“I wish I’d tried.”
— John Wooden
There is, then, no limitation outside our own ignorance, and
since we can all conceive of a greater good than we have so
far experienced, we all have the ability to transcend previous
experiences and rise triumphant above them; but we shall
never triumph over them while we persist in going through
the old mental reactions.
— “The Science of Mind,” page 147

     In 1952, Edmund Hillary attempted to climb Mount Everest,
the highest mountain in the world at almost 30,000 feet. A
few weeks after his failed attempt, he was asked to address a
group in England. Hillary walked to the edge of the stage, made
a fist and pointed at a picture of the mountain. He said in a loud
voice, “Mount Everest, you beat me the first time, but I’ll beat
you the next time because you’ve grown all you are going to
grow … but I’m still growing.” On May 29, only one year later,
Hillary succeeded in becoming the first man to climb Mount
Everest.
     Thomas Edison tried more than 2,000 experiments before he
got the light bulb to work. He said, “I never failed once. I invented
the light bulb. It just happened to be a 2,000-step process.”
Famed baseball player Babe Ruth struck out 1,330 times. And still
he established many batting records, including career home runs,
runs batted in and bases on balls, among others.
     Think back to a time when you persisted. Maybe it was completing
a class you had lost interest in or a major work assignment.
Why did you complete it? What did you learn in general
and about yourself? Now think about that one thing on your “to
do” list that keeps getting moved to new lists and postponed
days, weeks or years. Why is it important? Make a conscious
decision to complete it within a certain time frame. You have the
power to move out of “stuckness,” one decision at a time.

AFFIRMATION

I am powerful in my positive persistence.

Daily Guide February 10, 2018 – Science Of Mind Magazine

who is 8 years old, gets very excited and likes to put out a
plate of cookies and some milk for Bob Costas.
— David Letterman
The road to freedom lies, not through mysteries or occult
performances, but through the intelligent use of Nature’s
forces and laws. The Law of Mind is a natural law in the
spiritual world.
— “The Science of Mind,” page 31

Today is the opening of the XXIII Winter Olympic Games.
As with the games themselves, the opening ceremony
is steeped in tradition and ritual. Some of the elements
of modern ceremonies harken back to the ancient games.
An example is the prominence of Greece in the opening
ceremony. Greece always enters first and leads the Parade of
Nations because of its historical status as the birthplace of the
games. There are many books and websites dedicated to the
fundamentals and ceremonies of the Olympic Games.
     One of the traditions started at the 1920 Games was the
release of doves, symbolizing world peace. The practice was
discontinued in 1988, however, after several doves perched
themselves at the rim of the cauldron of the Olympic flame and
were burned alive during the ceremony. It was replaced with a
symbolic release of doves after the flame has been lit.
     Sometimes we hang onto a ritual because it is something that
“our people” or our families have done for generations. It is right
and appropriate to explore if these traditions continue to serve
us. Maybe they absolutely do, and we can continue to engage
in the activity with joy and love. It might also be time to adjust
it to meet our current circumstances, needs and desires. It’s also
possible that it is time to honor the ritual by being complete with
and releasing it. It’s more than OK to let go. This is necessary as
we are all learning, growing and expanding.

AFFIRMATION

I easily let go of everything that no longer serves me to create room
for more of what I want.

Daily Guide February 9, 2018 – Science Of Mind Magazine

further you get.
— Michael Phelps
Let us feel that our purposes are animated and inspired from
on high and then let us go forth and make our dream come
true in human experience.
— “The Science of Mind,” page 477

     So much has been written and said about dreams. We
encourage our young people to follow their dreams and tell
them that they can do anything. What if we said the same
thing to our spouses, partners, colleagues and elders? Since time
and space are human creations, there is no time limit on dreams.
     The saying, “I never dreamed I’d be able to do that” or “get
that job” or “marry this amazing being” fascinates me. When
did we stop dreaming? When did we get stuck in reality and
cease to believe that we could be the prime minister or president
or opera singer or writer or dancer or magician or steamboat
captain?
     Dust off your dreams and create new ones. Because what we
know is that if we can dream it, we can achieve it.
     In the famous words of John Lennon: “You may say I’m a
dreamer, but I’m not the only one. I hope someday you’ll join us
and the world will live as one.”

AFFIRMATION

I dream little and big dreams and know that they are all good for
my soul.

Daily Guide February 8, 2018 – Science Of Mind Magazine

— Katy Perry, “Rise”

Great spiritual philosophers are mystics. The old prophets
were mystics — David, Solomon, Jesus, Plotinus and a
score of others all had the same experience — the sense of
a Living Presence. The greatest music ever composed was
written by the hand of a mystic, and the highest and best
in art has come from men of spiritual perception.

