There Is a Science of Acting

Great actions and great results do not happen by luck or accident; they are the outcome of law. There is a science of acting effectively, just as exact and dependable as the science of geometry or arithmetic. By science, I mean that there are certain laws which govern the process of achieving any goal or creating any result. Once these laws are learned and obeyed by anyone, success comes with mathematical certainty. Likewise, if these laws are not followed - even if one works very hard or has great natural talent - the outcome will be uncertain or inconsistent.

This is no mere theory; evidence of it is all around us. Two people with the same opportunities may have opposite outcomes - one succeeds brilliantly while the other struggles. This is not due to chance or divine favor, but because the successful individual either consciously or instinctively did things in a Certain Way that produced the result. It is a natural law that like causes produce like effects. Those who act in harmony with the laws of achievement (knowingly or unknowingly) tend to accomplish their aims, while those who act in violation of these laws will find success elusive.

Consider any field of endeavor - business, art, science, or service. We see individuals of average ability who achieve extraordinary things, and others with great talent who accomplish little. Clearly, success is not primarily a matter of who you are or where you start. For example, two people in the same business and the same town may have vastly different outcomes: one thrives while the other falters. The difference lies in how they think and act. One of them is using (perhaps without naming it) the science of acting effectively, and the other is not.

This truth is liberating, because it means great achievement is not reserved for the lucky or the naturally gifted. The Creative Intelligence does not play favorites. Just as gravity works for anyone who drops an object, the laws of success work for anyone who aligns with them. If you learn to act in the Certain Way that this science prescribes, you will infallibly move toward your goals.

What do we mean by acting in a Certain Way? It means doing every action - whether large or small - in accordance with fundamental principles that reliably generate progress. In later chapters we will examine these principles in detail - principles such as aligning with the Creative Intelligence, moving with clear purpose and faith, expressing gratitude, and performing each task efficiently. For now, understand that whatever your specific aim (be it building a business, mastering a skill, improving your community, or anything else), the same core laws apply. Like the underlying physics that allow many different machines to operate, the underlying spiritual and practical laws of success enable all types of achievement.

Because this is a science, you need not worry that your particular dream might lie “outside” these principles. No dream does. If you cooperate with the universal laws - thinking and acting in the way we shall describe - you set in motion causes that must produce the effects you desire. It does not matter what your goal is; the process of bringing any vision into reality follows certain definable steps and conditions. Meet those conditions and the result is assured. Neglect them, and the result will either not materialize at all or will not endure.

You may not have realized this before, but think carefully and you will see the pattern. Whenever you have succeeded at something, it was because - whether guided by intuition or training - you aligned with the right approach. Whenever you have fallen short, some crucial principle was missing. Once you know what those critical elements are, you can intentionally reproduce success again and again, instead of attributing it to luck. That is what it means to operate by the Science of Inspired Action: you deliberately bring yourself and your activities into harmony with the laws that govern attainment.

One important note: this science is creative, not competitive. By acting in the Certain Way, you do not take anything away from anyone else. The success you create does not deprive others; on the contrary, the more people who follow these principles, the more overall good and progress is generated for everyone. In the economy of Creative Intelligence, one person’s advancement advances us all.

Knowing that there is a reliable, law - governed process for achievement brings a sense of certainty and peace of mind. When you approach your endeavor as a scientist - understanding the principles and faithfully applying them - you are no longer at the mercy of “chance.” You won’t be thrown off by temporary setbacks, because you know the underlying laws are infallible. If something goes wrong, you can adjust your method and try again, just as an inventor refines an invention until it works. Once you grasp that success is the natural result of doing things in a certain way, doubt and fear begin to fade. You realize: If I do my part and follow the law, the outcome must come. It’s not a question of if, but when.

Some people hesitate to believe that success can be made predictable. They point to the many who fail and conclude that life is chaotic or that fate is fixed. In truth, those failures occurred because the individuals involved (often unknowingly) violated one or more laws of this science. For example, a person might hold a clear vision but lack faith, thereby undermining their own efforts; or someone may work diligently but without gratitude, losing their vital connection to inspiration. It is no different from an experiment failing because a crucial ingredient was missing. The laws never fail - it is only our application of them that can fail.

In the chapters to come, I will teach you this science of acting step by step. For now, settle into the conviction that there truly is a dependable way of doing things that leads to success. It is not guesswork or gamble. As you build this conviction, you clear away the uncertainty that keeps so many people from fully committing to their dreams. You can then move forward confident that you are following a proven path.

When you know that your actions, done in the Certain Way, will produce the outcome you seek, you can act with a fearless heart and a focused mind. You become like a master craftsman who trusts the tools and laws of his trade. You carry out each day’s work with calm assurance, knowing that the Creative Intelligence is working with you, and that success is the only possible result. This scientific certainty forms the foundation of Inspired Action.

Immediate Action

Think of a past success you achieved, even a small one. List the key factors or steps that led to that success. Recognize how following a certain method or principle (even if you didn’t call it that at the time) helped produce the positive result. This will strengthen your belief that success follows cause and law, not luck.

Identify one area in your current efforts where results have been inconsistent or disappointing. Ask yourself: “Am I truly following a definite method here, or am I relying on chance?” Commit to study and apply a clear process or set of principles in that area moving forward.

Begin to affirm that achieving your goal is not a gamble, but a logical outcome of doing things in the right way. If you catch yourself worrying that “it might not happen,” remind yourself: “Like causes produce like effects. If I learn what successful people do and do the same, I will inevitably get similar results.”