Sleep

Vital power is renewed in sleep. Every living thing sleeps; men, animals, reptiles, fish, and insects sleep, and even plants have regular periods of slumber. And this is because it is in sleep that we come into such contact with the Principle of Life in nature that our own lives may be renewed. It is in sleep that the brain of man is recharged with vital energy, and the Principle of Health within him is given new strength. It is of the first importance, then, that we should sleep in a natural, normal, and perfectly healthy manner.

Vital power is renewed during sleep. Every living thing sleeps. Humans, animals, reptiles, fish, and insects sleep, and even plants have regular periods of sleep. This is because sleep brings us into contact with the Principle of Life in nature, allowing our lives to be renewed. During sleep, the human brain is recharged with vital energy, and the Principle of Health within us gains new strength. It is therefore extremely important to sleep in a natural, normal, and perfectly healthy way.

Studying sleep, we note that the breathing is much deeper, and more forcible and rhythmic than in the waking state. Much more air is inspired when asleep than when awake, and this tells us that the Principle of Health requires large quantities of some element in the atmosphere for the process of renewal. If you would surround sleep with natural conditions, then, the first step is to see that you have an unlimited supply of fresh and pure air to breathe. Physicians have found that sleeping in the pure air of out-of-doors is very efficacious in the treatment of pulmonary troubles; and, taken in connection with the Way of Living and Thinking prescribed in this book, you will find that it is just as efficacious in curing every other sort of trouble. Do not take any half-way measures in this matter of securing pure air while you sleep. Ventilate your bedroom thoroughly; so thoroughly that it will be practically the same as sleeping out of doors. Have a door or window open wide; have one open on each side of the room, if possible. If you cannot have a good draught of air across the room, pull the head of your bed close to the open window, so that the air from without may come fully into your face. No matter how cold or unpleasant the weather, have a window open, and open wide; and try to get a circulation of pure air through the room. Pile on the bedclothes, if necessary, to keep you warm; but have an unlimited supply of fresh air from out of doors. This is the first great requisite for healthy sleep.

When we study sleep, we notice that breathing is much deeper, stronger, and more rhythmic than when we are awake. We breathe in much more air when asleep than when awake. This tells us that the Principle of Health requires large quantities of some element in the atmosphere for renewal. If you want to create natural conditions for sleep, first make sure you have an unlimited supply of fresh, pure air. Doctors have found that sleeping outdoors in pure air is very effective in treating lung problems. Combined with the Way of Living and Thinking prescribed in this book, it is just as effective in curing every other kind of trouble. Do not take half measures when it comes to getting pure air while you sleep. Ventilate your bedroom thoroughly, so that it is practically the same as sleeping outdoors. Leave a door or window wide open. If possible, leave one open on each side of the room. If you cannot get a good flow of air across the room, pull the head of your bed close to the open window. That way, the outside air can come fully into your face. No matter how cold or unpleasant the weather is, leave a window wide open. Try to get pure air circulating through the room. Pile on the blankets if necessary to keep warm, but make sure you have an unlimited supply of fresh outdoor air. This is the first great requirement for healthy sleep.

The brain and nerve centers cannot be thoroughly vitalized if you sleep in "dead" or stagnant air; you must have the living atmosphere, vital with nature's Principle of Life. I repeat, do not make any compromise in this matter; ventilate your sleeping room completely, and see that there is a circulation of outdoor air through it while you sleep. You are not sleeping in a perfectly healthy way if you shut the doors and windows of your sleeping room, whether in winter or summer. Have fresh air. If you are where there is no fresh air, move. If your bedroom cannot be ventilated, get into another house.

Your brain and nerve centers cannot be fully energized if you sleep in "dead" or stagnant air. You need living air, filled with nature's Principle of Life. I repeat, do not compromise on this. Ventilate your bedroom completely, and make sure outdoor air circulates through it while you sleep. You are not sleeping in a perfectly healthy way if you close your bedroom doors and windows, in winter or summer. Have fresh air. If you are somewhere without fresh air, move. If your bedroom cannot be ventilated, move to another house.

Next in importance is the mental attitude in which you go to sleep. It is well to sleep intelligently, purposefully, knowing what you do it for. Lie down thinking that sleep is an infallible vitalizer, and go to sleep with a confident faith that your strength is to be renewed; that you will awake full of vitality and health. Put purpose into your sleep as you do into your eating; give the matter your attention for a few minutes, as you go to rest. Do not seek your couch with a discouraged or depressed feeling; go there joyously, to be made whole. Do not forget the exercise of gratitude in going to sleep; before you close your eyes, give thanks to God for having shown you the way to perfect health, and go to sleep with this grateful thought uppermost in your mind. A bedtime prayer of thanksgiving is a mighty good thing; it puts the Principle of Health within you into communication with its source, from which it is to receive new power while you are in the silence of unconsciousness.

Next in importance is your mental attitude as you go to sleep. Sleep with awareness and purpose, knowing why you do it. Lie down thinking that sleep is a sure source of renewed vitality. Go to sleep confident that your strength will be renewed and that you will wake full of vitality and health. Put purpose into your sleep, just as you do into your eating. Give sleep your attention for a few minutes as you go to bed. Do not go to bed feeling discouraged or depressed. Go joyfully, ready to be made whole. Remember to practice gratitude as you go to sleep. Before you close your eyes, thank God for showing you the way to perfect health. Go to sleep with this grateful thought foremost in your mind. A bedtime prayer of thanks is a very good thing. It puts the Principle of Health within you in contact with its source. From this source, the Principle of Health receives new power while you are in the silence of unconsciousness.

You may see that the requirements for perfectly healthy sleep are not difficult. First, to see that you breathe pure air from out of doors while you sleep; and, second, to put the Within into touch with the Living Substance by a few minutes of grateful meditation as you go to bed. Observe these requirements, go to sleep in a thankful and confident frame of mind, and all will be well. If you have insomnia, do not let it worry you. While you lie awake, form your conception of health; meditate with thankfulness on the abundant life which is yours, breathe, and feel perfectly confident that you will sleep in due time; and you will. Insomnia, like every other ailment, must give way before the Principle of Health aroused to full constructive activity by the course of thought and action herein described.

You can see that the requirements for perfectly healthy sleep are not difficult. First, make sure you breathe fresh outdoor air while you sleep. Second, connect the Within with the Living Substance by meditating gratefully for a few minutes as you go to bed. Follow these requirements and go to sleep feeling thankful and confident, and all will be well. If you have insomnia, do not let it worry you. While you lie awake, picture health in your mind. Meditate with gratitude on the abundant life that is yours, and breathe. Feel perfectly confident that you will sleep in due time, and you will. Insomnia, like every other ailment, must yield to the Principle of Health. The thoughts and actions described here awaken that Principle to full constructive activity.

The reader will now comprehend that it is not at all burdensome or disagreeable to perform the voluntary functions of life in a perfectly healthy way. The perfectly healthy way is the easiest, simplest, most natural, and most pleasant way. The cultivation of health is not a work of art, difficulty, or strenuous labor. You have only to lay aside artificial observances of every kind, and eat, drink, breathe, and sleep in the most natural and delightful way; and if you do this, thinking health and only health, you will certainly be well.

You can now see that carrying out the voluntary functions of life in a perfectly healthy way is neither difficult nor unpleasant. The perfectly healthy way is the easiest, simplest, most natural, and most pleasant way. Developing health does not require special skill, difficulty, or hard work. You only need to give up all artificial practices and eat, drink, breathe, and sleep in the most natural and enjoyable way. If you do this while thinking of health and nothing else, you will certainly be well.