The Washington herald., 1912-05-12

~ ~8AA RaN AoAAn any 8AA-S~-@N -~-~~t
and habitually does so.
The best preparation for the future
Is to act confidently, clearly and con-
sclentiously IN the present. meaning that
the neurotic or psychasthenic person Is
a mass Of confused feelings, incomplete
actions and reactions; a compound Of
half-formed impulses, wishes. decisions
and Indecisions. fears, in short, unclear
judgments. Hence arise morbid ten
sion and exhaustion states When at
tempting to pursue an idea, the ele-
ments Of decision are perceived vaguely;
frantic efforts are often made, produc-
ing exhaustion. ineftectiveness. alarm
and despair. An uncontrolled mind
squanders useIessly an amount Of force
oftentimes sufficient to accomplish won
ders II controlled and rightly directed
Force must be conserved lest disorder
OF disease In tissue follow. The will
Is not fountain OF force 50 much as a
toolrholder for the lathe. 10 direct and
put the power where and when IL VIII
do the most good.
ForethouEht II Exhausting.
Forethought is necessarily Inaccurate
IN many details. To exercise forethought
Is Ear more exhausting than TO act Sc
reneiy and efficiently as problems pre-
sent themselves. Many ailing persons
are so merely because OF a shrinkage in
robustness OF purpose-and unaware Of
their own capabilities. They often pos
sess actute perceptions and clear insight.
which. properly controlled, would place
them above the average Of efficiency.
II their consciousness is allowed 10 be-
come or remain inert. passive. then
will external influences turn aside the
force of wholesome decisions, mar rea-
soning. induce doubts. and hence bring
about blundering Judgments Mental
tension induces overstrain vibration
and is due to efforts 20 whip ones self
into action. The normal mind is poised.
flexible, in both passive and active
states. because of well balanced centers
of force and outlying executive mechan-
isms. The psychasthenic lacks conf
dence because OF previous disappoint-
ments in determining or carrying out
purposes; hence fear grows. blunders
multiply. distress or despair follows. To
escape psychic apprehension. morbid agi-
tation. remember that voition should
precede action and not be consciously
exerted during action. Evil temper, sui
Ienness, deceit, selfishness, and all the
rest OF invalid uglinesses. are the out
come OF abnormalities In volitiOnal poise.
in determining what to do and what not
to do.
Fatigue Is Dangerous.
Abnormal fatigue leads to hypersensi-
tiveness to all stimuli. induces emotional
anomalies, alterations Of sensations, VI
tiation OF impressions, elementary hal
Incinations; leads to mental irritability,
distractibility, incapaclty to fix or main
tain attention. Hence follow despond-
encies and hypochondriaeaI ideas, all
readily Influenced by good or bad i'm
pressions.
Psycha sthenIa, mental weakness In its
varied forms and causation, Is often
due to lack Of early right training, de-
velopment Of conservation, and presents
q group OF puzzling and bafiing phe-
nomena to the layman and not specially
trained doctor. There follows host
of irrepressible impulses, ideas, persist
tent morbid questionings, endless 'whys?"
and "wherefores? apprehensions, null
titudinous phobias, mental agitations, DIFF
fused emotional Disturbances. cloudy
memory-pctures, anomalies Of sense
perception. OF character and action
shown in vacillations. insistent perplexi-
ties, religious fears, obsessions, and the
like weaknesses.
Faith Il InstInetive.
II Is instructive in the human heart TO
cherish a faith In hi.h, pure. ennobling
ideals To pursue them is most salu-
tary and comforting; TO act in accord
with them will double any ones power.
A sharp distinction can be drawn be
tween blind religious faith and philo-
sophie, nonrengious faith based on
science and perfected standards OF be-
lief in the limitless resources OF natures
God. The religionist sees no limit to
the power engendered or conceived.
whether organic or mystic, hence may
be dangerously optimistic. The scientist
the limitations Of physical
and mental power and exhibits caution
The former is diffusive, the latter con-
servative.
How far hope, faith. confidence in the
power of things not seeable or measur-
able. can lift an organism to higher
planes Of health has not been deter
mined. We do know that tuberculosis
often spontaneously subsidies; II is
claimed that cancer also may and does
subside, most readily when hope Is
highest; but there is no proof of this
adduced.
We cannot measure or set limit TO
the autoprotective forces.
Most disorders Of the mind are evil
dences OF arrangements in cells. tissues
and secretions, due to departure from
functional and structural integrity. That
more or less serious beginnings of dis
Ease can be checked by eliciting the
forces OF confidence, hope, and faith
no one can deny. but those who assert
that optimism alone cures all, cannot
adduce the proof.
Easily Impressed AbnOrmhls.
It must be remembered always that
those who are readily impressed by the
promises Of Christian Science |
and New Thought are not themselves
Of the normal degree Of poise, |
Judgment or robust personality. They |
have never. been supplied with. or reg
olarly developed In, symmetrical vtgor |
Ind broad-mindedness. Poise and Judg- |
nent are characteristic of those who |
never need psychic rehabilitation. We
zee this demonstrated in splendid per-
,onalities who have achieved great sue
,esses, whether for good or for evil.
The overimpressionable ones may be |
highly useful. lovable members Of So
,iety, but they do not constitute the 1
backbone OF the world. Indeed. the |
world could get along without them |
rife better than with them They are /
lmong those who must be carried along, /
lIlowed for, have special adaptions \
made for them. places provided for them
o work where they can Mt in. Seldom |
ire they able to make places for them
Ielves, or struggle to the top against
dds.
Let a healing spring. climate. shrine.
elic, person, or what not. acquire a big |
nough reputation and It will raise the
who use It to a temporary 1
Fat Mill haI