an interesting sort of way) but don't let that stop you.  Once you get it--and I'm still processing--it's a wonderful road map.  Give it a look!

Margie