Success through thought: habit

Contents

I.— Our Thought— Habits 7

II. — Building Thought Habit by Harmony 14

III.— Building Thought Habits Constructively 22

Foreword

This book is dedicated to the many who have expressed a desire for an easily understood, yet practical method of Constructive-Thought Building — something that may be used by followers of any creed, any time, any where.

Every day examples have been used to explain the different principles, while the findings of world-renowned scientists have been given that the readers might understand fully the importance of establishing the right thought habit, and the simplicity of the method by which this may be accomplished no matter what may be the environment.

I have endeavored to credit each author with every idea I have borrowed though it may be that in some instances I have unconsciously absorbed a thought and have repeated it without being conscious of such appropriation.

In any event my desire has been to respond to the demand for aid, and not to exploit the ability of others as my own possession.

Benjamin Johnson.

Chapter I. Our Thought-habits

"The laws of thought are the laws of the universe."

"Thought removes mountains and models the world like soft clay. The beginning of all thought worth the name is love.

"The hardest task in the world is to think." — Emerson.

To the earnest thinker nothing is more difficult to understand than the absolutely blank expression, or the out-spoken objection with which people who have been clamoring for assistance, receive the advice to change their habit of thought.

"Spend time in practicing right thinking! Ridiculous!" They want something more tanglible, something more difficult than mere thinking, and besides they are quite sure they have been using the noblest and most uplifting thoughts for years with no results.

To argue such people into an acceptance of your views is a waste of time, so the only thing to be done is to lay before them the scientific reason for each fact and then demonstrate by living examples what can actually be done by thinking constructively on every matter every day.

Emerson has told us that thinking is the hardest thing in the world. Constructive thinking in addition to being difficult also requires constant effort, and that is why so many people try to get out of it.

They want success, happiness, prosperity, yes indeed, but they object to the price at which these qualities are sold.

Then, too, many people do not understand what Constructive Thinking means. Thoughts are constantly flitting through the minds of every one. Some of them good, many of them bad, all of them induced by something one has read, seen, heard or remembered*

Because a thought suddenly appears is no reason it should remain, and if it is in the least destructive,the Will should be exercised to banish it and replace it with a strong Constructive Thought at once.

Some people confuse reading with thinking, whereas it is only learning what other people have thought.

Listening to the advice of others is much the same process.

A comparison of the printed or spoken thought with our own is really thinking, and when we decide to accomplish something along a certain line and for that purpose use a certain mode of thought, sticking to it day after day, week after week, month after month until our new habit is firmly established, we have not only been thinking but we have been practicing Constructive Thinking and we have also demonstrated the fact that by conscious effort the will can control the mind. ,

It is said that "usefulness is the rent we pay for our room on earth" — and that therefore it behooves each one of us to find in just what capacity we may lead the most useful and beneficial lives.

Nearly every one aims at Success in his chosen field, but few accomplish it. The reasons for the many failures have been attributed to environment, luck, lack of influence and fate. The truth is found in the thought habit of each individual.

Look your associates over and you will find that invariably they have paid for whatever they have attained.

The musician has spent long, hard hours in practice, each day for many years until finally his very soul is filled with harmony and he gives to the world the poetry of his music.

The artist has studied patiently to understand not only the technique but the secret of blending his colors, and after patient years of work the laurel wreath crowns his efforts.

The architect has studied form as well as materials, has traveled and observed, and then put his knowledge into actual service by producing in stone and mortar what he has created in this thought world.

Nothing has been an accident, but all successful careers have been earned by the persistent application of the individual until finally every obstacle has yielded, and victory has been won.

Thus we see as a consequence of the different application of thought, one man becomes a success while the other remains a failure yet both may have had exactly the same qualities with which to begin life.

Scientists have affirmed that every one is nothing more than a collection of habits. To change the man one must first of all change the habits. This idea does not alone mean to change the manner of eating, sleeping, dressing and working, but most important of all and first of all, comes the knowledge that before any change of importance can be made the habit of thought must be re-made or remodeled, and then the other matters will follow as a matter of course.

In wild animals we call these habits instinct. In the human being we speak of them as traits and sometimes as talents.

The "Laws of Nature" are really nothing but habits by which the different elementary sorts of matter follow their actions and re-actions upon each other.

In people we see how these habits vary and are modified to suit climatic conditions, environment or necessity.

The Laplander lives on oils and grease, wears garments of fur, bathes very infrequently, sleeps and eats much and lives much as the animals do, being quite contented when the supply of oil is good and only miserable when the food supply is low. His disposition is phlegmatic.

