The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1908-05-28
A STUDY OF OPTIMISM.
A Panacea for All Ills.
Success Magazine.)

| OaVdSeS anu ptiiilitiFe pSOplcS
have great faith in the fact that the
Creator put into some barks, plants,
and minerals remedies for every
physical ill. But we are beginning
to learn that man carries the great
panacea for all ills within himself;
that the antidotes for the worst
poisons, the poisons of hatred and
jealousy, exist in his own mind in
the form of love, charity, and good
will essences. We are beginning to
learn the magical medicinal quail
ties of right thinking.
The cheerful, hope thought is itself
powerful remedy for a score of ills,
such as the "blues," melancholia,
and discouagement. Optimism is an
antidote for some of the worst men,
tai diseases.
Laughter has cured many condi-
tion which would otherwise have re-
suited fatally. If persisted in, even
mechanically, laughter will often
work marvellous physical and mental
changes.
Think how many ills hope and en-
couaragemt antidote! Kindness,
and a helpful, inspiring mental atti-
tude, have kept thousands of people
out of insane asylums as well as out
of prisons.
Some people are SO terrified by the
dread of poverty, or the fear of fail
ure, that they are robbed of their
ability to succeed by the wasting of
their physical vitality, their mental
energy, and by the killing Of their
enthusiasm.
On the other hand, confidence,
self-assurance, and the tonic Of hope,
optimism, multiply mans power a
thousandfold.
Think how many human ills can be
antidoted by the magical, medicinal
power of love. 1t is a solvent for
selfshness and greed, destroyer OF
hatred, envy, and jealousy, of re-
venge, criminal intent, and a score
of other mental and physical enc
mics.
Hold to optimistic ideals, and you
will drive out pessimism, the great
breeder of disea-a. failure and
misery. Stand porter at the door
of your thought; be on your guard,
and keep out all the enemies of your
happiness and achievement as you
would exclude thieves from your
home. and you will be astonished at
your entire change of thought with
in few months. You will face life
in a different way, and be able to
protect yourself against everything
that would injure you or hamper
your progress.
The constant contemplation of the
success thought, the thought OF
prosperity, of abundance as ones
birthright, the claiming Of all the
good things of the world as ours by
right, because we are part of the
great creative principle of all things,
| because we are heirs of all that is
good in the universe, will so change
our mental attitude toward life that
we will begin to be prosperous and
failure will be impossible. The health
thought, the constant affirmation OF
physical vigor, strength, and power
and great vitality, as the right OF al
the children of God, will tend tc
bring US into the realization of per
feet physical harmony.
The habit of holding the thought
of health as an everlasting fact, the
thought of strength, vigor and ro
business as a reality, will soon give
US a consciousness of increasing
power. We shall feel that we are
being buttressed and supported by
almighty principle, because oul
thoughts and sentiments are sur
charged with life and truth, and ar
creative.
All thoughts which suggest weak
ness, failure, unhappiness, or power
ty, are destructive, negative, tear
ingdown thoughts. They are ou
enemies. Brand them wheneve
they try to'gain an entrance int
your mind. Avoid them as yo'
would thieves, for they are thieve
, ofyour comfort, thieves of harmony
thieves of power, thieves of happi
ness, thieves of success.
Every true, beautiful, and helpful
thought is a suggestion which,
held in the mind, tends to reproduc
: itself there-clarifes the ideals an
uplifts the life. While these inspir
) ing and helpful suggestions fill tn
: mind their opposites cannot put i