In 1926, a man known only by the initials “RHJ”
wrote a small red book with rules and explanations on how to better your life. He sent it to a friend and asked for his opinion on the work. The friend, known as “JFS,” wrote back saying, “It works.” Those two words became the title of what some called a magical little red book for making dreams come true.
For a long time, no one knew who RHJ was as he insisted that his name be left out of the book. His idea was to help people without having an expectation of any praise. This is actually a principle that is echoed in many religions: Give without thought of reward and praise, and the greatest good for all will be accomplished.
This tiny red gem,
although appearing ridiculously simplistic, contains many such philosophical/religious concepts written out so plainly and ordinarily that the reader often does not realize he is being graced with what some might call mysteries of faith. Perhaps that is just as well, since it leaves one’s path straight and clear of clutter. Indeed, the ideas appear so simple that one wonders how they could ever work. And yet they do work, as many people throughout the past century can attest.
The copyright of the book has long since expired, and we now know that RHJ was Roy Herbert Jarrett, born in 1874. He might never have thought that his simple ideas penned about 100 years ago would be sought after for many decades to come. They are now available for anyone to read or print. I present it here as the author penned it, keeping capitalizations and italics as originally printed.
This is offered in the spirit of the original book: To help others without thought of reward or praise so that the greatest good for all might be accomplished.
“All who would win must share it. Happiness was born a twin.” – Byron
If you KNOW what you WANT, you can HAVE IT.
What is the real secret of obtaining desirable possessions?
Are some people born under a lucky star or other charm which enables them to have all that which seems so desirable, and if not, what is the cause of the difference in conditions under which men live?
Many years ago, feeling that there must be a logical answer to this question, I decided to find out, if possible, what it was. I found the answer to my own satisfaction and for years have given the information to others who have used it successfully.
From a scientific, psychological, or theological viewpoint, some of the following statements may be interpreted as incorrect, but nevertheless, the plan has brought the results desired to those who have followed the simple instructions. It is my sincere belief that I am now presenting it in a way which will bring happiness and possessions to many more.
“If wishes were horses, beggars would ride,” is the attitude taken by the average man and woman in regard to possessions. They are not aware of a power so near that it is overlooked; so simple in operation that it is difficult to conceive; and so sure in results that it is not made use of consciously or recognized as the cause of failure or success.
“Gee, I wish that were mine,” is the outburst of Jimmy, the office boy, as a new red roadster goes by; and Florence, the telephone operator, expresses the same thought regarding a ring in the jeweler’s window; while poor old Jones, the bookkeeper, during the Sunday stroll, replies to his wife, “Yes, dear, it would be nice to have a home like that, but it is out of the question. We will have to continue to rent.” Landem, the salesman, protests that he does all the work, gets the short end of the money and will someday quit his job and find a real one, and President Bondum, in his private sanctorum, voices a bitter tirade against the annual attack of hay fever.
At home it is much the same. Last evening, father declared that daughter Mabel was headed straight for disaster, and today, mother’s allowance problem and other trying affairs fade into insignificance as she exclaims, “This is the last straw. Robert’s school teacher wants to see me this afternoon. His reports are terrible, I know, but I’m late for Bridge now. She’ll have to wait until tomorrow.” So goes the endless stream of expressions like these from millions of people in all classes who give no thought to what they really want and who are getting all they are entitled to or expect.
If you are one of these millions of thoughtless talkers or wishers and would like a decided change from your present condition, you can have it; but first of all you must know what you want, and this is no easy task. When you can train your objective mind (the mind you use every day) to decide definitely upon the things or conditions you desire, you will have taken your first big step in accomplishing or securing what you know you want.
To get what you want is no more mysterious or uncertain than the radio waves all around you. Tune in correctly and you get a perfect result, but to do this, it is, of course, necessary to know something of your equipment and have a plan of operation.
You have within you a mighty power, anxious and willing to serve you, a power capable of giving you that which you earnestly desire. This power is described by Thomson Jay Hudson, PhD, LLD, author of “The Law of Psychic Phenomena,” as your subjective mind. Other learned writers use different names and terms, but all agree that it is omnipotent. Therefore, I call this Power, “Emmanuel” (God in us).