Both are human beings, but both have yielded to the necessities of environment in adapting themselves to the customs of the sections of the world in which they live, until their habits of thought and actions have become fixed, and any great change would mean a decided hardship to them.

In the elementary particles of matter habits can not change because the particle is in itself unchangeable. For instance each mineral is distinct and will always have the same action and re-action, when it is by itself, but, unite a number of minerals in a compound and changes will result owing to the structure of the compound.

Familiar changes in structure that produce little if any alteration in the outward appearance, but which are invisible and molecular may be seen in any household. For example, the pitcher of cream may become sour, a pail of water may become a pail of ice, plaster become set, rubber becomes friable, yet the outward appearance is not changed.

These changes which involve gradual yielding, but which save the material from being disreputed, we say depend upon the plasticity of the object.

Plasticity then means the possession of a structure weak enough to yield to an influence but strong enough not to yield all at once.

Now with individuals we often see the working out of this law and knowing that any compound structure can change we realize that we should never feel that any other human being is incapable of change, for after all the body is nothing but a combination of elements.

People who are too plastic, yield to every suggestion and are always strongly influenced by the last speaker they happened to hear.

People not sufficiently plastic are unable to adapt themselves to changed conditions easily and for that reason suffer much discomfort as they go through life.

People who are not at all plastic are so affected by change that often the disruption we have noticed in elementary forms of matter occur and death, sickness or insanity results because they could not or would not yield to conditions.

The plasticity of an object depends upon the inward tension as combined with outward force.

An object that yields very quickly to a tremendous inward tension and a great outward force is disrupted and separated into its original elements — hence the advisability of a gradual yielding.

In dealing with humanity a knowledge of this law is of the first importance for it teaches us that when people yield too readily they will yield just as readily to other arguments, when they refuse to yield at all, they also refuse to progress and when they yield gradually, they possess the qualites necessary for a useful and beneficial life.

The inward tension in the case of individuals will be a desire to progress and improve, while the outward force will be reading, spoken words, environment or associates.

Many businesses have been disrupted, many households made unhappy, by an abrupt announcement of a change without even an

SUCCESS THROUGH THOUGHT: HABIT II

attempt to arouse a desire on the part of others for the introduction of a different method. The consequence has been that suggestions have been received with open indifference or concealed rebellion, whereas if a little diplomacy had been used and the inward desire aroused the change might have taken place peacefully and with good results for all concerned.

No better proof of the truth that we are ruled by habit can be given than by the very unwilling attention paid to any suggestion for change by the great majority of people.

Ask them, "why not?' ' They can not even give an adequate answer excepting to mention the fact that they have been accustomed to doing things another way. Indeed —

"Habit to him was all the test of truth, It must be so, I've done so since my youth."

Many content themselves with the comfortable assertion — "well, I like the things I am accustomed to use," — or "I have done things this way for years and I am just going to let well enough alone/' or "I have made my money this way, why change now ?"

But the real reason, the deep-seated reason that they themselves failed to recognize was that their habit of thought had been formed and that it meant a lot of good hard work to change it.

And so people of this type have always objected to every change. They hated to give up their stoves for furnaces, their horses for automobiles, their kerosene lamps for gas, and then the gas for electricity. They fought moving picture shows and public parks, while the first plan for a subway nearly drove them frantic.

But, when we see that even inorganic substances have habits we can hardly be surprised that humans cling so rapidly to their methods of doing things and object so strenuously to changes.

A few familiar examples may serve to remind us of the truth that everything has its habit.

Dresses that have been wrinkled once, wrinkle again, in the same places.

Trousers pressed once fall naturally into the same folds.

Paths that have been walked on are followed more readily by every one.

Automobiles acquire the habits of their drivers so that the mechanic can tell something about the manner of the owner by noticing the condition in which he finds the machine.

Pianos, violins and other musical instruments have an added value when owned and played upon by good musicians, for in time every cell assumes a wonderful power of resonance.

In the physical body we find the same rule working out.

Getting up in the morning or retiring at night at certain stated hours readily becomes a habit.

Arms and legs that have been broken once, break easily again in the same place.

Ankles that have been sprained once, sprain again very readily.

Scars become irritated quicker than normal skin.

Organs that have suffered injury once, are apt to be injured again.

Recurrences of certain diseases are apt to come at the same time of the year to people who really look for Tonsilitis, Rheumatism and Hay Fever with an almost pleasurable degree of anticipation.

