The search for excellence in all things draws from within the means and the incentive to achieve our highest ideals.  Excellence is a quality which inspires us to greater achievements.  It encourages, uplifts and leads us to seek the best within ourselves.  Seeking excellence is a goal for every mystical student, and this striving for the highest achievement, and the desire to express the best of ourselves in all things, contrasts dramatically with the desire of many to achieve so much with as little effort as possible.  A common failing of many people is that they would like to achieve certain goals and desires, but they are unwilling to make any great effort towards their goals, or pay the price of achievement through resourceful and determined application of their acquired skills.

            Many schools of thought capitalize on and take advantage of these people by offering short-cuts to attain any goal they desire in the shortest possible time.  It is a rule of wisdom that such results are always in proportion to the worthiness of the individual and the effort he has made.

            Some people try to teach or believe that it is only necessary to sit and meditate on a desired need in their lives and then to visualize this need and project it to the Cosmic through a concentrated effort, and to then dismiss it from their minds, allowing it to pass into the Cosmic for fulfillment.  While this is the technique for contacting the Cosmic and making a request, more is involved in having our ideals, wishes and needs fulfilled by the Cosmic.

A Constructive Attitude

            Worthiness means that in our minds and consciousness we be attuned to the higher, better, and finer things of life so as to have cosmic principles manifest and operate for us to the greatest extent.  It is necessary that we free our minds from all anger, hatreds, jealousies, and petty destructive thoughts.  Our attitude each day must be a constructive, happy, and pleasant one.  We must be thankful for life itself and for each day’s opportunities, as well as for all things that we have already received in our lives.  It is also important that we try to see good in everything, in everybody, throughout the world – to see the good that is in all people.

            Therefore, we must have an attitude that is constructive and harmonious with all of life.  From time to time we should sense the joy and harmony of the Cosmic which flows through our beings and also be confident in the Cosmic and the operation of higher divine laws.  By having a love for mankind, a love of life, we attract to ourselves the beneficence of the Cosmic.  We make ourselves, by our attitude of mind worthy to receive the blessings of the Cosmic.  We must also make all reasonable efforts to solve our problems and work towards the success of our goals so as to attract the assistance of the Cosmic.

            However, there are other conditions necessary in receiving gifts from the Cosmic.  In our appeal for things that are necessary in our lives, we must be careful not to tell the Cosmic precisely what we want it to fulfill for us.  We are seldom the best judge of what is right for us, and therefore we must depend entirely on the Cosmic to decide what should be created in our lives.  If we attempt to advise the Cosmic with such an attitude, we close the door to the very help that we desire.

            Therefore, we must keep a completely open mind and ask the Cosmic for assistance in the particular problem that we have, leaving it entirely up to the Cosmic how our needs are to be fulfilled.  In this way we permit the Cosmic to bring about the desired results in our lives.  However, we must be receptive to any positive impulse or opportunity that comes to us.  Often the Cosmic subtly suggests things that we should do in our lives, and this is in this way that the Cosmic brings about subtle and important changes in our lives.

            It is through the guidance of the Cosmic working through our inner Self, by receiving and becoming aware of the dependable messages and inspiring impulses of the inner Self, that we guide our lives and meet the problems of each day.  A basic purpose of our Rosicrucian instructions is to give greater expression to the Self Within and so develop our outer objective consciousness. By so doing, we give greater credence to the impulses and suggestions that come from within ourselves.

            These thoughts lead us to the view that the Cosmic already has in mind what is best for us in life.  Therefore, we should be more willing, able, and ready to listen to the promptings of the Inner Self – to become aware of the direction our lives should take in the future.

            By listening to the promptings of the Inner Self, by being more relaxed and less anxious about our lives and future, by placing complete confidence in the Cosmic and holding a universal attitude of love and kindliness to all mankind, and by applying all our developed abilities to succeed in my endeavour – remembering that results will be in proportion to the efforts made – we will become receptive to the inspiration and guidance of the Cosmic in our everyday affairs.  We will have achieved a great mastery over self and will enjoy living a life that is a blessing to all mankind.  The Cosmic will then provide in abundance all our needs for a happier, healthier, more successful life.