OR THE LAW OF ATTRACTION IN THE THOUGHT WORLD
by William Walker Atkinson
Chapter
XI
THE PSYCHOLOGY OF EMOTION
ONE is apt to think of the emotions as independent from habit. We easily
may think of one acquiring habits of action, and even of thinking, but
we are apt to regard the emotions as something connected with "feeling"
and quite divorced from intellectual effort. Yet, not with- standing the
distinction between the two, both are dependent largely upon habit, and
one may repress, increase, develop, and change one's emotions, just as
one may regulate habits of action and lines of thought.
It is an axiom of psychology that "Emotions deepen by repetition."
If a person allows a state of feeling to thoroughly take possession of
him, he will find it easier to yield to the same emotion the second time,
and so on, until the particular emotion or feeling becomes second nature
to him.
If an undesirable emotion shows itself inclined to take up a permanent
abode with you, you had better start to work to get rid of it, or at least
to master it. And the best time to do this is at the start; for each repetition
renders the habit more firmly in trenched, and the task of dislodging
it more difficult.
Were you ever jealous?
If so, you will remember how insidious was its first approach; how subtly
it whispered hateful suggestions into your willing ear, and how gradually
it followed up such suggestions, until, finally you began to see green.
(Jealousy has an effect upon the bile, and causes it to poison the blood.
This is why the idea of green is always associated with it.)
Then you will remember how the thing seemed to grow, taking possession
of you until you scarcely could shake it off. You found it much easier
to become jealous the next time. It seemed to bring before you all sorts
of objects apparently justifying your suspicions and feeling.
Everything began to look green - the green-eyed monster waxed fat.
And so it is with every feeling or emotion.
If you give way to a fit of rage, you will find it easier to become angry
the next time, on less provocation. The habit of feeling and acting "mean"
does not take long to firmly settle itself in its new home if encouraged.
Worry is a great habit for growing and waxing fat. People start by worrying
about big things, and then begin to worry and fret about some smaller
thing.
And then the merest trifle worries and distresses them. They imagine that
all sorts of evil things are about to befall them.
If they start on a journey they are certain there is going to be a wreck.
If a telegram comes, it is sure to contain some dreadful tidings.
If a child seems a little quiet, the worrying mother is positive it is
going to fall ill and die.
If the husband seems thoughtful, as he revolves some business plan in
his mind, then the good wife is convinced that he is beginning to cease
to love her, and indulges in a crying spell.
And so it goes - worry, worry, worry - each indulgence making the habit
more at home. After a while the continued thought shows itself in action.
Not only is the mind poisoned by the blue thoughts, but the forehead shows
deep lines between the eyebrows, and the voice takes on that whining,
rasping tone so common among worry-burdened people.
The condition of mind known as "fault-finding" is another emotion
that grows fat with exercise.
First, fault is found with this thing, then with that, and finally with
everything. The person becomes a chronic "nagger" - a burden
to friends and relatives, and a thing to be avoided by outsiders. Women
make the greatest naggers. Not because men are any better, but simply
because a man nagger apt to have the habit knocked out of him by other
men who will not stand his nonsense - he find that he is making things
too hot for himself and he reforms; while a woman has more of a chance
to indulge in the habit.
But this nagging is all a matter of habit. It grows from small beginnings,
and each time it is indulged in it throws out another root, branch, or
tendril, and fastens itself the closer to the one who has given it soil
in which to grow.
Envy, uncharitableness, gossip scandal-mongering, is all habits of this
kind. The seeds are in every human breast, and only need good soil and
a little watering to become lusty and strong.
Each time you give way to one of these negative emotions, the easier do
you make it for a recurrence of the same thing, or similar ones. Sometimes
by encouraging one unworthy emotion, you find that you have given room
for the growth of a whole family of these mental weeds.
Now, this is not a good old orthodox preachment against the sin of bad
thoughts.
It is merely a calling of your attention to the law underlying the psychology
of emotion. Nothing new about it - old as the hills - so old that many
of us have forgotten all about it.
If you wish to manifest these constantly disagreeable and unpleasant traits,
and to suffer the unhappiness that comes from them, by all means do so
- that is your own business, and privilege.
It's none of mine, and I am not preaching at you - it keeps me busy minding
my own business and keeping an eye on my own undesirable habits and actions.
I am merely telling you the law regarding the matter, and you may do the
rest.
If you wish to choke out these habits, there are two ways open to you.
First, whenever you find yourself indulging in a negative thought or feeling,
take right hold of it and say to it firmly, and vigorously, "Get
out!"
It won't like this at first, and will bridle up, curve its back and snarl
like an offended cat. But never mind - just say, "Scat" to it.
The next time it will not be so confident and aggressive - it will have
manifested a little of the fear-habit. Each time you repress and choke
out a tendency of this kind, the weaker it will become, and the stronger
will your will be.
Professor James says:
"Refuse to express a passion, and it dies. Count ten before venting
your anger, and its occasion seems ridiculous. Whistling to keep up courage
is no mere figure of speech. On the other hand, sit all day in a moping
posture, sigh, and reply to everything with a dismal voice, and your melancholy
lingers. There is no more valuable precept in moral education than this,
as all who have experience know: if we wish to conquer emotional tendencies
in ourselves, we must assiduously, and in the first instance, cold-bloodedly,
go through the outward movements of those contrary dispositions we prefer
to cultivate”.
Smooth the brow, brighten the eye, contract the dorsal rather than the
ventral aspect of the frame, and speak in a major key, pass the genial
compliment, and your heart must be frigid indeed if it does not gradually
thaw.
