THE GAME OF LIFE BY FLORENCE SCOVEL SHINN

Key Concepts and Themes

• Life as a Game of Giving and Receiving: Shinn views life as a game of skill, where we give out thought, words, and actions, and life, operating according to spiritual law, gives back the results. To change what you receive, you must change what you give.
• The Power of the Spoken Word: A central tenet is that words have creative power. What you repeatedly say, declare, and affirm helps shape your circumstances. The book emphasizes using positive affirmations ("claim your good") to counteract negative subconscious beliefs.
• Intuition (The Inner Voice): Shinn encourages listening to one's intuition, which she calls the "inner voice" or "Divine guidance." She argues that God's plan for us is always a plan of abundance and joy, and intuition is the way to access this guidance.
• Faith and Non-Resistance: Unwavering faith in your desired outcome, without doubt or anxiety, is essential for manifestation. The concept of "non-resistance" is crucial—avoid fighting or struggling against negative circumstances, as resistance only attracts more of the same. Instead, one should calmly affirm a positive outcome.
• The Law of Expectation: The universe responds precisely to what you expect. The book teaches how to maintain a joyful, expectant attitude, acting as if your desire has already come true, which signals faith to the subconscious mind.
• Forgiveness and Releasing Resentment: Holding onto resentment, fear, and unforgiveness blocks the flow of "good" into your life. Shinn emphasizes the importance of releasing negativity to clear the path for blessings and abundance.
• Prosperity as a Spiritual Right: The book reframes prosperity and abundance not as greedy pursuits, but as our divine birthright. It teaches that "lack" is an illusion that stems from limited thinking.