Wisdom Vault — onlinknow.co.za

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. I will now give you a few exercises, the practice of which will enable you'to develop the power of concentering.

In leaving this phase of the subject, I again would remind you that the under- lying principle of Concentering is the focussing of the attention upon a certain thought or action. Any exercise which will strengthen the faculty of volitional inhibition of non-essential thoughts will be of value; the exercises herein given being merely furnished as suggestions of others.

THE PRACTICE OF CONCENTERING., 89 THE PRACTICE OF CONCENTERING. Exercises in concentering—Shutting out outside impressions—Conquering inattention—Cultivating will power—Training the body to obey the mind and the mind to obey the will—Volitional control of muscular movements—Not so easy of acquirement—Sitting still—Exercises— Controlling muscles of the arm—Exercises—Steadying the muscles— Exercises—Cultivate equanimity and mental and physical ease—Ex- amples—Getting rid of ugly habits of motion—Volitional attention— Exercises developing same—Direction for additional exercises— Concentered attention upon outside objects—General explanation— Miscellaneous exercises.

The first requisite of concentering is the ability to shut out outside thoughts, sounds and sights; to conquer inattention; to obtain perfect control over the body, and mind. The body must be brought under the direct control of the mind; the mind under the direct control of the will.

The Will is strong enough, but the Mind needs strengthening by being brought under the direct influence of the Will. The Mind, strengthened by the impulse of the Will, becomes a much more powerful projector of thought vibrations, than otherwise, and the vibrations have much greater force and effect.

In these exercises I will begin with training the body to readily obey the commands of the Mind. The first exercise, and one which must be mastered before the succeeding exercises are undertaken, is the control of the muscular movements.

This, at first sight, may appear very simple, but a few experiments will convince you that you have much to learn. The following exercises will be of great benefit to you in acquir- ing perfect control of the muscles. This is no easy task.

It will at first try your powers of concentering, to refrain from involuntary muscular | ar 90 | PERSONAL MAGNETISM, — movements, but by a little practice you will be able to sit still, without a movement of the muscles, for fifteen minutes or more.

The best plan is to place yourself in an easy chair, assuming a com- fortable position, then relax all over, and endeavor to remain per- fectly quiescent for a period of five minutes. Continue this exer- cise until you can accomplish it with ease, and then increase the time to ten minutes.

After you have mastered the ten minutes’ exercise, increase the time to fifteen minutes, which is about as far as you need pursue the exercise. You should not tire your- self with this, or any other of our exercises. The better plan is to practice a little at a time, but as often as possible.