LIFE EXTENSION 



3418 



LIFE EXTENSION 



discontent. "When the apparent "cause" is re- 

 moved, the discontent remains none the less, and 

 fastens itself on the next thing that comes along. 

 Although some little event such as the mistake 

 of a tradesman or a cross word of a friend may 

 seemingly "cause" a disagreeable reaction in a 

 man if he is ill (whether he knows it or not), the 

 same "cause" does not necessarily produce that 

 same reaction at all times. When he is in a 

 healthy mood, the "cause" may be entirely in- 

 adequate to bring about the same result. The 

 near approach of the menstrual period in women 

 is often accompanied by mental depression and 

 physical fatigue which it is almost impossible for 

 the sufferer to recognize at the time as caused by 

 anything but "real" or outside misfortunes. Other 

 physical conditions act in the same way. The 

 hidden cause may be constipation, eye strain, the 

 effects of alcohol or other drugs, a sedentary life, 

 a bad posture or weak abdominal muscles ; and 

 the proper remedy may be an enema, a pair of 

 glasses, a vigorous swim, deep breathing exer- 

 cises or an abdominal supporter, an erect car- 

 riage or a general change of daily habits. What- 

 ever the trouble, the remedy lies always at hand. 



Summary. Health for the body awakens 

 mental capacities where they exist. Failure in 

 mental work can often be traced to failure in 

 physical health; and the restoration of bodily 

 health is often essential to success in the tasks 

 of the mind. This is especially true of the 

 artistic professions, where the kind of product 

 is dependent so largely upon the state of the 

 emotions, upon exhilaration and enthusiasm. 



It is certain that mental perturbation affects 

 the body in many ways. Embarrassment fills 

 our cheeks with blood. Fear drives the blood 

 away. Excitement quickens the heart beat. 

 Grief brings tears. A great shock to the mind 

 may cause fainting, the rush of blood from the 

 head into the abdomen. Worry will interfere 

 with digestion. The X-ray has detected the 

 arrest of the peristaltic movement of the 

 stomach and intestines because of strong emo- 

 tions. 



It is doubtless' on account of such influences 

 of the mind on the body that some persons 

 who have attempted to improve their health 

 by what they call "thoroughly masticating" 

 their food but who have interpreted this 

 phrase as having a purely mechanical meaning 

 have wondered why they were not benefited 

 when they forcibly held their food in their 

 mouths until they performed a certain number 

 of chews, while in fact they were making a 

 bore of eating and forgetting to taste and en- 

 joy. The mind and the emotions refuse to be 

 ignored in this way, and exact due penalty 

 from the body when they are not satisfied. To 

 attain the desired results from any hygienic 

 measures, it is apparently necessary, in some 



degree at least, to satisfy the mind along with 

 the body. 



There is one danger to which some people 

 are especially subject the danger of becoming 

 hypochondriacs from paying too much at- 

 tention to physical hygiene. Such a 

 becomes fearful lest he is not doing exactly 

 right thing. He looks suspiciously at e 

 article of food, and fears that it will disa 

 He fears that he has strained his heart; 

 worries over the loss of an hour's sleep; 

 chafes because his employer has not given hi 

 a vacation at the right time or of the ri 

 length. It might, in some cases, be be 

 to disregard some rules of hygiene than 

 worry about them. 



On this theory the devotees of mind-c 

 cults have derided every hygienic measure 

 one their "mind-cure." They sometimes s 

 ceed in the "real cure of imaginary ailmen 

 and the "imaginary cure of real ailments." 

 the latter case, the mental contentment 1 

 only until the real ailment becomes too 

 gressive to be ignored. But it is a great 

 take to stake everything on the simple resou 

 of mental equanimity. In its proper pi 

 "mind-cure" is an essential part of individ 

 hygiene. 



Each must learn for himself how best 

 avoid anger, fear, worry, excitement, ha 

 envy, jealousy, grief and all depressing or ab- 

 normal mental states. To do so is an art 

 which must be practiced, Lke skating or bicycle 

 riding. It cannot be imparted merely by read- 

 ing about it. Worry, if unceasing, will often 

 drain away a large source of energy. W. 

 as unfortunately is often the case, the difncu 

 of maintaining one's serenity seems insu; 

 able, the battle can often be won by "living 

 one day at a time." Almost any one in or- 

 dinary conditions of adversity has it within 

 his or her power, for merely one day, or at any 

 rate one hour, or one minute, to eliminate the 

 fear, worry, anger, or other unwholesome emo- 

 tions clamoring to take possession. At the 

 expiration of the hour, or the minute the same { 

 power can be exercised for the next ensuing 

 period, and so on until one is caught napping, 

 after which he must pick himself up and 

 tiently try again. 



The secret of equanimity consists not 

 much in depressing the fear or worry as in 

 dropping or ignoring it that is, diverting and 

 controlling the attention. It does no good to 

 carry a mental burden. "Forget it!" The 

 main art of mental hygiene consists in the 



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