The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1901-03-21
THE CHEERFUL VIEW OF LIFE.
How Giving Way to Morbidness SIS May
Affect Not Only the Mind But
the Health as Well.

There is form of mental disease
which may be designated as intro
spection. The mind is turned in upon
itself, or at best, toward the body.
Now, neither the mind nor body was
ever intended to be an object of wor-
ship or constant study. The external
world and all that is in it were in
tended for our thought and contem-
plation. There are many whose
minds have dwelt so much upon their
bodies that they imagine diseases OF
one kind or another are always pres
ent. In some instances this morbid
ness leads directly to the acquisition
Of certain forms of illness. Let the
mind be directed upon the world OF
people and interests outside of self,
and there will be healthier and
more normal activity of all the func-
tions than if we constantly study our
shortcomings, either real or fancied.
Andit is only by taking cheerful and
contented view of the world around
that we can acquire and maintain
that beauty of face and expression
which is the indelible mark of self
control and education, says the
Ledger Monthly.
The habit of looking on the bright
side Of life is contagious, and it can
not long be. resisted by an individual
thrown into daily contact with it.
And cheerfulness, hopefulness and
happiness are habits that can be
formed and grated upon our lives so
that it is impossible to break them.
The old saying that we are creatures
of habit would have the most bene-
fetal effect in life if we would but
take it in it's broadest sense and ap-
preciate the fact that it is just as
it is to drift into complaining, wor-
rying and disagreeable ones. Some
do not drift into the latter, either, so
much as they actually cultivate them.
They seem to take delight in nursing
their griefs, sorrows, disappointments
and failures, and day by day they
think of them until they become pet
hobbies. It is no wonder that they
have narrow and hopeless outlook
on life, and that the very atmosphere
in which they live is charged with
| pessimism and dependency.
Probably woman needs the proper
mental and physical balance more
than man because of her influence
in the home and society. Her mission
in life of bringing comfort, cheer and
happiness into the homes and lives OF
all requires that she should have a
| clear and unbiased view of things.
To do this, her mind and body must
| be we'll balanced. Good health is es-
sential to her peace of mind and a
cheerful spirit, and hopeful, en-
couraging and happy personality
makes for good health. The two are
interviewer, and they cannot be sep
arated.
1t is by recognizing the cause of a
disease or trouble that our minds are
set at ease. Until we are assured
that fever is simply an ordinary in.
termittent one, without any danger.
Gus consequences, we worry and con.
jure up in the mind nightmares that
may never exist for us. So with ou1
moments of gloom and depression
If we can ascertain the cause we may
laugh at our forebodings, and return
to our duties with new zeal and hope.
| fulness. Let it be taken as safe
rule that when depression overtakes
us there is some physical or menta'
cause for it that can not only be ascer
tanned, but cured. In this way we
can bring peace to our minds, ane
avoid those unpleasant moods which
may not only grow upon us, but at
feet others in the home.