In this post, I want to share The Scroll Marked 2, an excerpt from The Greatest Salesman in The World, by Og Mandino.

Despite the title, this book is not really about sales, salesmanship, or growing a business. It’s about how to live a life of inspiration by entering into a state of love, peace, and well-being with everything around you.

The book is set several thousand years ago, and tells the story of Hafid, a peasant worker who must learn to sell a robe in order to advance. In the process, he learns much about the meaning of life itself.

The book is written as a series of scrolls, which are short texts that center around a spiritual idea or principle of success.

In the excerpt below, titled simply: “The Scroll Marked II,” we find one of the most famous quotes of the book:

This quote is a powerful affirmation. In the excerpt below, you’ll find it repeated over and over again, and with each repetition Mandino concludes sections on how to speak, act, and think in the world.

I really encourage you to take your time reading the following excerpt. Read it several times. Move slowly. Repeat any phrases that resonate with you.

If you come back to this passage – and adopt the quote “I will greet this day with love in my heart” as an affirmation of love for yourself and others – you will find that your heart opens. You begin to move more calmly and more joyfully through each day, and you will find that you can train your mind to adopt love as its default state of being.

It is a powerful tool to cultivate a sense of love and gratitude for the world around you…no matter what circumstances you might find yourself in.

So, without further ado, here is The Scroll Marked 2, from The Greatest Salesman in the World.

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The Scroll Marked 2 by Og Mandino (Excerpt and Quotes from The Greatest Salesman in the World)

I will greet this day with love in my heart.

For this is the greatest secret of success in all ventures. Muscle can split a shield and even destroy life, but only the unseen power of love can open the hearts of people, and until I master this art I will remain no more than a peddler in the marketplace. I will make love my greatest weapon and none on whom I call can defend against its force.

My reasoning they may counter. My speech they may distrust. My apparel they may disapprove. My face they may reject, and even my bargains may cause them suspicion, yet my love will melt all hearts liken to the sun whose rays soften the coldest clay.

I will greet this day with love in my heart.

And how will I do this?

Henceforth will I look on all things with love and I will be born again. I will love the sun for it warms my bones, yet I will love the rain for it cleanses my spirit. I will love the light for it shows me the way, yet I will love the darkness for it shows me the stars. I will welcome happiness for it enlarges my heart, yet I will endure sadness for it opens my soul. I will acknowledge rewards for they are my due, yet I will welcome obstacles for they are my challenge.

I will greet this day with love in my heart.

And how will I speak?

I will laud mine enemies and they will become friends. I will encourage my friends and they will become brothers and sisters.

Always will I dig for reasons to applaud. Never will I scratch for excuses to gossip. When I am tempted to criticize I will bite on my tongue. When I am moved to praise I will shout from the roofs.

Is it not so that birds, the wind, the sea, and all nature speaks with the music of praise for their creator? Cannot I speak with the same music to his children? Henceforth will I remember this secret and it will change my life.

I will greet this day with love in my heart.

And how will I act?

I will love all manners of people for each has qualities to be admired even though they may be hidden. With love I will tear down the wall of suspicion and hate which they have built round their hearts and in its place will I build bridges so that my love may enter their souls.

I will love the ambitious for they can inspire me. I will love the failures for they can teach me. I will love the kings for they are but human. I will love the meek for they are divine. I will love the rich for they are yet lonely. I will love the poor for they are so many. I will love the young for the faith they hold. I will love the old for the wisdom they share. I will love the beautiful for their eyes of sadness. I will love the ugly for their souls of peace.

I will greet this day with love in my heart.

But how will I react to the actions of others?

With love, for just as love is my weapon to open the hearts of people, love is also my shield to repulse the arrows of hate and the spears of anger. Adversity and discouragement will beat against my new shield and become as the softest of rains. My shield will protect me in the marketplace and sustain me when I am alone. It will uplift me in moments of despair yet it will calm me in time of exultation. It will become stronger and more protective with use until one day I will cast it aside and walk unencumbered among all manners of people and, when I do, my name will be raised high on the pyramid of life.

I will greet this day with love in my heart.

And how will I confront each whom I meet?

In only one way. In silence and to myself I will address him or her and say I Love You. Though spoken in silence these words will shine in my eyes, unwrinkle my brow, bring a smile to my lips, and echo in my voice, and his or her heart will be opened.

I will greet this day with love in my heart.

And most of all I will love myself.

For when I do I will zealously inspect all things which enter my body, my mind, my soul, and my heart. Never will I overindulge the requests of my flesh, rather, I will cherish my body with cleanliness and moderation. Never will I allow my mind to be attracted to evil and despair, rather I will uplift it with the knowledge and wisdom of the ages. Never will I allow my soul to become complacent and satisfied, rather I will feed it with meditation and prayer. Never will I allow my heart to become small and bitter, rather I will share it and it will grow and warm the earth.

I will great this day with love in my heart.

Henceforth will I love all humankind. From this moment all hate is let from my veins, for I have not time to hate, only time to love. From this moment I take the first step required to become a man among men. If I have no other qualities I can succeed with love alone. Without it I will faily thought I possess all the knowledge and skills of the world.

I will greet this day with love, and I will succeed.

— Og Mandino

Want to keep reading? Try this post on How To Love Yourself Completely.