Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-13
Mind Setting.

Mind Setting.
I am finding It very difficult to get
along, and am writing in the hope that
you may be able to help me see some
of my mistakes. I can't seem to talk
to q person without straining myself to
be easy. Am very self-conscious, and
it seems that the harder I try the less
success have. am clean In my hab-
its, eat properly, and yet when come
in contact with people have q nervous
feeling in the mouth and stomach. and
imagine my mouth Is unclean. try
to fight 1t, but seem to get In a more
nervous condition. am unable to say
and do the things that wish to be-
cause of this fear. always seem to
be in a strained condition when making
any sort of contact, and cannot give
my best because of this. think myself
coward and weakling, and yet I try
as hard as other young men my age,
but have so little success. This fear
has held me back and kept me alone.
know you cannot get much from q
letter, but hope you can see enough to
help me q little. G. j.
am a young man, IS years OF age,
| about to be married soon. Am getting
wonderful wife, and to begin I need
your advice badly. It may mean my
| life and happiness.
am very ambitious and willing to
succeed. but I always 60 against myself,
and IL try to concentrate my mind
doesn't work and runs from one thing
| to another. I always try to be calm
and confident, but lose myself and get
nervous and uneasy. I have good
trade and am willing to make good at
| 1t, but 1t seems that can't concentrate.
study, but it never gets me any place,
as have no patience to do anything
right. I also would like to know how
| to overcome Shyness and self-conscious-
ness, as it troubles me a lot. Please
assist me, as am very anxious to make
good for my future wife. She Is a lovely
lady. L. w.
| Are there any set rules or things a
| person can do to overcome nervousness
and sensitiveness? There must be some
remedy. Is nervous and sensitive per-
son selfish? Can you explain this? I
thought sensitiveness was born in one.
| PRISCILLA.
Reply.
I print this selection Of many letters
In the same strain in the belief that
the letters will be as instructive as the
reply. They call for an art Of mind
setting. Why can't psychologist set
q mind as the physician does q bone?
For many reasons, most of which you
can supply. You lack assurance or
concentration: your mind won't support
your ambition. Can't the psychologist
at you with braces? You are sensitive
and nervous. There must be some
remedy" Can't the psychologist pre-
scribe confidence" pill? Again, you
know the answer.
II you belonged to the army Of the
handicapped and sent in your S o
you, too, would be tempted to believe
that there must be some sovereign
remedy, and II advertised a course
or pill or some exercises promising
that you would command success, per-
| sonality and assurance II you followed
the recipe, you might be tempted to
take q chance and we should both be
dupes.
You can't pounce upon one symptom
call that your trouble and ask that ii
be Strengthened out SO that the mentally
halt may walk and the blind see their
way out of the thicket that entangIes
them. There Is In all Of these cases
some rather deep-seated lack, what
might be called q deficit in makeup
To correct it would require q careful
study Of the total behavior, reshapine
Of the individual, making over many OF
his mental and emotional habits.
It's a slow and uncertain process
Even the soldiers for year whose lives
had been shocked out Of their normal