Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-02-09
AIDS IN KEEPING YOUNG
BY H. Addington Bruce
NOU write to me complaining of a

NOU write to me complaining of an mex
plicable reStleSSneSS and discomfort
This is not DUE you are sure, to any con-
dition of physical disease. for you feel in ex-
celent health, and your doctor has informed
you that you are indeed in excellent health.
Nor is it due to poverty, your income being
more than sufficient for your immediate needs.
In every way, in fact, you are comfortably
situated, which makes your discomfort the more
! mysterious to you.
81 ought to feel perfectly happy and con-
tented" you say, "but l do not. Something
seems to be missing. am uneasy most of
the time. And | am utterly at loss to imagine
what the cause can be-"
Possibly il is lack of adequate occupation, if,
being among those not obliged to work, you
| refrain from doing work of any kind.
ldleness would be enough to make any man
thoroughly discontinued. This because to idle
is to go contrary to one of the basic instincts
the instinct to acheVe-Which every normal
human being brings with him into the world.
Or, OF. you are worker, it may be that your
disco1tent is rooted in failure on your part
either to make the most of your possibilities
as a worker or to make proper use of your
leisure.
Those whose minds and hearts are not III
their work are likely, indeed, to be a prey to
discomfort. They are the more likely to be
this if numbered among those to whom leisure
is merely synonymous with time-killing.
One of the great purposes of leisure is to
afford opportunity for cultural aid spiritual de-
velopment. Such development is as real need
in all men and women as the need to engage
in productive work.
Those who fail entirely to give thought to
what may we'll be termed the finer realities,
who make no effort to cultivate il themselves
All enlightened interest in things of the mind
and the spirit, cannot possibly escape diScon-
tent. Inevitably they degenerate into mere
pleaSure-SeekerS, and pleaSure-Seeking is of all
occupations the most certain to create, soon or
late, dissatisfaction with life and with ones
self.
Or, finally, it may be that the discomfort of
which you complain is rooted in selfishness.
his is lamentably common cause of dscon-
tent and it is one certain to cause discomfort
when present in any marked degree
AS have repeatedly insisted in earlier writ
lngS there is an altruStic as we'll as a Self-re-
garding instinct. Overdevelopment of the latter
invariably means undue repression of the for
mer. But all instincts must be given ADEQUATE
expression if life is to be really satisfying
Hence discomfort is an inevitable penalty of
SeltlShneSS. And not until the Self-Seeking &C
tlVltleS are in due measure replaced by actv-
tiles OF Self-forgetting altrusm can the dis
content thus caused be cured
All of which means that if you really would
escape from the discomfort which torments you
you must give some time to honest self-scru-
tiny. Study your behavior and your dominant
motives. In some faulty mode of thinking and
behaving the source of your discomfort is to be
found.
That you may set down as certain
Copyright 1922, by The Associated NewSpa-
perS)