In order to obtain the best results from the
thought-coerces, as explained in preceding lesson, you
should acquire the art of concentering. By focusing the
thought, you add to its strength, as a moment's
reflection will show you. The exercises accompanying
the preceding lessons should be accompanied by the
exercises in concentering. These exercises are more or
less tedious and monotonous, but should be persisted at
until perfected. You will be repaid for your work by
the conscious increase in your powers of concentering,
which will be apparent from the first.
There is one thing more that I wish to say to you,
before starting in with the exercises, and that is to
point out to you the advantage of concentering, as a
means of mental and physical rest. If this were the
only result obtainable by the exercises, it would be
worth your while to acquire it. Suppose you feel
completely tired out by some physical or mental labor,
and are sadly in need of rest. If you lie down, the
thought, which has been occupying your mind, returns to
haunt you, and prevents your mind from obtaining the
much-needed rest. Now, the theory is that each thought
calls into operation and activates certain sets of
brain cells - the other cells of course taking a rest
in the meantime. This being the case, you will see,
readily, that when one set of brain cells become
utterly fagged out by excessive exercises and work, its
only chance of getting an entire rest is for you to
concenter upon an entirely different line of thought,
shutting out the cells which you have just tired out,
and which are still vibrating with excitement from the
strong impetus given them. By concentering upon the new
thought, the old cells are relieved from further work
and obtain a much-needed rest. These cells are hungry
for work, and may attempt to return to their task in
spite of you, but if you have acquired proficiency in
the art of concentering, you have learned to master
them. You doubtless remember the time when your brain
felt exhausted by the hard work of the business day,
but when you pickup up an interesting novel you became
so interested in it that your old brain cells "knocked
off" for a while, and when the novel was completed you
felt completely refreshed, not withstanding the fact
that the reading of the book was in itself no slight
exercises of the mind. That is the theory. Now, put it
into practice, and you will have no need to complain of
mental overwork. You will be able to put thoughts off
and on, like your coat, changing them whenever you see
fit.
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