Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1903-05-15
Control of Our Thouuhts.

one factor Is more important than the
direction of our thoughts into the cham
ncls which give peace. happiness and
comfort to ourselves and which at the
same time contribute to our mental and
moral growth. Yet the subject receives
little attention. Happiness and the true
success, bv which is meant useful life
in which one has the satisfaction of
knowing that the life work has been
wei done so as to be useful to self and
society depends upon many things. The
physical foundation plays a large part:
the RICH, choosing of an occupation or
friends is highly important; the gifts
of fortune and many other things over
which person does not always have
control, or, at best. only partial control.
| contribute to the grand result; but a
very large part of the guidance and for
nation of character can he and "can
only be accomplished by the individual
himself acting in complete isolation
upon his own nature and in the chamber
of his own mind"
The discipline of the mind: the strength
eniug of the Will and inclination. 50 as to
avoid foolish, trivial, vicious. incoherent
ana disturbing or demoralizing thoughts:
the Punishment Of useless worry and the
power to dwell on the bright side of life
rather than ON the dark ana morbid as
poet of things. all depend in some degree
upon the Individual and his resolution
however weak it may be Bad health
evil fortune, environment and many cir
cumstanCes are influential in making one
man more irritable Captious melancholy
or pessimistic than another but each
person has some control over his
thoughts and can cultivate and strengthen
the power of turning resolutely from the
depressing and dwelling on the attractive
and hopeful.
How important this power. and how
q Of 10
be perceived If it be considered that the
control over thought is perhaps the
greatest factor over which the individual
has domination, not alone in making
himself happy. but in making MIN con-
tributor to the happiness of others 1t
is within the range of ordinary obser-
walton to see two men who are equally
blessed in health. strength intelligence
and the fundamentals of character. and
Yet one is wretched and a burden to
his companions while the other is a bless
ing to his family and friends and al
the same time gets real satisfaction from
life and its duties. And yet tne only
difference between the two is the power
one has over his thoughts. which is the
result of resolution adhered to steadily
and constantly until a habit is formed
that changes his character and his influ-
ence upon others for the better.
This power to dismiss the unpleasant
the evil aspect of life, the communing
with the high. helpful thoughts; the
establishment of mental self-restrain and
self-guidance IN meditation. is a very
different thing from the habit of constant
self-analysis and introspection which is
the mark of morbid. self-conscious, sub
jective personality. 1t should be the aim
To avoid too much self-eXamination and
to strive to look at the bright and hope
full side of all things. SO vital is this
disposition to shun the dark aspects Of
existence, and of the ordinary concerns
of life that a moral philosopher has said
wisely that the happiness of man depends
less on the amount of pleasurabe or
painful things that are encountered than
upon the turn Of thought which jwells
upon one or the other.
Good nature depends upon the point
of view Of the individual. The amiable
man sees the merits and not the defects
of his companions and friends; the dis
contented see only the hardship of their
lot: the bad tempered man dwells on the
unavoidable, the irritating things. the dis
agree able features of life, while the good
naiurcd man oVerlooks or dismisses from
his mind and dwels on the bright. pleas
ant and attractive side of everything.
The power of controlling thoughts
varies greatly in different persons but
ii is power that can be increased by
effort, as the morbid traits of mind are
confirmed by yielding to that trend of
Il
| nVigorate the mind and keep it constant
ly fresh. strong. healthy and bright;
| and in attaining this end no better advice
has been given than was offered by
sydney Smith in his admirable lectures
on the moral philosophy in the early part
of the last century:
The first thing To be done in conduct
ing the understanding is precisely the
same as in conducting the body-to give
it regular and copious supplies of food,
to prevent that atrophy and marasmus
of mind which comes of giving il no new
ideas. 1t is a mistake equally fatal to
the memory. the imagination. the powers
of reasoning, and to every other faculty
Of the mind, to think too early that We
| can live upon our stock of understanding
| that 1t is time to leave off business and
make use of the acquisitions We have al
| ready made. without troubling ourselves
| any further to add to them. Ina gination
| of all sorts. though originally dealt out
| with very different degrees of profusion
! to different men. Is capable of a great
! Improvement from habit. \ great part
| of imagination depends on association,
and the power OF association always in
! creasrs with practice men acquire extra
| ordinary power over particular classes Of
| ideas and are supplied with copousness
| of materials for their collection, to
which inexperienced and Impractical
minds can never attain"