PDF Summary:The Science of Being Great, by Wallace Wattles

Are you living up to your full potential for greatness? In The Science of Being Great, Wallace Wattles argues that every individual inherently possesses vast reservoirs of potential. However, most people fail to recognize and cultivate this internal wellspring of possibility.

The author provides a framework for realizing your inner greatness. Wattles asserts that aligning your beliefs, mindset, and actions with a positive life vision will unleash your latent capabilities. Through exercises in ideation, habit formation, and self-mastery, you can partner with the universal creative forces to fully manifest your highest purpose.

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Adopting a lifestyle that resonates with one's core beliefs and individual perception of truth.

To advance, one must abandon limiting behaviors, beliefs, and actions.

Wattles champions a life committed to maintaining one's most esteemed principles and responding to one's innate sense of morality. He understands the importance of letting go of habits, beliefs, and behaviors that have been long-held or commonly accepted but are no longer advantageous. Commitment to personal development requires relentless self-evaluation and steadfast dedication.

This might mean distancing yourself from negative influences, challenging limiting beliefs, and cultivating new habits that support your growth. This is not about transforming into someone else, but about eliminating the obstacles and self-imposed limitations that prevent you from accessing the greatness that already resides within you. Wattles emphasizes the necessity of ensuring that your deeds reflect your beliefs.

Practical Tips

• Create a "Behavior Swap" list where you identify one limiting behavior each week and replace it with a more productive one. If you find yourself scrolling through social media for hours, swap that time out for reading or a creative hobby, and note the impact it has on your progress.
• Implement a "principle-based decision-making" protocol for minor daily choices. Before making decisions, even small ones like what to purchase or how to respond to an email, pause to consider which of your principles apply. Make a conscious choice that reflects your moral compass. Over time, this habit can strengthen your ability to respond to larger, more complex situations in a principled manner.
• Engage in a 'No Advice' week where you intentionally avoid giving or seeking advice. This practice encourages you to rely on your own judgment and can lead to increased self-trust and confidence in your decision-making abilities. It can also highlight how often you default to external validation instead of internal reflection.
• Partner with a 'Growth Buddy'. Find someone who is also interested in personal development and agree to meet regularly to discuss your goals, challenges, and achievements. This partnership can provide mutual support and motivation, as well as an external perspective on your self-evaluation process. You can meet in person, have video calls, or even just exchange emails, but the consistent interaction will reinforce your dedication to personal growth.
• Use a social media management tool to curate your feeds. Tools like these often have features that allow you to mute, unfollow, or hide content from specific sources without unfriending or blocking, which can be useful if you're not ready to completely cut ties. By controlling what you see, you can reduce the negative influences that come from social media, which is often a significant source of negativity.
• Engage in a "Role Reversal" exercise where you pair up with a friend and debate a limiting belief from the opposite stance you typically hold. If you believe that you're not creative, argue why you are, using examples from your life that your friend might not be aware of. This can help you see your own life from a different perspective and realize the evidence that contradicts your limiting beliefs.
• Start a "habit pairing" routine by linking a new habit you want to cultivate with an established one. If you already have a habit of drinking coffee every morning, use that time to read a page from an educational book or do five minutes of meditation. The existing habit acts as a trigger for the new one, making it easier to remember and stick to.
• Create a 'barrier-breaking' plan with small, achievable steps to overcome each identified obstacle. For instance, if you realize you often procrastinate on projects because you feel overwhelmed, break down the project into smaller tasks and set deadlines for each. Start with something simple like organizing your workspace or outlining the project goals, and gradually work up to more challenging tasks.
• Start a "Belief Buddy" accountability system with a friend or family member. Share your core beliefs with each other and regularly check in to discuss how you've each acted on those beliefs during the week. This creates a support system that not only holds you accountable but also provides an opportunity to discuss challenges and celebrate successes in aligning deeds with beliefs.

Rely firmly on your own intuition.

Wattles advocates for steadfast commitment to one's internal guidance, which may sometimes contradict prevailing norms or the expectations of society, while ensuring that one's mindset aligns with their most virtuous objectives. He regards intuition as the conduit for receiving divine guidance. To cultivate this connection, he suggests harmonizing one's inner essence with the universal.