— “The Science of Mind,” page 328

     The Science of Mind Archives and Library Foundation
recently hosted an event in honor of its 10th anniversary.
One of the auction items was a Religious Science hymnal.
While music plays an integral role in virtually all of our services
and rituals, I have yet to see a traditional hymnal in use in any of
the centers or churches I have visited around the world.
     Like religious movements, denominations and churches, the
Olympics are closely linked to music. Legendary composer John
Williams’ work has become synonymous with the presentation
of the Olympic Games. Olympic coverage really wouldn’t be the
same without the distinctive music by Williams, whose stirring
“Olympic Fanfare and Theme” is a staple to Olympic coverage.
He composed it for the 1984 Los Angeles Summer Games, where
he conducted its orchestral debut at the opening ceremony. NBC
began using “Fanfare” on its coverage of the 1996 Atlanta Summer
Games and has featured it ever since. More recently, Katy
Perry released an Olympic-themed promotional video in 2016
for “Rise,” a song she cowrote with Savan Kotecha. The song’s
lyrical themes speak of victory and rising above one’s opponents.
     We have many songs and pieces of music that play an important
part in our lives. Whether you resonate with older songs or
new music, explore your unique lyrics. Don’t die with your song
still inside of you.

AFFIRMATION

Today, I sing my song with gusto, grace and gratitude.

Daily Guide February 6, 2018 – Science Of Mind Magazine

win but to take part, just as the most important thing in life
is not the triumph but the struggle. The essential thing is not
to have conquered but to have fought well.
— Olympic Games Creed
I see that the future is bright with promise. It beckons me
forward into a more complete realization of my own worth
and my rightful place in the Universe.
— “The Science of Mind,” page 246

     Pablo Morales’ parents grew up in Cuba. In 1956, eight years
before Morales was born, the Morales family emigrated to
the United States. When Morales was born, his mother was
making sure her kids could swim. Morales took to swimming
with a passion. His love for it went way beyond recreational
swimming. He was a competitor — the 100-meter butterfly was
his specialty. Morales was determined and steadfast in his goal
to become a world-class Olympic swimmer. That persistence
paid off in the 1984 Olympics when he won the silver medal in
the 100-meter butterfly. After failing to make the team for the
1988 Olympics, Morales retired from competitive swimming
and went to law school. During this time, his mother died after
a long battle with cancer. The death of his mother rekindled his
desire to compete again. He put law school on hold; he would
try to make the 1992 Olympic team.
     His persistence paid off. He showed the same determination
and steadfastness that marked his first Olympic effort eight
years earlier. It all came down to one last race in Barcelona:
the 100-meter butterfly. Morales touched the wall three onehundredths
of a second ahead of his closest competitor. The
gold medal was his — by less than half a finger’s length.
     One of the most powerful gifts you can give another is to not
only recognize their worth but your own as well.

AFFIRMATION

My life is worthwhile, and I am worthy.

Daily Guide February 6, 2018 – Science Of Mind Magazine

concerts and demonstrations during the Games, and in so
doing contribute to a well-rounded life.
— One of the Ideals of Olympicism established as part of
the first modern Olympic Games held in 1896
Man’s mind should swing from inspiration to action,
from contemplation to accomplishment, from prayer to
performance. This would be a well-balanced existence.
— “The Science of Mind,” page 477

 Pierre de Coubertin, the person credited with creating the
modern Olympic Games, was also fascinated with the
rediscovered ideals of Greek philosophy and lifestyles that
were popular at the time. The Athenian model citizen had been
one who was at once an artist, athlete, soldier, statesman and
philosopher. All his life, de Coubertin aspired toward this ideal
for himself and the youth of the world.
     What does “balance” look like in your life? Is it an element
of your life about which you feel good or is it something you
are moving toward? As a child and teenager, I used to look at
balance in large time blocks, as in, “I’ll focus on school during
the week and have fun on the weekends,” and as a young adult,
“I’ll work during the week and a little on the weekends, and then
I’ll spend time with my family and friends.” As I got older and
my priorities shifted, I realized that it served me better to explore
balance in much shorter periods of time like, “What is in my
highest and best in this moment?”
     Also, I would humbly add “spiritual being” to the equation.
My spirituality and connection to the Divine is the most important
part of my life. As I reflect on the model Athenian, I’m more
interested in being the best me rather than the best of all of those
things outlined. As the saying goes, that’s my best choice since
everyone else is already taken.

AFFIRMATION

I am uniquely qualified to be me. The planet wouldn’t be the same
without me.

Daily Guide February 5, 2018 – Science Of Mind Magazine