KINETIC DISEASES 221 



which dispel worry, and which substitute faith and 

 tranquillity of mind for turmoil and terror. Many 

 attempts have been made to explain the universal 

 desire for joy and recreation, for entertainment, for 

 diversion, for any activity or mental influence, which 

 changes the integration, "diverts attention" from the 

 work at hand, supplies a new field of interest or closes 

 the mind to all interest. It would seem that a key to 

 these phenomena might be found in the very fact that 

 emotion has the power to harm the organism. On the 

 principle that fear causes the dissipation and faith the 

 conservation of potential energy, we can understand 

 the far-reaching and abiding benefits of religion in all 

 ages, among all peoples, throughout the whole human 

 race, as far back as we have any record. We can un- 

 derstand the power of prayer and of belief in a Supreme 

 Being who is also Redeemer and Solace, to put "new 

 life" into the discouraged and faint-hearted, and its 

 overwhelming influence for good upon the weak, op- 

 pressed and sick-at-heart. We can understand the 

 power of so-called "faith cures" ; of beliefs in fetishes 

 and charms ; even of the faith in one's own physician, 

 which undoubtedly plays a part in the successful out- 

 come of most therapeutic measures. 



This principle explains the striking benefits in all 

 situations in life of good luck and success, of cheerful 

 and optimistic friends, of congenial occupations, as- 

 sociates and surroundings. It explains the spectac- 

 ular, successful careers of certain personalities abound- 

 ing in health, optimism and self-confidence, the value of 

 self-confidence in business, and the wreckage of hopes and 

 fortune which often attends the lack of these qualities. 