Regardless of the name of this Great Power or the conscious admission of a God, the Power is capable and willing to carry to a complete and perfect conclusion every earnest desire of your objective mind, but you must be really in earnest about what you want. Occasional wishing or half-hearted wanting does not form a perfect connection or communication with your omnipotent power. You must be in earnest, sincerely and truthfully desiring certain conditions or things—mental, physical, or spiritual.
Your objective mind and will are so vacillating that you usually only WISH for things, and the wonderful, capable power within you does not function.
Most wishes are simply vocal expressions. Jimmy, the office boy, gave no thought of possessing the red roadster. Landem, the salesman, was not thinking of any other job or even thinking at all. President Bondum knew he had hay fever and was expecting it. Father’s business was quite likely successful, and mother no doubt brought home first prize from the Bridge party that day, but they had no fixed idea of what they really wanted their children to accomplish and were actually helping to bring about the unhappy conditions which existed.
If you are in earnest about changing your present condition, here is a concise, definite, resultful plan with rules, explanations, and suggestions.
THE PLAN
Write down on paper in order of their importance the things and conditions you really want. Do not be afraid of wanting too much. Go the limit in writing down your wants. Change the list daily, adding to or taking from it, until you have it about right. Do not be discouraged on account of changes, as this is natural. There will always be changes and additions with accomplishments and increasing desires.
THREE POSITIVE RULES OF ACCOMPLISHMENT
1. Read the list of what you want three times each day: Morning, noon, and night.
2. Think of what you want as often as possible.
3. Do not talk to anyone about your plan except to the Great Power within you, which will unfold to your Objective Mind the method of accomplishment.
It is obvious that you cannot acquire faith at the start. Some of your desires, from all practical reasoning, may seem positively unattainable; but nevertheless, write them down on your list in their proper place of importance to you.
There is no need to analyze how this Power within you is going to accomplish your desires. Such a procedure is as unnecessary as trying to figure out why a grain of corn placed in fertile soil shoots up a green stalk, blossoms, and produces an ear of corn containing hundreds of grains, each capable of doing what the one grain did. If you will follow this definite plan and carry out the three simple rules, the method of accomplishment will unfold quite as mysteriously as the ear of corn appears on the stalk, and in most cases much sooner than you expect.
When new desires, deserving position at or about the top of your list, come to you, then you may rest assured you are progressing correctly.
Removing from your list items, which at first you thought you wanted, is another sure indication of progress.
It is natural to be skeptical and have doubts, distrust, and questions, but when these thoughts arise, get out your list. Read it over, or if you have it memorized, talk to your inner self about your desires until the doubts that interfere with your progress are gone. Remember, nothing can prevent you having that which you earnestly desire. Others have these things. Why not you?
The Omnipotent Power within you does not enter into any controversial argument. It is waiting and willing to serve when you are ready, but your objective mind is so susceptible to suggestion that it is almost impossible to make any satisfactory progress when surrounded by skeptics. Therefore, choose your friends carefully and associate with people who now have some of the things you really want, but do not discuss your method of accomplishment with them.
Put down on your list of wants such material things as money, home, automobile, or whatever it may be, but do not stop there. Be more definite. If you want an automobile, decide what kind, style, price, color, and all the other details, including when you want it. If you want a home, plan the structure, grounds, and furnishings. Decide on location and cost. If you want money, write down the amount. If you want to break a record in your business, put it down. It may be a sales record. If so, write out the total, the date required, then the number of items you must sell to make it. Also list your prospects and put after each name the sum expected.
This may seem very foolish at first, but you can never realize your desires if you do not know positively and in detail what you want and when you want it. If you cannot decide this, you are not in earnest. You must be definite, and when you are, results will be surprising and almost unbelievable.
A natural and ancient enemy will no doubt appear when you get your first taste of accomplishment. This enemy is Discredit, in the form of such thoughts as: “It can’t be possible; it just happened to be. What a remarkable coincidence!”
When such thoughts occur, give thanks and assert credit to your Omnipotent Power for the accomplishment. By doing this, you gain assurance and more accomplishment, and in time, you prove to yourself that there is a law, which actually works—at all times—when you are in tune with it.
