As there are naturally successful people, so there are also habitual failures. John, my friend and student, was such a born failure. He was young, intelligent, and diligent, but it seemed that no matter what job or business he tried, he failed. Harassed, deserted, and penniless, he sought my advice. He said: “Sir, I am a great failure. For some mysterious reason, not only do I lose my job, but also, after employing me, my employer loses his business. I hate to seek a job for fear of destroying the business of my new employer through the deathly grip of my failure vibration. I am labeled a failure by all of my friends, and I thoroughly believe that I can never succeed.” Through my influence, John got a job in a small business concern. I advised him to affirm daily, before going to bed and upon waking, “Day by day, in every way, I am succeeding more and more in my job. ” A month passed and John warned me: “Honored Sir, the business concern you got me into is getting into worse and worse trouble. Please remove me before it goes onto the rocks completely. Perhaps my resignation will save the business from destruction.” I laughed and told John to keep up his affirmation of success and to hold on to his job. After a fortnight John came to me one evening and, with a sigh of relief, exclaimed, “It happened.” I asked, “What happened?” “Well, my employer’s business collapsed, as I told you it would.” I turned to John and remonstrated: “Every night and every morning, while you have been mentally parroting the affirmation, ‘Day by day I am getting better and better,’ in the background of your mind, a little octopus of obstinacy has kept on repeating, ‘You simpleton, you know that day by day, in every way, you are getting worse and worse.’” He admitted the truth of this. Smilingly, I reminded John to cast out all negative vibrations during a positive affirmation, because a convinced, conscious mind influences the subconscious, which in turn influences the conscious mind through the power of habit. I told John that his success was conditioned by his creative ability, his environment, and his prenatal and postnatal habits, and that if he contacted the all-powerful superconscious mind, then alone could he create the cause for absolute success. I succeeded in getting John a job in another and bigger business. After six months (the longest period he’d ever held a job), he said to me, “Sir, get me out quick. Business is getting pretty bad.” I paid no attention to John’s misgivings and told him to go on with his job. After a few weeks, John smilingly moaned, “Sir, the second business you got me into has evaporated too.” I pretended to feel sorrowful at his plight, and calmly said, “Never mind, John, I will get you another job.” “Well, Sir,” he said, “If you can bear the sin of causing other peoples’ businesses to collapse through contact with me, then find me another job.” By continuous effort and influence, I at last secured for John a good job in a very big concern. A year passed and nothing happened, although almost every week John wanted to give up his job, fearing that he would cause the collapse of this third business. Finally, I asked John to invest his money in a business of his own. He was beside himself with fear, and shouted at me, “If I invest the money I have saved, I am sure to lose it.” I firmly assured him: “Of course you must invest your money and energy in some good project, like order-supplying of stationery, which requires no large investment or overhead. I am sure you will succeed.” In the course of a few years, John found himself owning a few successful chain stores and a large amount of capital. When John was thoroughly convinced of his success, he found himself succeeding in everything he undertook. One day he laughingly said: “Through God and through your help, I am changed from a great failure to a great success. Please tell me how this happened. I can understand my own failure owing to lack of understanding, but I cannot understand how I demolished other peoples’ businesses by the power of my failure vibration.” I replied: “You did not destroy the businesses you were in. The law of attraction that governs people of like vibrations was at work. You attracted a business about to fail, and vice versa, like two lighted bombs rolling down the hill side by side. You were a failure and the business was about to fail. By the law of inner affinity, you went down the hill of failure together and exploded at the same time.” The Western brothers must learn that the mind is greater than its inventions. More time should be given to the art of controlling the mind for scientifically achieving all-round success. Less time should be spent pursuing the products of mind at the cost of neglecting the cultivation of the all-accomplishing, all-powerful mind itself. Follow the way taught by India of acquiring super consciousness and absolute control over the mind, and thus learn to create at will what you need.
Attributes: Paramhansa Yogananda
Overcome the failure vibration and turn setbacks into lasting achievement. Learn how to shift your mindset to reach success.
Many of us work with intelligence and diligence, yet still find ourselves trapped by a persistent cycle of setbacks. This reflection follows the journey of an individual struggling with repeated business failures, exploring how the weight of a negative mindset can stifle even the most dedicated efforts. When you feel like your ventures are constantly faltering, it is easy to succumb to distress, but there is a path forward.
By incorporating positive affirmation and spiritual discipline, you can break free from the patterns that hold you back. Even when a career or project stands on the brink of collapse, you possess the capacity to pivot toward a new outcome. Understanding how to manage your internal state is essential for anyone seeking to move past professional struggle and cultivate genuine, sustainable growth.