Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1912-04-27
The Art of Life

literality and decorum. and so hedged in
that We are unable to attain fulness OF
self-expresslon. IL Is plain that there
are reservoirs Of energy not hahitually
tapped. That these hidden reserves exist
We know from the fact that at times we
gain our second wind hence we are able
TO press on and work even after becom-
Ing decidedly fatigued.
Again. We accomplish a great deal
under excitement, or unusual circum-
stances. The inference In that IL We pos
sessed spontaneity or seif-abandonment
We might frequently draw on our hidden
resources.
IF have been in the habit OF taking
long walks into the country. I may well
take advantage Of my second wind and
walk five ten, even fifteen miles after
| am weary: since my organism, well
trained In that sort OF exercise. may not
he brought into full activity until have
passed beyond the initial fatigue. The
next day ! may be aware Of no ill-effects.
and In a few days may be able to repeat
| tho performance.
so. In many kinds OF work in which
people regularly engage II may be possi-
BILE TO continue day after day turning of
an exceptional amount of work without
any undesirable result
This should be true of all whose pow
ers are trained to work systematically,
especially those who are happy in their
work. The normal Individual ought to
bo able 10 labor a goodly number OF
hours without being unpleasantly con-
sclous OF his organism.
That there Is enormous waste Of en-
ergy In the human organism 10 a fact TO
be considered by itself before we set
out in quest of hidden reserves. Only
by more advantageously employing the
energy at hand can we expect TO con-
serve and organize that which n wasted.
Our first promising discovery Is likely to
relate to the nervous system, since II Is
right use OF nervous energy which un-
derles mental efficiency. Without doubt
the nervous system n capable OF far
more work than we usually get from Il.
Yes. whatever the real or apparent
power OF the nervous system. II is pri-
marily a question Of the individual who
makes full use OF his powers, or habit
ually behaves below his highest point Of
activity. as the case may be.
TO make good use OF our powers we
must engage In work which we believe
worth while Granted an inspiriting
ideal which calls tho best from the self
the question is: Where shall one begin
In the effort to master the energies OF
the organism and employ them to advan-
tage?
III able to command sufficient repose
to analyze a subject carefully. discern
ing its parts, arranging them in order.
singing out essential points and formu-
lating laws, you have already made sew
eraI attachments In this direction.
such control implies the ability to
adopt a point Of view and follow II
logically TO It's conclusions. and this i'm
plies command OF the brain. 1t also in-
wolves the mechanism that secures exter-
nal order and system. insures confidence
and enables one to strike out and reach
a goal
some people show in q few minutes
why they have become
That Is. they speak with
enormous waste OF energy, using their
powers like the person who does three
days work in one and then rests for
three days to recover from tho excess.
To catch ones self in the act Of forging
ahead is 10 realize what whirlwind Of
excitement is ordinarily taking place
within. what tensions. frictions and
strains SIN remain to be overcome.
'one can hardly learn precisely what is
taking place without at the same time
seeing what should be done. Catching
,ne's self in the act. one Is able to trace
Effects to causes. Hence. one sees at
what point the organism must be cared
Tor In a wiser way. just where the centers
u nervous activity must be overcome.
But all this calls for more self-knovl-
,dge and cOmposure as the basis for con-
rol Of the organism. This in turn de-
hands simple life. with more time for
reflection