The Law of Mental Control

Your thoughts are either faithful servants or tyrannical masters—just as you allow them to be. You have the say about it; take your choice. They will either go about your work under direction of the firm will, doing it the best they know how, not only in your waking hours, but when you are asleep—some of our best mental work being performed for us when our conscious mentality is at rest, as is evidenced by the fact that when the morning comes we find troublesome problems have been worked out for us during the night, after we had dismissed them from our minds—apparently; or they will ride all over us and make us their slaves if we are foolish enough to allow them to do so. More than half the people of the world are slaves of every vagrant thought which may see fit to torment them.

Your thoughts are either faithful servants or tyrannical masters, depending on what you allow them to be. The choice is yours. Under the direction of a firm will, your thoughts will do your work as best they can. They will work not only while you are awake, but also while you sleep. Some of our best mental work is done when our conscious mind is at rest. We see evidence of this when morning comes and we find that troubling problems have been solved overnight. This happens after we have apparently put the problems out of our minds. But if we are foolish enough to let our thoughts take over, they will make us their slaves. More than half the people in the world are slaves of every stray thought that may torment them.

Your mind is given you for your good and for your own use—not to use you. There are very few people who seem to realize this and who understand the art of managing the mind. The key to the mystery is Concentration. A little practice will develop within every man the power to use the mental machine properly. When you have some mental work to do concentrate upon it to the exclusion of everything else, and you will find that the mind will get right down to business—to the work at hand—and matters will be cleared up in no time. There is an absence of friction, and all waste motion or lost power is obviated. Every pound of energy is put to use, and every revolution of the mental driving-wheel counts for something. It pays to be able to be a competent mental engineer.

Your mind is meant to serve you, not control you. Very few people seem to realize this or understand how to manage their minds. The key to the mystery is concentration. With a little practice, everyone can develop the power to use their mental machinery properly. When you have mental work to do, focus on it and shut out everything else. You will find that your mind gets right down to the task, and matters will be cleared up quickly. There is no friction, wasted motion, or lost power. Every bit of energy is put to use, and every turn of the mind’s driving wheel counts. It pays to be a competent mental engineer.

And the man who understands how to run his mental engine knows that one of the important things is to be able to stop it when the work has been done. He does not keep putting coal in the furnace, and maintaining a high pressure after the work is finished, or when the day’s portion of the work has been done, and the fires should be banked until the next day. Some people act as if the engine should be kept running whether there was any work to be done or not, and then they complain if it gets worn out and wobbles and needs repairing. These mental engines are fine machines, and need intelligent care.

A man who knows how to run his mental engine understands the importance of stopping it when the work is done. He does not keep putting coal in the furnace and maintaining high pressure after the work is finished. Nor does he do so when the day’s work is done and the fires should be banked until the next day. Some people act as if the engine should keep running whether there is work to do or not. Then they complain when it wears out, wobbles, and needs repair. These mental engines are fine machines, and they need intelligent care.

To those who are acquainted with the laws of mental control it seems absurd for one to lie awake at night fretting about the problems of the day, or more often, of the morrow. It is just as easy to slow down the mind as it is to slow down an engine, and thousands of people are learning to do this in these days of New Thought The best way to do it is to think of something else—as far different from the obtruding thought as possible, There is no use fighting an objectionable thought with the purpose of “downing” it; that is a great waste of energy, and the more you keep on saying, “I won’t think of this thing!” the more it keeps on coming into your mind, for you are holding it there for the purpose of hitting it. Let it go; don’t give it another thought; fix the mind on something entirely different, and keep the attention there by an effort of the will. A little practice will do much for you in this direction. There is only room for one thing at a time in the focus of attention; so put all your attention upon one thought, and the others will sneak off. Try it for yourself.

To people familiar with the laws of mental control, it seems absurd to lie awake worrying about the day’s problems. More often, people worry about tomorrow’s problems. It is just as easy to slow down the mind as it is to slow down an engine. Thousands of people are learning to do this in these days of New Thought. The best way is to think of something else, as different as possible from the unwelcome thought. There is no use fighting an unwanted thought to “defeat” it. That wastes a great deal of energy. The more you say, “I won’t think of this thing!” the more it keeps coming to mind. You are holding the thought there so you can strike at it. Let the thought go. Don’t give it another thought. Focus your mind on something entirely different, and use your will to keep your attention there. A little practice will help you a great deal. There is room for only one thing at a time in the focus of your attention. So give all your attention to one thought, and the others will sneak off. Try it for yourself.