The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1909-05-11


the individual assumes towards the
problems of life. According to the
"old thought" theories, every human
being was subject to outside condi-
lions, and circumstances over which
he could have little. if any, control
Things happened just because they
happened. Ill-health, failure in bust
ness, and every other variety of mis-
fortune, depended upon an element of
chance that defied our best laid plans
and endeavors. AS the result, peo-
pie came to believe in luck" or
fate" They talked about good
luck" and bad luck" as though such
terms were descriptive of unavoidable
conditions.
The new thought attitude to-
wards these problems of life is very
different, for the opponents of these
modern theories deny that chance, or
luck" plays any part in human ex-
perience. They refuse to accept the
theory that we are controlled by cir
cumstances outside of ourselves, in
sisting, instead, that we possess the
power to overcome any adverse cir
cumstances, if we but know how to
exercise that force. This force, of
course, is thought-the thoughts we
think, and the emotions we feel; and
courage, hope, confidence are some
of the thought-elements that shape
our lives most beneficently. That is
to say, the new systems teach us that
a man may be what he wills to be.
Thus, to keep in good health, he must
think health. To achieve success, he
must think success. To be happy, he
must maintain cheerful and conf
dent attitude towards life. BY up
holding the theory that we get just
what we are looking for in life, the
new philosophical systems have
sounded a note Of inspiration that
has enabled thousands of people to
face obstacles and misfortunes. the
depressing effect of which might
otherwise have proved fatal.
AS we may readily see, there is
nothing in this doctrine that is con-
trary either to the standard of COM
nonsense or to the recognized tenets
of the most orthodox Christianity.
1t simply teaches us that every ex-
perience in life, however disagreeable
1t may seem, is actually working for
our own good, and those OF us who
take the trouble to look back over
the record of our own experiences.
will undoubtedly be forced to admit
that there is a firm foundation of
truth behind this so-called law of life.
1t is because this rule proves true
1t Is because we know that the COM
plexion of our experiences changes
when we view them retrospectively,
and can see their purpose-that the
new thought" idea has taken so
firm grasp upon the intelligence of
thoughtful men and women.
Another principle contained by
this new philosophy is the import
ance OF the mental picture, and this,
too, is founded UPON common-sense.
According to this theory, every act or
achievement must have an actual ex-
istence in the mind before 1t can be
realized in any material sense. BY
this the new thought" teachers
mean that the best way to accomplish
an object is 20 know precisely what
we want to do before we commence
to do 1t. Just as the artist views his
picture mentally before he attempts
to put it upon canvas, so every act of
life should be clearly pictured in the
mind before an effort is made to ac-
complish It.
1t is not difficult to see that this
must be a good. sensible theory to
follow, for ordinary experience
teaches us the necessity Of seeing our
goal before We aim at it. What
would we think OF a marksman who,
instead of aiming at his target,
should close his eyes tightly and shoot
at random? Yet this is exactly what
many persons do every day of their
lives, and this is the practice that
the new thought" systems endeavor
to prevent. BY completing the men
tai picture before attempting to re-
produce IL in reality, we can protect
ourselves against many misfortunes,
for the possibility OF failure Is thus
reduced to a minimum. This may
be new thought" but IL is also ordi-
nary ccmmon-sense.
A third principle advanced by the
promoters CT these systems of
thought is the value of concentration,
and to this idea nobody can possibly
object. To accomplish a definite pur-
pose In life, II is admittedly necessary
that we should comply with two con-
ditions: Cd We must know just
what we desire to do, and CD we
must be able TO concentrate our at
tention upon the effort TO do 1t.
There is a very simple illustration
that shows the value of cOncentra-
ton, but II is a test that anybody can
try with practically no trouble or ex-
pense. The only thing necessary is
to obtain permission to use q lifting
machine-one of those machines used
In gymnasiums, that record the
amount of weight that the individual
Is able to lift. In making this test
however, you must Try two expert
ments. First, take hold OF the ma
chine and see how much you can lift
without paying the slightest atten-
ton to the work i'm hand. Just grasp
the handles and lift, and. while you
are doing this. let your mind wander
In all sorts OF directions, or better
yet, keep up steady run of CONVEX.
sation with somebody who Is stand.
ing near you. When this weight has
been recorded. try the experiment
again, but this time, pay attention 10