Part 8 (2/2)

If these characteristics areinterests that in these days crowd in upon theinterest, however, is essential, and itto well-known principles of orthodox psychology Self-torture or hard driving is not nearly as helpful as a strong inner purpose to keep the chosen subject in the real center of conscious thought

The subject that comes to mind when there is a lull in the outside de possession of the mind, even when other matters are objectively more in evidence,--that subject is the one that holds the center of the inner attention That is the controlling idea or purpose

Ordinarily, it is sobear of soation If the mind is dominated by such ideas or any other than the real problem in hand, the individual is seriously handicapped

When a problen is undertaken, thean average endowet the best results it should be rightly undertaken

Repeated Thinking

A chosen subject is brought, with so effect, to the center of attention by repeatedly bringing it into the mind at the moments of lull in the pressure of other affairs The astrononer icalcondition for the astronomer is due in a se measure to atmospheric conditions, but the ner is due mostly to his own physical and mental condition

Probably no two men have their minds equally affected by their environment or their physical condition, but the fact that there is a ht and work should continually be borne in mind Without this a ht at an inopportune time, and if he fails he

This undoubtedly applies equally well to other kinds of work It may not be strictly true of a perfectly normal man (if there be such a creature), but it is truly applicable to many workers in this and similar kinds of work

This phase is ner should work, but the thought that should be kept upper to do this work

The physical condition is reat extent the mood is dependent on the condition of the body The strenuous gait is seldom the best, and, of course, the extremely indifferent one is of little value The best for the average man is one born of a quiet environment, with mind and body in a fairly restful condition, or still better, in a rested and fresh condition

Concentrating Attention

The quiet end of the day is al, especially if the day has not been overstrenuous and the activities have been gradually tapered off

There are ait is the best, but nearly all of these evidences are questionable When finally sih pressure is frequently due to latent ideas that were the product of quiet thinking The mood and the dominant idea may be predicated as necessary

As already stated, the habit of thought roup of ideas is attained by the practice of switching the attention back to the desired subject

This should be done at the opportune time The subject should not be forced on a tired mind It should not be taken in as a painful duty, but it should beof interest Really valuable results can only coht All other work lacks directness It follows precedent to an unnecessary extent

Interest Must be Awakened, Not Forced

Another way of saying all this is that the designer et interested in the particular problem, and he hts, even thoughts of siet interested in the work,”

unless we suggest a way to awaken interest Surely, we know that interest does not co, and that it cannot be forced by hard work But it can be induced by an easy process in a nor he has not already too firhts of another kind

The nor, by persistent intention, can establish the desired thought habits by returning the preferred group of ideas to mind Interest is awakened by this coenuine interest exists, the actual work follows as a natural result, and it is a pleasure instead of a drudgery

This is not intended as preaching in any sense; but only to bring tothese facts in the ners have done excellent ith no thought of psychological problee it seee of every aid to the desired end