This practice goes beyond formalized prayer; it's about cultivating an inner stillness that allows you to hear the subtle whispers of intuition. He advises acting with unwavering confidence and a firm belief in the favorable results that will undoubtedly ensue when you have full assurance in the appropriateness of your actions.

Practical Tips

• Practice saying "Let me think about it" in situations where you usually feel pressured to conform. This gives you space to consult your intuition and make a decision that aligns with it, rather than just going along with what others expect.
• Engage in a weekly 'intuition walk' where you set out without a planned route and allow your intuition to guide your direction. Pay attention to the impulses that suggest when to turn, stop, or continue straight. This exercise can help you become more comfortable with acting on your intuition in real-time and can also be a fun way to explore new areas.
• Start a "synchronicity tracker" to document instances where seemingly unrelated events connect in a meaningful way. This can help you recognize the interconnectedness of your personal experiences with the larger universal patterns. For example, if you're thinking about changing careers and you randomly meet someone in that new field who offers insights or opportunities, record this synchronicity and reflect on how it may be guiding your path.
• You can create a "stillness signal" by choosing a specific object in your home or office to serve as a reminder to pause and tune into your intuition. Whenever you see this object, take a brief moment to stop what you're doing, take a deep breath, and listen to your inner voice. For example, a small plant on your desk could be your signal, prompting you to take a short break from work to reflect inwardly.
• Create a "confidence anchor" by choosing a physical object or gesture that you associate with past successes. Use this anchor before engaging in activities where you want to feel confident. For instance, if you have a lucky pen that you used during a successful contract signing, hold it before making important phone calls to trigger the same sense of confidence.

Vividly imagining and internalizing an ideal self-concept as the starting point for manifestation

Holding a clear, expansive mental image of one's desired future greatness

Wattles emphasizes the importance of "idealization," which involves creating a detailed and complete image of the person you aspire to be, encompassing every characteristic and success you strive for. Cultivating a clear and inspiring vision of who you aspire to become is what motivates and propels you to take action. He encourages the pursuit of your dreams with unwavering determination, despite doubts cast by your peers, drawing inspiration from Napoleon Bonaparte's early vision of his eventual rise to power.

Regular practice of visualization exercises fosters the profound assimilation of the image of your ideal self within your inner mind. This method transcends simply wishing for better circumstances; it involves a deliberate attempt to align one's inner condition with the desired external realities.

Practical Tips

• Start a "Future Log" journal where you write future-dated entries describing your life as if you've already achieved your goals. This can help solidify your vision and make it feel more achievable. Imagine it's a year from now and write about the promotion you've received, the skills you've mastered, or the relationships you've built, as if they've already happened.
• Design a vision board that represents your ideal self using a mix of magazine cutouts, personal photos, and inspirational quotes. Place it somewhere you will see it daily, such as your bedroom wall or office space. This serves as a constant visual reminder of your aspirations and can subconsciously guide your actions throughout the day.
• Develop a daily routine of 'mental rehearsal' before starting your work or personal projects. Spend 5-10 minutes in a quiet space, close your eyes, and vividly imagine performing the task at hand with excellence and achieving the desired result. This practice can enhance your performance by mentally preparing you for success.

Bringing this inner vision to life through consistent, excellent outward action

Wattles explains that "idealization" constitutes merely the initial segment of the equation. One must ensure that their internal vision is consistently reflected in their outward actions. He encourages you to manifest your ideas by initiating actions that transform even the most minor tasks into significant achievements.

This might involve engaging in daily tasks with renewed purpose, incorporating greater empathy and consideration in your interactions with others, or committing to attain distinction in every endeavor. By integrating the qualities of your ideal self into your everyday behavior, you create a powerful magnetism that draws your aspired reality towards you.

Context

• This approach is rooted in the belief that thoughts can influence reality, a common theme in New Thought and self-help literature.
• In practical terms, this means setting clear, actionable goals that reflect one's values and aspirations. It involves breaking down larger visions into smaller, manageable tasks that can be acted upon daily.
• Directing energy and focus towards even the smallest tasks can enhance productivity and efficiency, making it easier to achieve larger goals.
• Renewed purpose can stem from intrinsic motivation, where the task itself is rewarding, rather than relying on external rewards or pressures.
• Demonstrating empathy and consideration in interactions helps build trust and rapport. People are more likely to feel valued and respected, which can lead to more open and honest communication.
• Consistently aiming for distinction can lead to long-term success and fulfillment, as it encourages continuous learning and adaptation in a rapidly changing world.
• By acting as if you already possess the qualities of your ideal self, you may create a self-fulfilling prophecy, where your beliefs and actions contribute to making those qualities a reality.
• Consistently acting in ways that reflect one's goals can lead to habit formation, which reinforces the pursuit of those goals and makes achieving them more likely.

