If you've ever gardened, you know that the soil must be prepared. A seed won't take root in ground that's hard as a rock. The earth must be turned over to make it soft so seeds can take root. Weeds need to be pulled. Fertilizer may be added to the soil to make it more fertile. And once the seeds have been sown, the plot must be watered, and kept free of unwanted weeds that might crowd out your desired crop. The same must be done with your mind when making a change in your life.

The first thing you need to do is decide what you want to plant. If you want marigolds, then don't get a package of squash seeds. You need to focus on what it is you want, not what you don't want. Just like fertile soil, your subconscious will grow whatever you plant. But since it doesn't understand a negative statement, you must focus on what it is you want. For instance, a person should not say "I won't smoke," but say, "I choose to be a non-smoker." What is it that you want to change in your life? Once that's decided, what steps can you take in the direction of your goal?

For instance, if you want more abundance, examine your thoughts and attitudes about prosperity. Do you have low self-worth, do you feel it's impossible to experience more abundance, do you feel you don't deserve it? Those are the weeds that need to be pulled. Every time you think of prosperity, imagine feeling that you have more, and more is coming into your life. You're preparing your garden and planting the seeds. As they begin to germinate, you may be guided to network, to ask your boss for a raise, to take more training. Follow these directives, as they're the Universe helping you through your subconscious.

If you want to reduce weight, begin to act like a thinner person by reducing the amount you eat, exercising, and eating healthier. For better relationships, act friendly and optimistic, and make sure your boundaries are respected, while you respect others' limits. To feel better about yourself, observe what you say to yourself and make it more positive.

Once you've planted your seeds, know that you rarely get a 100% germination rate. One time, I planted eight spaghetti squash seeds but only seven of them germinated. While the crop of seeds didn't all sprout, the ones that did produced a large number of squash that took over my garden. If you've planted a sufficient number of thoughts and actions related to your desire, you'll get a healthy amount of them sprouting.

Once you have a successful yield, with continued tending, they will grow larger and more successful. Many years ago, I planted a bunch of marigolds. I didn't pinch the blossoms after they'd faded, so they went to seed and fell off. The next year, I had more marigold plants than I'd had the year previously. However, this time I didn't tend them, and there weren't any the year after that. If you neglect your garden, the seeds won't sprout, and the weeds will once again take over.

If you don't consciously and persistently tend to your mental garden, the subconscious will deliver to you the general trend of your mindset. If it's "I'm helpless, I'm a victim, I can't, I'm not enough," the subconscious will make sure those expectations are met. Just like planting seeds in a garden, the subconscious can only grow the ideas that are impressed into it.

This book was the first one by this author that I ever read. The practical, spiritual advice from it made him one of my favorite metaphysical authors. Dr. Fox was a well-known spiritual teacher and his insight is timeless.

The title of the book refers to staking your claim to the good that you want in your life. Short, to the point essays about peace, prosperity, empowerment and much more form the chapters of this book. Each essay addresses a different subject, and stands alone in its wisdom.

The counsel in this book will uplift your thoughts, help you gain a more positive, spiritual outlook on what ever difficulty you might be experiencing, and help you live a richer, fuller life. Because of the short essays, this is the perfect book to read in the morning to get the day started right, just before going to sleep, or at any other time when you only have a few minutes to spare.

Follow the image link of the book on the left, and when you're at BarnesandNoble.com, look on the right side of the page. There's a link to "Preview What's Inside: Read An Excerpt." It's a meditation, what the author calls "scientific prayer," that composes the first chapter of the book.