So we come to realize the truth of the saying — "Bodies are thought builded and they may be thought destroyed. What thought does unconsciously under law it can do consciously and thus build for good when the law is known and followed."

Naturally, it follows that all habits of the body must be formed in the first place by thought substance, and, thus the only way to change is to build ever}* thought-habit constructively.

RESUME.

Man is nothing more nor less than a collection of habits.

In wild animals habits are called instincts.

In human beings we speak of habits as traits or as talents.

Elementary particles of matter have unchangeable habits because the particle is in itself unchangeable.

When a number of elements are united in a compound, changes may result owing to the structure of the compound.

Changes which involve gradual yielding but which keep the structure from being disrupted are due to the plasticity of the object.

Plasticity means the possession of a structure weak enough to yield but strong enough not to yield all at once.

This plasticity depends upon amount of inward tension and outward force.

Objects that yield quickly to a tremendous inward tension and a great outward force are disrupted and return to their original elements, hence, the necessity for gradual yielding if the structure is to be maintained.

Unprogressive people are devoid of plasticity and dislike change.

Progressive people are always plastic and adapt themselves to new conditions.

Inorganic substances show force of habit as in dresses that have been wrinkled once and wrinkle easily again, paths that are more readily followed the second and third time, automobiles that are affected by the mannerisms of their drivers.

In the physical body, habit of rising and retiring becomes easily fixed.

Diseases recur readily. Ankles sprain again easily. Scars become irritated quicker than normal skin.

Bodies are thought-builded and may be thought destroyed. Injurious habits formed by destructive thought must be changed by constructive thought.

Chapter II. Building The Thought Habit By Harmony

"The foundation of content must spring up in the mind, and he who has so little knowledge of human nature as to seek happiness by changing anything but his own disposition, will waste his life in fruitless efforts and multiply the grief he seeks to remove." — Johnson.

"Try but for one day I beg of you to conduct yourself in an harmonious state of mind. Be for one day, instead of the fire-worshipper of anger and other passions, the sunworshipper of calm, contented, cheerful self-possession. Then compare this day with every other day of your life and you will find it the one you will ever remember with joy and satisfaction.

"Make days of this description your habit and you will find your heart open to every good motive, your life strengthened and your breast armed with a panoply 'gainst every trick of fate. Truly you will wonder at your own improvement." — Richter.

To keep the mind from indulging in the habit of injurious thoughts is much easier to read about than to accomplish.

Make the effort for just one day of keeping the mind absolutely free from any thought that even hints of destructive energy, restrain yourself whenever you feel like speaking hastily and you will find at night that thought victorious you will be genuinely tired.

Priests, poets, philosophers have for ages struggled with this problem. Penances have been imposed, life in the cloisters has been recommended, rules of all kinds have been formulated, wonderful systems involving most trying tests in concentration have been devised ■ — all in the hope of discovering that mysterious something that would make the problem of living a simpler and more enjoyable process.

Finally, however, no matter what the ideas have been, they have all arrived at the same conclusion that the one thing necessary to the living of a perfect life is the possession of the quality familiar to many but really known to few — called Harmony. A condition of mind that can only come from within and be maintained within, despite the adverse circumstaces, environment and almost overwhelming odds against it.

"Secure Harmony First" is the advice, for where Harmony exists, there can be no nervous tension, sorrow, bitterness, recrimination, resentemnt, unhappiness, envy, nor anger. But instead there will be exemplified peace of mind, health of body, a contented spirit, freedom from want and abundance for all desires.

The very word "Harmony" is in itself a marvelous combination of sounds. There is something strangely soothing about it, a hidden meaning that implies far more than the accepted definition — being in accord.

It seems to hint at latent power and just as any observer notes that harmonious sounds will control, influence and uplift an audience so a truly harmonious personality influences everyone contracted for good and leaves a memory full of inspiration.

Ruskin has said, "Hundreds can talk to one who can think; thousands can think to one who can see", and so with Harmony, hundreds can talk of it, thousands can think of it, but only one of the thousand will really see and thoroughly experience it.

Women weep, "How may we better our conditions, how may we escape from poverty and from sorrow?" Yet, ever they seek the remedy from without, refusing to look within, still scoffing at the truth so well described by Sir Edwin Arnold when he wrote —

"Ye suffer from yourselves. None else compels None other hold you that you live and die, And whirl upon the wheel and hug and kiss Its spokes of agony.

"Before beginning and without an end, As space eternal and as surely sure, Is fixed a power divine that moves to good, Only its laws endure. ***** ** *

"It will not be contemned of any one, Who thwarts it loses, and who serves it gains, The hidden good it pays with peace and bliss, The hidden ills with pains."