Sincere and earnest thanks cannot be given without gratitude, and it is impossible to be thankful and grateful without being happy. Therefore, when you are thanking your greatest and best friend, your Omnipotent Power, for the gifts received, do so with all your soul, and let it be reflected in your face. The Power and what it does is beyond understanding. Do not try to understand it, but accept the accomplishment with thankfulness, happiness, and strengthened faith.
CAUTION
It is possible to want and obtain that which will make you miserable; that which will wreck the happiness of others; that which will cause sickness and death; that which will rob you of eternal life. You can have what you want, but you must take all that goes with it. So in planning your wants, plan that which you are sure will give to you and your fellow man the greatest good here on earth; thus paving the way to that future hope beyond the pale of human understanding.
This method of securing what you want applies to everything you are capable of desiring, and the scope being so great, it is suggested that your first list consist of only those things with which you are quite familiar, such as an amount of money or accomplishment or the possession of material things. Such desires as these are more easily and quickly obtained than the discontinuance of fixed habits, the welfare of others, and the healing of mental or bodily ills.
Accomplish the lesser things first. Then take the next step, and when that is accomplished, you will seek the higher and really important objectives in life, but long before you reach this stage of your progress, many worthwhile desires will find their place on your list. One will be to help others as you have been helped. Great is the reward to those who help and give without thought of self, as it is impossible to be unselfish without gain.
IN CONCLUSION
A short while ago, Dr. Émile Coué came to this country and showed thousands of people how to help themselves. Thousands of others spoofed at the idea, refused his assistance, and are today where they were before his visit.
So with the statements and plan presented to you now, you can reject or accept. You can remain as you are or have anything you want. The choice is yours, but God grant that you may find in this short volume the inspiration to choose aright, follow the plan, and thereby obtain, as so many others have, all things, whatever they may be, that you desire.
Read the entire book over again, and again, AND THEN AGAIN.
Memorize the three simple rules above.
Test them now on what you want most this minute.
This book could have extended easily over 350 pages but it has been deliberately shortened to make it as easy as possible for you to read, understand, and use. Will you try it? Thousands of bettered lives will testify to the fact that “It Works.”
A Letter to You from the Author
Dear Reader:
The great possessions of life are all GIFTS mysteriously bestowed: Sight, hearing, aspiration, love, or life itself.
The same is true of ideas—the richest of them are given to us, as for instance, the powerful idea which this book has given you. What are you going to do with it? Are you surprised when I tell you the most profitable thing you can do is give it away?
You can do this in an easy and practical way by having this book sent to those you know who NEED IT. In this way, you can help in the distribution of this worthwhile effort to make the lives of others better and happier.
You know people who are standing still or who are worried and discouraged. This is your chance to HELP THEM HELP THEMSELVES. If you withhold this book from them, you will lose the conscious satisfaction that comes from doing good. If you see that they get this book, then you put yourself in line with the Law of Life, which says, “You get by giving,” and you may rightly expect prosperity and achievement.
At the very least you will have the inner sense of having done a good deed with no hope of being openly thanked, and your reward will come secretly in added power and larger life.
THE AUTHOR
And so ends the little red book, “It Works.”
Toward the end, the author referred to Émile Coué (Émile Coué de la Châtaigneraie, 1857—1926), a French psychologist whose psychotherapy was based on autosuggestion. He wrote Self Mastery Through Conscious Autosuggestion. One of his main principles was that any idea exclusively occupying the mind turns into reality.
I hope you enjoyed the little red book, “It Works.” It’s simple to read and follow, so simple that it’s easy to toss its teachings aside as just feel-good encouragement. But I’ve always been of the mind that almost anything is worth a try. So go for it in earnest, and approach it with an open mind. Make a list of your heart’s desires, read it over three times a day, think of these desires as often as possible, and tell no one—keep it all a secret. You may just find that it works.
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I do believe I still have it. It is unique because the handle is sideways on it.
Sounds a bit like the law of attraction where thoughts can become things. I remember starting with a handmade blue mug that showed up at Salvation Army many years ago.