The value of continuously striving for personal growth and nurturing beneficial habits and mindsets cannot be overstated.

Wattles underscores the importance of cultivating beneficial routines and harnessing the influence of one's mindset in the pursuit of authentic excellence. He considered the mind to be the primary tool in shaping an individual's existence.

Our thinking has the power to shape our internal experiences as well as our external interactions.

Developing a remarkable character through the practice of reflecting on deep and significant concepts.

Wattles contends that your ideas extend beyond transient notions and actively mold the reality you experience. He underscores the significance of nurturing a mindset focused on profound ethical virtue, pointing out the intrinsic link between our inner thoughts and the experiences we encounter in the outside world. To develop an exceptional character, it's essential to consistently feed the intellect with thoughts of excellence, akin to how a sculptor painstakingly shapes a masterpiece from stone.

He urges deep reflection on the essential realities and universal laws that underpin our existence. The goal is not simply to accumulate knowledge for the sake of expanding one's intellectual prowess, but to integrate these ideas so thoroughly that they become the foundation of your being.

Practical Tips

• Implement a "virtue feedback" system in your personal relationships. With consent, ask close friends or family members to provide honest feedback on your actions and decisions from an ethical standpoint. This can be done through regular conversations or a simple feedback form. The key is to approach this with an open mind and use the insights to consciously improve your ethical decision-making.
• Use a mood-tracking app to log your emotional state alongside a brief description of what you're doing at the time. Over time, you'll be able to analyze the data to see if there's a connection between your inner feelings and the types of experiences you're having. For instance, you might find that feeling anxious often coincides with attending large meetings, suggesting a relationship between your internal state and that specific external situation.
• Create a 'Mind Diet' plan that involves consciously choosing media and content that align with the values of excellence you wish to embody. For example, if kindness is a value you admire, you might commit to watching one documentary a week about humanitarian efforts or reading articles about acts of kindness in the world. This selective consumption ensures that the information you feed your intellect supports the development of your character.
• Create a 'Reality Journal' where you write down observations of how universal laws manifest in daily life. This could be as simple as noting how showing gratitude (law of reciprocity) improves your relationships, or how consistent effort (law of action) leads to progress in a hobby or skill.

Adopting empowering beliefs and altering limiting mental routines and behaviors.

Wattles recognizes that numerous individuals find themselves ensnared in repetitive cycles of pessimistic or restrictive thinking. Your current reality is primarily shaped by the patterns of your persistent thoughts. Should you persistently view yourself as lacking importance, power, or ability, you will invariably draw experiences that confirm such perceptions. He advocates for consciously replacing limiting thought patterns with beliefs and mental frameworks that empower. This necessitates a deliberate endeavor to recognize your own thinking patterns, question their truthfulness, and decide to concentrate on ideas that elevate and strengthen you.

Practical Tips

• You can create a "thought interruption" bracelet to wear daily, which serves as a physical reminder to shift negative thoughts to positive ones. Whenever you catch yourself in a negative thought, snap the bracelet gently against your wrist to bring awareness to the thought and consciously decide to replace it with a positive one. This tactile feedback loop can train your brain to recognize and alter negative patterns over time.
• Engage in role-playing exercises with a friend or family member to practice feeling powerful and capable. Take turns acting out scenarios where you typically feel less important, and experiment with assertive language and body language. For instance, if you struggle with asserting yourself in group settings, role-play a group discussion where you confidently contribute your ideas. This can help you become more comfortable with power dynamics and your ability to influence them.
• Use visualization techniques each morning to picture yourself successfully overcoming a situation that usually triggers a limiting belief. If you're afraid of failure, visualize yourself taking a risk and it leading to a positive outcome, reinforcing the belief that you can handle challenges and grow from them.
• Start a "Thought Audit" journal where you write down significant thoughts throughout the day and then, during a quiet moment, critically assess their truthfulness and record the outcomes. This practice encourages you to become more aware of your automatic thoughts and to challenge their validity, fostering a habit of critical thinking and self-reflection.

