The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-04-19
Hoao The Self GrotUs
nv Il. AppINaToN BRUCE

There is striking similarity and there
Is alec striking dissimilarity between the
growth of the body and the growth of the
seif--the ego. the PERSONAL---VERY. which the
body is at once the instrument and the ma
terial expression.
Body growth depends on the quality of
the nutrimsut received and on favorable fac
tors in the environment. So does the growth
of the self.
But whereas the body stops growing after
a comparatively short period, the self may
continue growing all through life In fact,
there IS plenty of evidence to show that the
self is msant to continue growing all through
life.
OF course, though. the Influences which
coHduce to body growth and those which pro
mote the growth of the self are not identE
cal. gse
| Good food, pure water, physical exercise,
| fresh air, sunshine, these are influences of
prime significance to body growth. In 50
far as they contribute to the development
of q sense of organize well5being and thus
foster such qualities as cheerfulpess, couraSel
and enthusiasm, they are yfnflhehces helpful
| to growth Of the self.
But other things are needed, too,xH The
self is to realize anything like its growth
| possibilities.
It needs a special nutriment the nutri-
ment of true and fine and stimulating ideas.
| These it can get only by coming, into con-
| tact with selves already grown. And hap
PLY such contact is always possible, and
| through many means.
1t is possible through the reading of good
books; through the hearing of good music,
through the looking at good pictures, 1t is
possible through attendance at religious
services, public lectures, and meetings ID
organizations cooperating for good causes.
More than this, it is possible through the
| wise choosing of ones intimate friends
I'll IRE are friends who shrivel the SELF and
| there are friends who enlarge it. Friends
| whose interests are narrow and sordid and
selfish have a shrivelling influence which is
uneseapable. Friends of broad interests and
| high ideals have an charging influence
equally unacceptable. The sensible do not
hesitate in their choice %
Really Ito grow, however, the self must
not, be content with the passive acceptance
of Notwithstanding ideas. 1t must exer-
| else itself by reflections and meditation on
sueh ideas, and still more by good works
giving practical effect to these ideas
Every little act of service, of sympathy,
OF henevolence and goodwill, is an exercise.
act helping to the growth of the self. This
may not be evident at the time. But grad
ually the cumulative effect of such acts, per
formed daily and as a matter of course,
makes itself so evident that people invol-
| UNFAIRLY excIaim:
What a splendid personality! How
much he is making of his life and of him
self"
Rightly ]. d. Buck demands:
did any one ever know or see a noble
character that was not built by the indi-
vidual. himself, by personal effort, by self
control, by self-denial, by justice and kind
ness to others? Often in the face of poverty
often in spite of wealth; often in the face
Of sickness, pain and deformity. Perhaps
deaf and dumb and blind; and yet, like
Helen Keller, the soul triumphant and glo.
rified" I'd
That is what / mean by self-growth
through exercise. To know the joys and
compensations that come to fully grown all
it is possible. And to all it is indispensable
If they would selves