The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1920-09-23
HABITS.
John F. Smith

Man is the result OF his education.
and his education is only the sum Of
his habits. or those things which he
has most habitually or repeatedly done.
In a certain sense the old saying. Line
upon line: precept upon precept." Is
founded on correct principles. Repeti-
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 a healthy muscular system.
The spasmodic, irregular and unwhole-
some exercises only can result In a
lack of formation of muscular strength
and muscular habits. What q 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 a thought. and II
is considered trifiing. but II returns,
and sometimes suggests itself q 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 1t present In the passive por-
lions Of the mental system until II
finally becomes a 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 a 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
II. Even happiness itself may become
habitual. One may acquire the habit
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-
cry repetition of an ideal makes Its
impression deeper. There is more and
( more OF its quality lodged in the sub
/ conscious mind. There II lives.
Through reiteration the higher and
purer thought develops and strength
ems its corresponding brain cells. Its
physical functioning ground thereby
becomes more responsive. fertile and
easier to use. Through reciprocity
there is mutual stimulation. Like
capital. habit earns interest
Many of the noblest qualities OF life
never can have a richer opportunity
for cultivation than during Illness. Pa
thence, endurance. cheerfulness. forget
fulness of self, and thoughtfulness OF
l others. when exercised and cultivated
will yield good returns, "like q medi'
cine" People who are predisposed 70