To reach a level of expertise, one must consistently practice while focusing on the ongoing improvement of their skills.

Committing to lifelong learning and self-development

Wattles underscores that greatness represents not an endpoint but a path of ongoing self-enhancement. He emphasizes the significance of dedicating oneself to continuous learning, persistently aiming to broaden your understanding, enhance your capabilities, and develop new competencies. This commitment to self-improvement should originate from a genuine enthusiasm for learning and a desire to achieve one's highest potential.

Practical Tips

• Set up a 'failure resume' where you document all the lessons learned from mistakes or unsuccessful endeavors. Reflecting on what didn't work and why can be a powerful tool for growth and can help you approach future learning with a more analytical and resilient mindset.
• Create a "competency journal" where you track new skills and knowledge areas you want to develop. Set specific, measurable goals for each, such as learning ten phrases in a new language per week or mastering a new software tool within a month. This self-monitoring tool helps you visualize progress and stay committed to continuous learning.
• Start a 'curiosity journal' where you jot down questions that come to mind throughout the day, then spend 15 minutes each evening researching one question. This habit not only nurtures a natural enthusiasm for learning but also turns everyday curiosities into educational moments. For example, if you wonder why the sky is blue, your evening research could lead you to fascinating explanations about light and the atmosphere.
• Use your smartphone to set daily reminders with personalized affirmations that focus on your potential and desired self-improvements. For example, if you're aiming to become more patient, your reminder could say, "Today, I will take a deep breath before responding in stressful situations." This keeps your goals at the forefront of your mind and reinforces positive behavior.

Facing obstacles and difficulties as chances for personal development.

In your journey toward self-improvement, you will undoubtedly encounter challenges. Wattles suggests viewing these challenges as opportunities for growth and learning, rather than allowing them to discourage or derail you. Like a muscle that becomes more robust when subjected to weight training, your character and resilience are similarly strengthened by confronting and surmounting challenges.

Practical Tips

• Develop a "Character Building Project" by committing to a long-term goal that requires consistent effort and will inevitably involve obstacles. This could be learning a new language, training for a marathon, or mastering a musical instrument. The focus should be on the process and the personal growth that comes from overcoming the challenges associated with the goal, rather than just the end result.
• Create a "Difficulty Swap" with a friend where you exchange descriptions of a current difficulty and each come up with constructive feedback or a positive spin for the other's situation. This can help you practice seeing difficulties through a positive lens and develop empathy and problem-solving skills.

Greatness originates from a foundation that is both spiritual and evolutionary in nature.

Wattles places the idea behind "Science of Being Great" within a wider framework that encompasses spirituality and evolution, imparting a sense of significance and value to the journey of personal development.

Exploring the advancement of human potential through the unfolding of societal and spiritual growth.

Humanity's journey towards divinity includes the segment that is an individual's life.

Wattles motivates you to consider your life and the pursuit of your personal best as essential components of the larger narrative – the ongoing evolution of consciousness. He urges you to adopt a perspective that encompasses the whole, recognizing your individual contribution as an essential element in the collective spiritual advancement of humankind.

He perceives your struggles, victories, and changes as elements of a broader evolutionary journey, not just as standalone occurrences. He inspires you to adopt a deeper sense of purpose, recognizing that your actions, choices, and contributions have the potential to influence the collective consciousness, fostering not just your personal development but also the progress of everyone.

Practical Tips

• Create a "consciousness contributions" jar. Whenever you recognize a personal best moment, write it down on a piece of paper and put it in the jar. This visual and physical representation of your growth can serve as a motivational tool and a reminder of your ongoing development.
• You can reflect on your personal evolution by keeping a "Change Journal" where you document daily experiences, struggles, and victories. This practice helps you visualize your growth over time and recognize patterns in your life that contribute to your broader evolutionary journey. For example, if you faced a challenge at work and overcame it by learning a new skill, write down the incident, your feelings, the outcome, and what you learned from it. Over time, you'll have a record of how you've evolved and adapted, which can be empowering and insightful.

Understanding that "evil" and suffering simply represent phases within the continuous growth of awareness.

