The Caledonian-record. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1920-current, 1920-08-30
How to
Live
Common Sense Comments on
Health, Happiness and
Longevity
By GEORGE F. BUTLER
A. NJ. M. D.
HABiT S.

Man Is the result of his education,
and his education Is only the sum Of,
his habits. or those things which hel
has most habitually or repeatedly done.
In certain sense the old saying. Line
upon line; precept upon precept.", Is
founded on correct principles. Reped'
ton continued results In becoming a
part Of the man. This is true not
only in an intellectual and moral sense.
but is even more true In our physical
nature. The sum of healthy exercise
will make healthy muscular system.
The spasmodic. Irregular and unwho'e-
some exercises only can result 10
lack of formation Of muscular strength
and muscular habits. What man Is
tells the story Of what his habits have
been, and what his habits are deter
mines what he Is to be. This Is true
with all the voluntary functions of the
body. and is indirectly true with the
Involuntary functions. The physical
tendencies of childhood and youth are
rarely ever changed throughout life;
and even later. we are constantly fall
ing into ways which follow us In all
our future career. Not only are phys
ical habits thus established, but the
operation of the mind has the same
tendency. We think thought, and 1t
is considered trifing. but 1t returns,
and sometimes suggests itself third
time to us. In this way the same
thought recurs over and over In the
nerve centers, and without our willing
1t we find it present In the passive por-
tions of the mental system until It
finally becomes habit of the mind.
We are ever making ourselves over by
our thoughts and deeds. We can make
every action of our life, every Thought
of our mind effectual II we will. We
must devote good deal Of thought to
the ought-to-be. the shall-be. and. re-
member, that as we think, as we work.
so shall be the result.
Many Of the ideas that we have IN
herited help to narrow and cramp the
inner life. We must change our habits
of thought. The proper adjustment
to our life and environment and the
daily effort to gain ones poise and self
control, Is effective in proportion TO
the clearness and strength OF our
thought and the confidence we put, Into
It. Even happiness itself may become
habitual. One may acquire the napit
of looking upon the sunny side OF
things. and he may also acquire the
habit of looking upon the gloomy SIDE.
Thought habit is character. You are
now, in mind. body and estate. Just
what previous thinking has made you.
Habit is a force to be harnessed. Ev-
ery repetition Of an ideal makes Its
impression deeper. There Is more ana
more of its quality lodged in the sub
conscious mind There 1t lives.
Through reiteration the higher and
purer thought develops and strength
ems its corresponding brain cells. Its
pbysical functioning ground thereby
becomes more responsive. fertile ana
easier to use. Through reciprocity
there is mutual, stimulation. Like
capital, habit earns interest. .
Many of the noblest qualities or Ire
never can have richer opportunity !
for cultivation than during illness. Pa
tience. endurance, cheerfWness, forget
fitness Of self. and thoughtfulness OF
+ others. when exercised and cultivated.
will yield good returns. like NEIL
cine" People who are predisposed 90
nervous disorders should get Into the
hobit of living simply, They should
mold their lives according to some
PHILOSOPHY or religion. They SHOULD
develop a fixed routine to free them
from the Jars and strains OF constant
change. AS an enslaver or bohy ana
brain. the habit way is most disadvan-
tapeous to us. If we become addicted
TO bad habits, our health becomes I'M
haired and we age early. we must
overcome bad habits. we must get out
Of unwholesome ruts. All cyl RADIUS
may he destroyed by the man who real
~ desires to master them. we must
keep the right idea before the mind
either that of overcoming the hablt OF
that of the consequence of yielding.
It's ND to US! LEARN HOW TO LIVE.
insist on being we'll: go to bed with
that idea and get up with 1t; carry IL
about with you as you carry your own
| face and hands about with you--and
| somehow you are apt to ind that II -
| unto you even as you Will!
Exaggeration of the instinct OF fear
and apprehension not only makes 'peo-
pie Ill, but is Illness itself. The thou
sand and one needless worries over the
future are simply providence for the
| morrow gone mad.