The Game of Life and How to Play It – Chapter 2

By Amber (supreme happiness) [CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

So I began reading an old classic, entitled, The Game ofLife and How to Play It, by Florence Scovel Shinn.  It’s a kind of self-help book written in 1925.  In Chapter 1, Shinn mentions that most of us take life to be a struggle, or “battle.”  But she says that is untrue.  Life is a game, with rules.  But those rules are not taught at home or in school.  Yet learning these rules is essential if you want to experience true happiness and success.

As I did before, I provide notice here that Shinn was a Christian spiritualist, who quoted from the Bible to make her points.  I provide those Biblical references in these reviews. 

The first rule, taken from Chapter 1, is that life is a game of giving and receiving.  But the game originates in your mind.  You must learn to see clearly in your mind your goals and the good you would like to accomplish.  This includes removing all mental images of negativity, or evil.   In other words, learn how to visualize yourself achieving your goals.  You can read my review of Chapter 1 here.  Since The Game of Life was  first published in 1925, a lot has been written about the power of visualization.  You can find numerous sources on the internet, and many other books on the subject. 

In Chapter 2, Shinn introduces us to the “Law of Prosperity.”  All of the things we receive do not originate from our employers or the government, but from God.  God is the ultimate supplier of everything that is good.  God is our supply, and this is true for every situation or need.  If you look around South Sacramento, however, you will undoubtedly notice that many people do not have all that they want, or even all that they need.  There is lack, limitation, poverty, and unhappiness.  So is Shinn wrong?

Shinn’s answer would be that lack occurs when people don’t apply the correct Biblical principles to prayer.  It is true that Jesus is quoted in the Bible as saying: "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”  Matthew 7:7.   But Shinn reminds us that Jesus gave specific direction for how to ask.  She quotes Matthew 21:22:

“And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.”

Here then is another rule for the Game of Life.  When you ask for something in prayer, you must believe that you already received it.  If you can’t truly believe it, you can act like you already received it.  You can do this by taking actions of preparing for the outcome.  If you pray for success, but prepare for the worst as if that is what you actually expect, you will likely experience failure.  You should visualize yourself actually receiving your good.  Utilize your feeling nature, too.  How would you feel if you received a promotion?  How would you feel if you made that great sale?  How would you feel if you won a competition?  Can you feel that way although the good has not yet materialized?

Prepare for whatever it is that you ask for, regardless of the outward appearances!  Ignore thoughts that you have no idea how your goal will be accomplished, or how you will receive the good that is your divine right.  Leave that up to the universe.   Shinn provides another Biblical reference.   

“Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.”  John 4:35.

Shinn closes with another Bible verse:

“Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.”  Matthew 18:19. 

Shinn explains that you may get too involved with your affairs and not think clearly, or become discouraged.  Therefore you may want to confide in someone about your prayers and goals.  That person should be one who you trust, and believes in your potential.  A kind of prayer partner, or spiritual advisor.  That person will help you when your faith begins to waiver.

I’m keeping this review short, because the chapters and the entire book are short.  The two primary rules for playing the game of life we have learned so far are these:  1) Visualize your goals and remove all mental images of doubt and failure from your mind; and 2) when you pray, believe that your prayers have been answered, and prepare for that outcome.

Shall we give it a try?