Many others will read the wonderful philosophy contained in the lines just quoted, half agreeing, but secretly thinking, "Of course, this does not apply to us."

l6 SUCCESS THROUGH THOUGHT : HABIT

And, if any of you are as nearly perfect as ordinary human beings can be, if your minds are so poised as never to be distressed or disturbed, if you are filled with the joy of living and the belief in your possibilities, then, indeed, you do not need them for you have already discovered that everything comes from within and that as you think so shall you be.

, Each day one meets examples in people distressingly poor, always in debt, always longing for happiness and comfort, always complaining of their misfortunes. They cheat in small ways, blame others for everything that goes wrong with themselves, are indolent and insincere and still they continue to wonder why they do not succeed and they both feel and say that the problem of living is too hard for them to solve.

They want Harmony — Yes, indeed ! But their idea of Harmony is something they may purchase, or secure without an effort, or get out of a book, or obtain when everything goes their way; not something they must develop in their own minds in spite of depressing conditions.

Occasionally people feel that study of the best literature will give them what they need, and they seek wildly for the books they feel may help them.

One young man who had read pages of good advice — but had failed to improve, went to one of the greatest teachers in this work and said, "I have spent days and weeks denying my possession of all sorts of evil tendencies and I have fought against temptation as hard as I could, but, anyway I find it harder all the time to be good. ,,

The teacher smiled and said, "The reason is very evident, you really have been thinking so much of what you wanted to avoid that you have been concentrating on your bad habits rather than your good ones. Now. for a time, just stop weeding your mental garden and affirm Harmony as hard as you can."

"But," objected the young man, "what can I study that will help me?"

And the teacher replied, "Study Harmony. Eat it, think it, drink it, sing it, breathe it, whistle it, fill your mind with it the last thing at nightl and the first thing in the morning, and, last but not least, demonstrate it in every action."

People watching this young fellow's progress spoke of him as remarkable, and his ability as phenomenal and his smile as the most

SUCCESS THROUGH THOUGHT: HABIT \J

winning they had ever known, and, when he arrived at his goal and became the most successful merchant in the small city, many called him lucky, but, his teacher and I knew that he had given many hours and days and weeks of hard, unremitting work to the training of the Harmony Habit and that he was but reaping his reward.

Occasionally one finds a hard-headed business man or a bitter woman who laughs at the idea of Harmony as being practical, but, these people are becoming less evident every day, for the whole world has come to know that it is lack of Harmony that makes business failures and domestic troubles, fills our penitentiaries, insane asylums and poor farms.

A young woman who says she has been studying Constructive Thinking wrote me one day that she could get along beautifully as long as she was alone, but that her family annoyed her and made her irritable.

When I answered her that her family could not irritate or annoy her unless she allowed them to do so and that nowhere on earth could she develop a stronger harmonious consciousness than amid discordant conditions she was quite indignant.

Then, one day she came to see me and as I talked, I picked up a ball from the table and something inside rattled as I shook it.

"What causes that noise?" I asked.

"Why, the way you shook the ball," she replied.

"Yes," I said, "but if the ball had been solid instead of cheaply constructed nothing inside could have rattled, so you see I was only a medium for finding out just what material that ball was made of, whether good or poor. Thus the daily incidents prove to you whether your philosophy is good or merely a poor imitation of the good, for, if you have formed the right habit of thought, if you are really harmonious, nothing can rattle inside, and no shaking can disturb you."

And from that day the young woman understood why another person could not disturb her unless she herself was weak.

Another woman, very prominent in the business world, came to me with complaints about labor trouble. It seemed that every one she employed, was either insubordinate, incompetent or ungrateful, and life was to her a daily grind, leaving her nervous and exhausted at night and unable to cope with the problem.

l8 SUCCESS THROUGH THOUGHT: HABIT

She was an exceptionally bright woman of a very nervous temperament, analytical mind, sound judgment and fine appearance, and had been very successful until this past year. She was honest, moral and much respected, but her face was traced by tiny worry lines, the corners of her mouth turned down and she twisted about as she talked.

Finally, when she had finished telling her troubles, I said, "When did you commence worrying about your son and his marriage to the girl you disliked so much?"

"Two years ago," she replied.

"Have you ever forgiven him?" I asked.

"No," she blazed forth, "and I never will, though I am pleasant to him."

"And, in your heart, you blame the young woman, don't you?" I continued.

"Why certainly I do," she admitted.

