The Washington herald., 1915-09-15
STRENGTH OF SERENITY,
BY oRIsON SWEET MARDEN.

Some one has said that an undi-
rected mind is like lightning: 1t does
a lot of harm and no good. When you
allow yourself to be worked up" over
trifies your mind is without q guide.
1t has escaped your control. and you
are in danger Of doing foolish things.
A worked-up. hurried mind not only
wastes energy frightfully. but ia
never at peace or efficient No one
thinks of asking or taking the advice
of person who is all worked up II
is the balanced. poised, serene person
ality that gives confidence.
Some people are worked up most Of
their lives, fretting and stewing be-
cause everything does not 60 just. as
they want II. or because those about
them do not do as they wish. They
feel a great sense OF responsibility
for others conduct and acts; they
seem to think that everything de-
pends upon themselves, that they must
run the universe and control every
body about them. They fritter away
their energy, and waste their vitality
in resisting. in trying to accomplish
what they were not intended to do,
defeat the very ends which they try
to attain.
Now things worth while are not ac-
complished in this way. The hurry
habit spoils life. it Is death to quail
ity. and to all efficiency. People who
fret and fuss and fume in their work.
who hurry and worry. cannot. and
never do. accomplish great thinsA
Lack OF roise and confused sense
of hurry are symptoms Of weakness,
not of strength.
Power is like the big river which
flows noiselessly; weakness 10 like
the shallow brook, whose waters dash
and foam, and make a lot of noise,
but are easily intercepted, or ste I'D.
because they carry very little power.
1t is the calm, serene, balanced mind
that carries power. The restless, hurry
ing. worrying soul dissipates its
strength. People who are forever NY
ing around. always in haste. are, as
a rule. easily worked up," and are
much of the time out Of balance.
While storming over little things they
often neglect those that are Of real
Importance. I have known twenty Ave
cents worth Of breakage or Other
damage caused by an employe to ruin
$40 worth Of work of a small. narrow
minded employer. who would keep
harping for hours over a little acc:-
dent which a big, broad man would
scarcely notice.
The next time you feel "workei-up''
and an irrepressible sense of hurry
and so nervous that II seems As
though you would fly all to pieces. Just
quit what you are doing, get out into
the air and sunshine IL you can. and
recover your mental balance. No one
can accomplish anything when his
mind is confused, agitated.
Try to catch the rhythm Of life and
keep in tune with it. Keep In har-
mony with your work. All discord
wearies one. wastes energy, and de-
stroys executive power. Learn to let
go. Stop resisting or trying to run
things that do not concern you; trying
to make everybody do what you want
them to do. Your life will be infinite
ly more effective by being in harmony
with your environment and with your
neighbors than by keeping yourself
in a constant state Of antagonism to
them.
The poised. serene man or woman
cuts of many little leakages through
which the precious life substances. the
vitality and energy of the hurrying.
confused. unbalanced person blows out
and Is wasted.
II you do not resist the outfowing
tide, but rest with II. and then do
your striving on the incoming waves.
you will find that you will get ashore
much quicker and in much better
shape. Learn to let go and trust. You
are not running the universe. You
can help most by keeping yourself In
the best condition.
fCotNrixht lelSl