Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-05-05
Sunday Morning Talk
Living Up to Ones Possibilities.

Tn ono Of his stimulating books Prof.
william, James of Harvard University de-
votes considerable space to the subject OF
"I1nut,l;zed Resources" He develops the
idea that the average man does not employ
all his MOWERS and that he might accom-
plish more II he would but summon up his
reserves. That may seem at first hard doc
trine for an age which is probably more
strenuous than any that has preceded it..
But let US ponder a moment on the impor-
lance of living up to ones possibilities.
There is a big difference between doing this
in a quiet, determined sympathetic way
and doing it noisily and feverishly. Chau-
Ger speaks of a man who always seemed
buster than he was" and we are all ia
miliar with that type Of individual. fussy.
ostentatious, constantly solicitous to give
the impression that he is hustler.
But our doctrine. II rightly conceived
and carried out, would not make any more
tense nerves that are already stretched
to their utmost capacity. 1t Is designed
rather for the multitude OF persons VINO
are just falling short Of what they might
do and be, who go through long years OF
life without ever putting at work talents
and capacities with which God has en-
dowed them. That there could be vast i'm
proyement and development no one doubts
A school of medicine Is growing up which
emphasizes as no school before it has done
the part which the patient must play If he
really wants to get WELL So appeal is
made to what is sometimes called the
"subliminar' self, to q power of will not
vet recognized by the patient. The aim Is
thoroughly to stimulate the personal force
When men are thus aroused they find they
can do and bear more than they ever
thought themselves capable of doing and
bearing. It Is not an uncommon experience
in an emergency when sudden draft Is
made on strength to find that our normal
strength is reinforced. Now, why cannot
daily working capital.
II the body can be strengthened by this
appeal to unused forces, the mind Is even
more capable of more intense and fruitful
activity. Take the simple matter of listen
ing to others. That involves mental con-
centration. How many Of US are able to
keep our minds alert through a sermon or
lecture and follow it point by point SO as
to be able to carry away the substance of
what is said? In reading book. who
forces himself to grasp quickly and Wig
orously the meaning of every page? We
might be far more attentive If we tried, and
that would make our memories more re-
tentive. We might learn to think more
consecutively and logically. All. It's hard
work this bringing forward our intellectual
reserves; but 1t pays every time.
No less responsible are we for the utmost
development of our spiritual natures. We
are not as good as we ought to be, either
as respects God or man. We might nave
more faith If we sought it diligently. We
might work out for ourselves fairly salts
factory theory of human life, and certainly
we might all be a bit kinder than We are.
Yes, a good bit more considerate OF those
with whom we live and work day by day:
some of whom love us devotedly; some OF
whom have shown their love for us by
many a sacrifice. To live up to our spir-
itual capacities. to be as fine and pure and
true as we can be, as we ought to be; to
look out upon the world of men tenderly,
sympathetically--this takes time and strug-
gle, but this also pays.
Daniel Webster at the height of his fame
once went back to the little Massachusetts,