Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-08-08
AS A MAN THINKS
Bv II. Addington Bruce

~ EARRING In mind that Ideas tend always
X to find bodily expression, if 1t be only
~~ in slight muscular changes, it is OBJ
vious that habitual modes of thinking must
| soon or late affect the expression, even the
structure, of the face. In his new and ex-
! ceedingly interesting book, character Rev
| Citations Of Mind and Body" Gerald Elton
Fosbroke enumerates many Of the lasting
facial effects of right and wrong thinking.
Messages Of warning and of hope his pages
convey to their readers-of warning not to
mar as a naturally attractive face by uncon-
troled, perhaps vicious thinking: of hope
attractive through proper development and
| control of the mind. 1t is well, for example,
for all of us to know that:
'In development of expression there are
certain psychological and physiological reac-
tions which are uniform in effect and only diff
fer in degree These reactions on the face
are compression and consequent expansion,
or drawing down and widening of all the
features Of the face. These may be termed
the positive effects upon the face arising
from mind development and the exercise of
control.
1.-THE opposite or negative effects upon the
face are repression which is indicated by
contraction of the rim line Of rather full,
emotional mouth, and which indicates that
the emotions are not finding proper express
sion; contraction, or Il drawing in of all the
features Of the face, including brow, nostrils,
and mouth; and relaxation, or a loosened
and Uniform ed condition of the features, caus-
ed by excessive giving way to the bodily de-
sires.".
More specifically, when man is trained or
trains himself to think vigorously, muscle
tension draws such features as the brows,
nose, and mouth together from above and be-
low, and widens them side to side.
The effect on the brow is to sharpen it's
lines throughout it's entire width, making
the outer point we'll drawn down so that it
stands out" The nose becomes responsive
in it's appearance, looking "alive and active"
The upper lip is drawn down and straighten~
ed, the rim of the lower lip lifted and round
ed. Mr.. Fosbroke adds:
"The compressed and expanded mouth will
have full muscle structure. 1t will be large
rather than small, and the compression will
draw the red tissue within, lessening the
amount exposed, md will widen the mouth
and give it firm, controlled expression"
This is the mouth of the man who really
thinks, who turns his mind alertly and force
fully to whatever problem Is presented to
him. Contrast the mouth of the feeble think
er, who, into the bargain, is inclined to be
willing prey to his emotions and desires:
when the lips are full, protruding, thick
in their whole makeup, moist and of good
color, the nature is pliable, thoroughly inter
ested in all play on the senses, emotional and
often has uncontrolled temper, easily reused
and soon quieted. . This is the sensuous
mouth, and degenerate in 20 the formless
mouth of the sensualist."
In like manner the eyes and other features
are Influenced favorably or unfavorably by
the dominant modes of thinking. The tempta-
ton to quote is strong, but I have space for
only a brief passage:
The exercise of mind in constantly con-
tracing eye muscles will make the eye 1eep-
er-seated. The exercise of emotion as re-
suit Of constant relaxation will result in the
eye becoming more prominent"
Hence:
1.-THE deep-seated We is the mentally train
ed eye supported by good mind. The promi-
nent eye is the emotional eye of one living in
dreams"
Hence:
The deep-seated eye is the mentally trained
eye supported by good mind. The prominent
eye is the emotional eye Of one living in
dreams"
1t should, of course, be added that ill-health
has distinctive altering effects of it's own on
facial appearance. These must not be con-
fused with the sometimes similar effects of
fully thinking. But as rule the general
bodily effects of ill-health will be so appar-
emit that the danger Of such confusion, with
resultant mistakes in character reading, is
small