Los Angeles herald., 1910-09-25
BAD TEMPER AND DISEASE


of the physical muscles. With daily
exercises they seek to strengthen va
rious parts OF the body, and when
they find that their muscles have be-
come strong and hard they take much
pride in the fact that they are more
''fit" than many of their friends and
acquaintances.
The desire to make the physical
body strong is a commendable aspira-
tion, but 1t is just as important that
we devote some time to the develop
ment of the character. Strength of
character is quite as important a fac
tor in the struggle for success as
strength of muscle. In fact, men who
were weak physically have been known
to succeed, but success without char
aeter is next to impossible.
To make a success in life one must
have courage, self-confidence, pa
tience, calmness and cheerfulness, and
each of these factors is trait of char
acter that can be built up and de-
veloped by consistent and persistent
effort. The contrary traits, cowardice,
fear, impatience, petulance and bad
temper are habits to which we have
permitted ourselves to become ad-
dicted, and, like any other bad habit,
we can overcome them If we are will
ing to try hard enough. 1t is all a
matter of desire and determination.
If we have the will to rise above such
adverse conditions we can do so, for
they are but the effects of weak char
acter which can be stimulated and
strengthened by proper exercises.
If people realized how important it
is that the mental muscles should be
strengthened and developed they would
not be so careless in neglecting them.
The trouble is that we are just be-
k1,A Nr,1 ynrtc
a tremendous effect upon the body
so stupendous an effect that health,
happiness and success actually depend
upon the nature of our thoughts.
Up to a comparatively short time
ago, when scientists began to special
ize in the study of psychology, the
influence of the mind upon the body
was generally disregarded. A few pio-
neers attempted to blaze the way, but
science paid little attention to them
until the late Prof James began his
remarkable experiments at Harvard.
1t was then that even the most con-
servative minds were compelled to ad-
NIT that the thoughts we think have
much to do with the kind of life we
live. Thus it came to be admitted
that the negative mental traits exert
a deadly effect upon the blood, caus-
ing a specific and decided change in
~
physical ills.
Among the many adverse traits that
we develop the two that are the most
dangerous to health, success and hap
piness are fear and bad temper. Fear
nullifies all effort; bad temper weak
ems mans resistive powers.
A man who enters upon an under
taking with the fear that he will not
succeed in accomplishing it might just
as we'll abandon it at the start. AS
long as the fear attitude is maintained
no effort can be realized, for fear is
a handicap that makes victory i'm
possible. With fear at the helm man
dares not follow his own judgment.
He hesitates, he waVers, he shifts
from one line of approach to another.
Always fearful of the consequence OF
his own acts, he accomplishes moth
ing that he sets out to perform. Fear
in time of danger makes cravens OF
men; fear in the commercial world
spells bankruptcy
Bad temper is almost if not quite
as fatal to success, health and hap
piness as fear. An occasional out
burst of righteous anger may do little
harm, but a constant state of crouch
mess is a danger that none should
court. If continued long enough, there
is practically no limits to It's per-
nicious effects, for it is the cause of
many physical ills and nervous col
lapses that finally produce serious
mental diseases and even insanity.
The only way to control such dis
astrous traits is not to give way to
them. Giving way to fits of temper or
permitting the fear thought to govern
the life, even for an hour, weakens the