The culmination of Haanel’s treatise leaves me with the question…What is truth? It would seem that my truth is based on my biases. And so, my mind has me focusing on my amazing daughter. My soon-to-be 25-year-old daughter came to our home as a foster child when she was 2 ½ years old. She was a stunning wisp of a child at 26 inches and 26 pounds. She was the third of four children that had been removed from their birth home 15-months earlier.

We were her 5th foster home in her first 30 months of her life. She was removed from the first two foster homes for lack of care, and home number three was a great location for her and her older brother. Unfortunately, the “system” felt the needs of the bio-parents were more important than the welfare of the children, and my daughter and her brother were returned to the bio-family because a “clock” was ticking down on the parental rights to keep the children. But, because the universe operates in perfect order, the children were removed again, because the children were still not the highest priority for their parents.

Placement home number four was with the newborn fourth child of the bio family. It was from this foster home that she came to us. She was the third youngest child in that family and the foster mom, Alex (another amazing person in our lives) had only room for two on her lap. Our daughter, as third youngest in the house, began acting out aggressively and had to be relocated. The saddest part was that we were unable to take both our then 2 ½ year-old daughter, and her 4-year-old brother because we had only one room prepared.

She was delayed in Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Speech Therapy milestones for her age, and so we began the arduous journey of remediating her delays. Alex became my mentor in navigating the foster care system. She provided resources for therapies and helped me understand how to be an advocate for my daughter. She and her family became our family, and it enabled us to keep the girls close. The journey to adoption took over three years until we were able to give our daughter her a forever home.

I have spent 22 years viewing my daughter as a special needs child, and have set my expectations, as such. Haanel’s Part 24, has, once again, rocked my world by giving me a new perspective on reality!

The whole range then of the theory and practice any system of metaphysics consists in knowing the Truth concerning yourself and the world in which you live; …. in order to express health you must think health; …

The Master Key System, Charles Haanel, Chapter 24, Part 4

Since my daughter’s childhood experiences led to delayed development, and as such, special needs, I have always thought of her as a special needs child. Have I contributed to her delays, because of my perceptions and thoughts? The answer MUST be “Yes”.

When you come to know that every form of disease, sickness, lack and limitation are simply the result of wrong thinking, you will have come to know “the Truth which shall make you free.” You will see how mountains may be removed. If these mountains consist only of doubt, fear, distrust or other forms of discouragement, they are none the less real, and they need not only be removed but to be “cast into the sea.”

The Master Key System, Charles Haanel, Chapter 24, Part 5

So, what is Truth? in this case. There has always been a part of me that has hoped that she will have a conventional (whatever that is) life and future, but my responsibility in securing her future is operating in the worst-case scenario. Specifically, I need to make financial and legal arrangements for her care for the next seventy or so years. And so, in preparing my DMP, I elucidated a plan for that future. Now, I’m wondering whether I am selling her short.

Haanel 24:10

Remember, and this is one of the most difficult as well as most wonderful statements to grasp…remember that no matter what the difficulty is, no matter where it is, no matter who is affected, you have no patient but yourself; you have nothing to do but convince yourself to the truth which you desire to see manifested.

The Master Key System, Charles Haanel, Chapter 24, Part 4

Is my perception of her, the reality that I have created? Has my relationship with her enabled her disabilities? Am I selling her short with lower expectations because she started life with challenges? I think back to my own upbringing which was rather challenging. Being raised as the youngest of 3 girls by a single unskilled mother, the early days were really hard. But my mother was also amazing because she did whatever was necessary to better herself and our family. Have I, in my empathy, prevented my daughter from learning those lessons?

I know that my meager beginnings fueled my desire to excel and achieve. I recognized that what we lacked financially has driven me to perform. I also realize that my daughter and I are diametrically opposed in our personality types. I am relationship & purpose driven (perhaps because of upbringing, and birth order), whereas she is fun-filled, and peace driven (again, perhaps because of upbringing and birth order).

If you desire to help someone, to destroy some form of lack, limitation or error, the correct method is not to think of the person whom you wish to help; the intention to help them is entirely sufficient, as this puts you in mental touch with the person. Then drive out of your own mind any belief of lack, limitation, disease, danger, difficulty or whatever the trouble might be. As soon as you have succeeded in doing this the result will have been accomplished, and the person will be free.

The Master Key System, Charles Haanel, Chapter 24, Part 13

My daughter has been cautious about our (my husband’s and my) obsession with MKE. She’s convinced we’ve joined a cult. But she has observed our commitment to doing the work, and that is a pattern I want her to see. I want her to see our choices of commitment, excellence and working on ourselves. Like my mother’s work ethic and diligence to uplift her family from poverty, we strive to be of service to those around us.

The absolute truth is that the “I” is perfect and complete; the real “I” is spiritual and then can therefor never be less than perfect; it can never have any lack, limitation, or disease. The flash of genius does not have in the molecular motion of the brain; it is inspired by the ego, the spiritual “I” which is one with the Universal Mind, and it is our ability to recognize this Unity, which is the cause of all inspiration, all genius. These results are far reaching and have effect upon generations yet to come; they are the pillars of fire which mark the path that millions follow.

The Master Key System, Charles Haanel, Chapter 24, Part 18

Haanel 24:24

If you see only the incomplete, the imperfect, the relative, the limited, these conditions will manifest in your life; but if you train your mind to see and realize the spiritual ego, the “I” which is forever perfect and complete, harmonious; wholesome, and healthful conditions only will be manifested.

The Master Key System, Charles Haanel, Chapter 24, Part 24

When I began Part 24, I had no idea that it would change my perspective on life. Although, given the impact of the first 23 parts, I don’t know why I’m surprised. Its effect on me is profound.

I will still build a financial legacy for my daughter, but I will also focus on releasing her from my perceptions of who she is and what she is capable of. I will evaluate where I have accepted limitations for her and release her from those boundaries.

I will look to responsibilities I sheltered her from and begin teaching her to learn and master those skills which I know she will need. I will relinquish my expectations and strive to empower her to control her own destiny. I will encourage her greatness!