"Right after this you lost your best assistant, did you not," I asked. "Yes," she said, "and that same year two of my oldest girls left and this last year four have gone so now I have nothing but poorly trained assistants none worth one-half what I am palying them."

"Tell me," she begged, "what shall I do?"

"Well, first of all," I said, "before you commence regulating any one else, get after yourself cast out these bitter thoughts, forgive your son and his wife, insist on seeing the good in both and get yourself in a harmonious frame of mind. When you go to bed at night see your business as prosperous, know that you are going ahead. Instead of scolding your assistants and finding fault with them all day, have a meeting at your house some evening, talk to them of everything but business and then tell them that you are organizing some Constructive Thought meetings in which you are all going to find the good in each other and build stronger characters."

Mrs. H. looked disappointed. She thought my advice far fetched and my reasoning wrong, but, as she talked her eyes fell on a guitar, and she picked it up striking a few chords carelessly.

The instrument wasn't in tune and she worked at it for a time until all but one string was sounding to suit her. Just before she made a last attempt on it, I stopped her, and said, "Can't you see the connection between that guitar and your mind? Just that little discordant sound from the one string has made the entire effect bad, just as your discordant thought has reflected in your business, your health, your happiness and your popularity."

And Mrs. H., after a moment's thought said hesitatingly, "I half believe you are right, anyway I will try."

And she did try to such an extent that today she is employing twice as many people and the harmonious atmosphere of that office is so marked that even the strangers who enter realize there is some wonderful force there and want to know what it is, why one feels so peaceful and rested and free from troubles when waiting there.

Now, while many people desire Harmony, many others who are attempting to practice it find that every little while they meet with a set-back, so, for the benefit of those who may need a little assistance the partial list of Constructive as well as some of the Destructive Qualities has been given.

The teacher who uses this list for every pupil states that the only reason the Destructive Qualities are listed is to enable the pupil to check up on the day's work. For instance, supposing something has gone wrong, instead of being discouraged the pupil will run his finger down the line of Destructive Qualities saying to himself, "Now, one of these I must have practiced today. Sure enough, I criticized and condemned when I should have been charitable in word and deed."

Or, perhaps something is seemingly wrong and the day has been difficult, the pupil will analyze his condition this way, "Yes, I did indulge in fear when I should have practiced courage and faith."

Then, after making this discovery, instead of wasting time in brooding over the mistake, the memory of the error is swept away by the affirmation of Harmony, and in this way the next day's work will be easier.

RESUME.

An absolutely Harmonious Consciousness produces perfect health, happiness and abundance.

Harmony is always manifested from within, not from without.

The truly Harmonious Personality cannot be disturbed by people, conditions, nor environment.

The only thing necessary for the development of an Harmonious

Personality, is constant practice in the Constructive Thoughts that are necessary for the development of this Consciousness.

Every night one should relax completely and affirm "I am Harmony, at the same time breathing rhythmically. This same process should be practiced in the morning and at intervals during the day.

Many times people honestly believe they are practicing Harmony because they make these affirmations, yet they at the same time indulge in Destructive Thoughts without realizing it. For this reason, this partial lislt of Constructive and Destructive Thoughts have been selected, with the suggestion that every one contemplating the work of self-improvement, conduct a self analysis for one week, by keeping a record of their Thought Habits. The result will invariably be beneficial, often times instructive and always will prove 'the truth that Harmony comes from within and not from without, no matter what causes may seemingly contribute to the effect.

LIST TO BE USED FOR SELF ANALYSIS EACH NIGHT.

■what deed and

CONSTRUCTIVE THOUGHTS.

Appreciation — of your manyblessings.

Charity — in Thought and deed.

Consideration — for others.

Courage — in every emergency.

Cheerfulness — under all conditions.

Confidence — in your own ability.

Desire — to succeed.

Enthusiasm — in your undertaking.

Truth — in every detail.

Fairness — in your dealings.

Faith — in the ultimate outcome.

Generosity — of time as well as money.

Good -Humor — no matter goes wrong.

Kindliness — in word, thought.

Love — of all man-kind.

Sincerity — toward all.

Truth — in every detail.

DESTRUCTIVE THOUGHTS.

Anger — at any one for any reason.

Abuse — of those who have offended you.

Blame — of some one or some thing for your failure.

Criticism — of your associates.

Condemnation — of any offender.

Deceit— -toward any one.

Envy — of the more fortunate.

Fear — of any thing, person or condition.

Fault — finding or Complaining.

Gossip — at any time.