Affirmation · “The Subconscious Says Yes”
Realizing Prosperity
To realize one’s oneness with the ‘Spirit of Infinite Plenty’ as the source of supply, holding the thought of prosperity (not poverty) and expecting good — while still acting.
Realize you are one with the one Source of supply. Hold the thought of prosperity, not poverty: see it, affirm it calmly and confidently, believe and expect it. When adversity comes, refuse complaint and look forward for better things. Then act and be useful — the attitude is the soil; effort plants and reaps. Not financial advice; keep your prudence.
What it is
Trine extends his oneness-realization to supply: behind all material form is “the Spirit of Infinite Plenty,” and “he who lives in the realization of his oneness with this Infinite Power becomes a magnet to attract to himself a continual supply of whatsoever things he desires.” The practice is to hold the thought of prosperity rather than poverty, in calm confident expectation, as an expression of conscious union with the Source — and (Trine is explicit) to keep acting and being useful, not merely wishing.
His pivotal sentence: “If one hold himself in the thought of poverty, he will be poor. If he hold himself. continually in the thought of prosperity, he sets into operation forces that will sooner or later bring him into prosperous conditions.”
The Method
Faithful to Trine (In Tune with the Infinite, ch. IX “Plenty of All Things — The Law of Prosperity”):
- Realize oneness with the Source of supply. Take up the premise: there is one Spirit of Infinite Plenty, and you are one with it — “If we are one with this Infinite Power, this source of all things, then in the degree that we live in the realization of this oneness. do we actualize in ourselves a power that will bring to us an abundance.”
- Hold the thought of prosperity, drop the thought of poverty. Refuse the poverty-thought; “continually hold yourself in the thought of prosperity.”
- See it and affirm it — calmly, confidently. Trine’s own directions: “Suggest prosperity to yourself. See yourself in a prosperous condition. Affirm that you will before long be in a prosperous condition. Affirm it calmly and quietly, but strongly and confidently.”
- Believe and expect. “Believe it, believe it absolutely. Expect it,—keep it continually watered with expectation.”
- Refuse complaint; reframe adversity. “This is the law of prosperity: When apparent adversity comes, be not cast down by it, but make the best of it, and always look forward for better things.” And: “Never give a moment to complaint, but utilize the time. in looking forward and actualizing the conditions you desire.”
- Hold it for the right ends, then act. Trine ties supply to usefulness — desire what “will broaden your life or. increase your usefulness to others,” and trust that “at the right time, in the right way, and through the right instrumentality” the way will open. The realization is the attitude; effort and service do the carrying (The Inner Creates the Outer). (Sourcing note: all quoted phrases are Trine’s own (ch. IX); steps sequence his prose.)
Source & Lineage
The New Thought “law of prosperity” runs through Trine into Wattles, Holmes, Ponder, and modern prosperity teaching. Trine’s phrasing — the magnet, “watered with expectation,” reframing adversity — became template language. Contrast (don’t duplicate):
- Wattles “hold the vision with faith and purpose” and “efficient present action” bolt the mental work to a doctrine of doing each day’s work well; Trine’s version is lighter on the labour theory, heavier on realized oneness with the Source and reframing adversity.
- Ponder’s prosperity decree, “Dollars want me”, “The Lord is my banker” are formula/decree practices; Trine subordinates formula to realization (“see yourself. affirm calmly. expect”), and uniquely foregrounds anti-complaint and adversity-reframing as the law of prosperity.
Common refinements
Wishing instead of acting. Trine himself ties supply to usefulness and right action; “hold the thought” without effort fails honestly.
- Magnet-thinking + financial risk. Believing money is “attracted” can rationalize over-spending, bad bets, or ignoring debt. Keep ordinary prudence.
- Self-blame / blaming the poor. “Thought of poverty makes you poor” becomes cruel if applied to people facing real structural barriers. Hold the practice as personal morale, never as a verdict on others.
- Anxious affirming. Trine’s tone is calm, confident, expectant — grasping reintroduces the scarcity-fear it’s meant to dissolve.