The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-08-06
Emotional Control
By H. ADDINGTON BRUCE

1t is one thing to know that, control of the emOtions-and especially of habitual feelings of fear, worry, irritability, and the like-is of great importance in the conduct of life It is quite another thing to attain the desired control
 Many have been greatly aided to do 90 by the simple device of scrutinizing their living habits and correcting any error into which they may have inadvertently fallen,
 There are people in whom feelings of anxiety and Encouragement are little more than the reflection of long continued failure to eat sufficient food or food of a character really nourishing to them. There are others whose "touchiness" is at bottom symptomatic of a self-poisoning due to persistent overeatine of foods such as meats, sweetsa and starchy edibles.
 Similarly feelings. both of gloom and of irritability may be induced by the leading of too sedentary life, perhaps in quarters from which sunshine and fresh air are pretty rig. orously excluded. Not a few people have gained remarkably in emotional control by merely substituting an exercise habit for one of non-exercise, and by freely ventilating the home and the working place.
 Anything, in fact, that causes a depletion of the nervous system tends inevitably in the direction of lessened emotional control If only for this reason it is important to avoid push. ing oneself to extremes in either work or play, to make the keeping of late hours the ex- ception instead of the rule, and to beware of hurry and tenseness as characteristics of the waking life.
 Power through repose is no mere figure of speech. The practice of momentarily relax ing at frequent intervals during the day con duces both to greater efficiency in the doing of one's work and to greater ability to keep one's emotions in hand at all times.
 Then, too, help in the gaining of emotional control may be derived through improving the posture.
 This applies particularly to the timid and the gloomy. Seldom do you find these stand manfully erect. If they will but train them. selves thus to stand, and if in addition they will force themselves to look bit more cheer. ful, they will soon Or late find their feelings correspond more closely to their posture of courage and of cheerfulness.
 Such persons; still further, should make it point to associate as much as possible with people who are already emotionally controlled Thus they will profit from the influence of mass suggestion always potent influence for veal or woe.
 Thought needs also to be given to the choice of reading matter. Hurtful to every. body, books of a morbid, distressing and doubt-creating sort are peculiarly hurtful to the emotionally uncontrolled.
 Such books-pe pessimistic, cynical or sex-ob. sessed novels, for example-should be read at most by title only. Preference should al ways be given to books of really construc- tive. inspiring character.
 Finally, and an aid by no means to be despised, the furnishings and decorations of the home should be chosen and arranged with an eye to their possible effects on the emo tions.
 Over-furnished homes, gaudiIy decorated homes, homes reeking with disharmonies in color, make directly for nervousness, and through nervousness. make also for, habitual fretfulness irritability and anxiety.