This evolutionary perspective allows you to view even the darkest aspects of human experience – such as pain, unfairness, and malevolence – through a different lens. Instead of viewing these occurrences as evidence of a defective creation or a spiteful deity, Wattles advises understanding them as brief phases within the continual growth of awareness.

He likens the corruption and vice-ridden areas of society to the bizarre and toxic creatures that once inhabited ancient marshlands. Evolution, having moved beyond these creatures, similarly indicates that humanity will eventually outgrow the need for such social ailments.

Context

• The idea reflects themes found in literature that explore the human condition, where characters often undergo trials that lead to greater self-awareness and understanding.
• In educational theory, learning often involves overcoming difficulties and making mistakes. This mirrors the idea that encountering and resolving problems is essential for intellectual and moral development.
• This view aligns with philosophical ideas that see history and society as progressing towards greater enlightenment and moral development, suggesting that current societal problems are not permanent.
• Innovations in technology and science can provide solutions to social issues, such as poverty and disease, by improving living conditions and access to resources.

Aligning one's actions with the inherent divine purpose of the cosmos.

Assuming the role of a partner and channel through which the boundless can manifest.

According to Wattles, by understanding that God, or the Infinite Intelligence, seeks expression through humanity, you can begin to align your own aspirations and actions with this divine purpose. You play an active role in this evolving journey, possessing the ability to mold your surroundings as a collaborator in creation.

Other Perspectives

• From a secular or atheistic viewpoint, the idea that God seeks expression through humanity presupposes the existence of a deity, which is a matter of faith and not universally accepted.
• The idea of a singular divine purpose can be seen as overly simplistic in a complex world where multiple perspectives and purposes coexist and sometimes conflict.
• The concept of an evolving journey implies a linear or progressive path, which may not accurately reflect the non-linear and often unpredictable nature of life.

Working towards the betterment of all is the ultimate expression of a person's inherent greatness.

Assisting others constitutes a core element of Wattles' philosophy. He contends that genuine greatness lies not in seeking personal recognition or dominance, but in harnessing one's distinct talents to contribute positively to the broader society. He underscores the distinction between true service and servility, cautioning about the danger of exploitation or abuse.

Wattles perceives "The Science of Being Great" as a path that goes beyond individual achievement, emphasizing the improvement of society as a whole. He believes that humanity's steady advance toward more peaceful and prosperous circumstances will be driven by a growing number of individuals who acknowledge their inherent capacity for excellence and align their deeds with a greater objective.

Practical Tips

• Start a "Kindness Ripple" challenge on social media where you perform a small act of kindness and tag friends to do the same, creating a chain reaction of goodwill. By initiating this challenge, you encourage others to contribute positively to their communities, and the tagged friends can keep the momentum going, potentially reaching a wide audience and fostering a culture of kindness.
• Create a personal "Assistance Journal" to track your daily interactions and identify opportunities to help others. At the end of each day, jot down moments where you could have offered assistance and plan how you might act differently in the future. For instance, if you notice a coworker seemed overwhelmed, you could plan to offer your help with a specific task the next day. This reflection can help you become more proactive in assisting others.
• Implement a "One-for-One" practice in your daily life. For every item you purchase for yourself, donate an item to someone in need or contribute to a cause. For example, if you buy a new book, donate one you've already read to a library or school. If you enjoy a meal out, contribute the equivalent cost to a food bank. This practice can help balance personal enjoyment with societal contribution.
• Reflect on your daily interactions and identify moments where you may be acting out of servility rather than service. For example, if you find yourself agreeing to tasks that compromise your values or well-being just to please others, recognize this pattern and consider setting boundaries that align with a service mindset without self-sacrifice.
• Create a "Neighbor's Wishlist" board in your local community center or online community group where residents can post needs or services they can offer. For example, someone might post that they need help with grocery shopping, while another offers free tutoring. This platform facilitates mutual aid, allowing community members to support each other in tangible ways, strengthening social bonds and improving the community's overall well-being.
• You can recognize your potential for excellence by starting a "Personal Excellence Journal." Each day, write down one thing you did well and how it aligns with a greater objective. This could be as simple as helping a neighbor or as complex as improving a work process. Over time, you'll see patterns in your actions that reflect your capacity for excellence.