OR THE LAW OF ATTRACTION IN THE THOUGHT WORLD
by William Walker Atkinson
Chapter
XII
DEVELOPING NEW BRAIN-CELLS
I have spoken of the plan of getting rid of undesirable states of feeling
by driving them out. But a far better way is to cultivate the feeling
or emotion directly opposed to the one you wish to eradicate.
We are very apt to regard ourselves as the creatures of our emotions and
feelings, and to fancy that these feelings and emotions are "we."
But such is far from being the truth.
It is true that the majorities of the race are slaves of their emotions
and feelings, and are governed by them to a great degree. They think that
feelings are things that rule one and from which one cannot free himself,
and so they cease to rebel. They yield to the feeling without question,
although they may know that the emotion or mental trait is calculated
to injure them, and to bring unhappiness and failure instead of happiness
and success. They say, "We are made that way," and let it go
at that.
The new Psychology is teaching the people better things.
It tells them that they are masters of their emotions and feelings, instead
of being their slaves. It tells them that brain-cells may be developed
that will manifest along desirable lines, and that the old brain-cells
that have been manifesting so unpleasantly may be placed on the retired
list, and allowed to atrophy from want of use.
People may make themselves over, and change their entire natures. This
is not mere idle theory, but is a working fact which has been demonstrated
by thousands of people, and which is coming more and more before the attention
of the race.
No matter what theory of mind we entertain, we must admit that the brain
is the organ and instrument of the mind, in our present state of existence,
at least, and that the brain must be considered in this matter.
The brain is like a wonderful musical instrument, having millions of keys,
upon which we may play innumerable combinations of sounds.
We come into the world with certain tendencies, temperaments, and pre-dispositions,
we may account for these tendencies by heredity, or we may account for
them upon theories of pre-existence, but the facts remain the same.
Certain keys seem to respond to our touch more easily than others. Certain
notes seem to sound forth as the current of circumstances sweeps over
the strings. And certain other notes are less easily vibrated. But we
find that if we but make an effort of the will to restrain the utterance
of some of these easily sounded strings, they will grow more difficult
to sound, and less liable to be stirred by the passing breeze. And if
we will pay attention to some of the other strings that have not been
giving forth a clear tone, we will soon get them in good working order;
their notes will chime forth clear and vibrant, and will drown the less
pleasant sounds.
We have millions of unused brain-cells awaiting our cultivation.
We are using but a few of them, and some of these we are working to death.
We are able to give some of these cells a rest, by using other cells.
The brain may be trained and cultivated in a manner incredible to one
who has not looked into the subject.
Mental attitudes may be acquired and cultivated, changed and discarded,
at will. There is no longer any excuse for people manifesting unpleasant
and harmful mental states. We have the remedy in our own hands.
We acquire habits of thought, feeling, and action, repeated use. We may
be born with a tendency in a certain direction, or we may acquire tendencies
by suggestions from other; such as the examples of those around us, suggestions
from reading, listening to teachers.
We are a bundle of mental habits. Each time we indulge in an undesirable
thought or habit, the easier does it become for us to repeat that thought
or action.
Mental scientists are in the habit of speaking of desirable thoughts or
mental attitudes as "positive," and of the undesirable ones
as "negative."
There is a good reason for this. The mind instinctively recognizes certain
things as good for the individual to which it belongs, and it clears the
path for such thoughts, and interposes the least resistance to them. They
have a much greater effect than an undesirable thought possesses, and
one positive thought will counteract a number of negative thoughts.
The best way to overcome undesirable or negative thoughts and feelings
is to cultivate the positive ones. The positive thought is the strongest
plant, and will in time starve out the negative one by withdrawing from
it the nourishment necessary for its existence.
Of course the negative thought will set up a vigorous resistance at first,
for it is a fight for life with it. In the slang words of the time, it
"sees its finish" if the positive thought is allowed to grow
and develop; and, consequently it makes things unpleasant for the individual
until he has started well into the work of starving it out.
Brain cells do not like to be laid on the shelf any more than does any
other form of living energy, and they rebel and struggle until they become
too weak to do so. The best way is to pay as little attention as possible
to these weeds of the mind, but put in as much time as possible watering,
caring for and attending to the new and beautiful plants in the garden
of the mind.
For instance, if you are apt to hate people, you can best overcome the
negative thought by cultivating Love in its place.
Think Love, and act it out, as often as possible. Cultivate thoughts of
kindness, and act as kindly as you can to everyone with whom you come
in contact. You will have trouble at the start, but gradually Love will
master Hate, and the latter will begin to droop and wither.
If you have a tendency toward the "blues" cultivate a smile,
and a cheerful view of things. Insist upon your mouth wearing upturned
corners, and make an effort of the will to look upon the bright side of
things. The "blue-devils" will set up a fight, of course, but
pay no attention to them - just go on cultivating optimism and cheerfulness.
Let "Bright, Cheerful and Happy" be your watchword, and
try to live it out.
These recipes may seem very old and timeworn, but they are psychological
truths and may be used by you to advantage. If you once comprehend the
nature of the thing, the affirmations and auto-suggestions of the several
schools may be understood and taken advantage of. You may make yourself
energetic instead of slothful, active instead of lazy, by this method.
It is all a matter of practice and steady work. New Thought people often
have much to say about "holding the thought;" and, indeed, it
is necessary to "hold the thought" in order to accomplish results.
But something more is needed. You must "act out" the thought
until it becomes a fixed habit with you.
Thoughts take form in action; and in turn actions influence thought. So
by "acting out" certain lines of thought, the actions react
upon the mind, and increase the development of the part of the mind having
close relation to the act.
Each time the mind entertains a thought, the easier becomes the resulting
action - and each time an act is performed, the easier becomes the corresponding
thought.
So you see the thing works both ways - action and reaction. If you feel
cheerful and happy, it is very natural for you to laugh. And if you will
laugh a little, you will begin to feel bright and cheerful.
Do you see what I am trying to get at? Here it is, in a nutshell: if you
wish to cultivate a certain habit of action, begin by cultivating the
mental attitude corresponding to it. And as a means of cultivating that
mental attitude, start in to "act-out " or go through, the motions
of the act corresponding to the thought.
Now, see if you cannot apply this rule. Take up something that you really
feel should be done, but which you do not feel like doing. Cultivate the
thought leading up to it - say to yourself: "I like to do so and
so," and then go through the motions (cheerfully, remember!) and
act out the thought that you like to do the thing. Take an interest in
the doing - study out the best way to do it - put brains into it - take
a pride in it - and you will find yourself doing the thing with a considerable
amount of pleasure and interest - you will have cultivated a new habit.
If you prefer trying it on some mental trait of which you wish to be rid,
it will work the same way.
Start in to cultivate the opposite trait, and think it out and act it
out for all you are worth.
Then watch the change that will come over you. Don't be discouraged at
the resistance you will encounter at first, but sing gaily: "I Can
and I Will," and get to work in earnest.
The important thing in this work is to keep cheerful and interested. If
you manage to do this, the rest will be easy.
