Developing New Brain Cells

I have spoken of the plan of getting rid of undesirable states of feeling by driving them out. But a far better way is to cultivate the feeling or emotion directly opposed to the one you wish to eradicate.

I have discussed getting rid of unwanted feelings by driving them out. But a far better way is to cultivate the opposite feeling or emotion.

We are very apt to regard ourselves as the creatures of our emotions and feelings, and to fancy that these feelings and emotions are “we.” But such is far from being the truth. It is true that the majority of the race are slaves of their emotions and feelings, and are governed by them to a great degree. They think that feelings are things that rule one and from which one cannot free himself, and so they cease to rebel. They yield to the feeling without question, although they may know that the emotion or mental trait is calculated to injure them, and to bring unhappiness and failure instead of happiness and success. They say “we are made that way,” and let it go at that.

We often see ourselves as creatures of our emotions and feelings. We imagine that these feelings and emotions are “we.” But that is far from true. Most of the human race are slaves to their emotions and feelings, and are largely governed by them. They believe feelings rule them and that they cannot free themselves. So they stop resisting. They give in to a feeling without question, even when they know it or the mental trait behind it may harm them. They know it may bring unhappiness and failure instead of happiness and success. They say “we are made that way,” and leave it at that.

The new Psychology is teaching the people better things. It tells them that they are masters of their emotions and feelings, instead of being their slaves. It tells them that brain-cells may be developed that will manifest along desirable lines, and that the old brain-cells that have been manifesting so unpleasantly may be placed on the retired list, and allowed to atrophy from want of use. People may make themselves over, and change their entire natures. This is not mere idle theory, but is a working fact which has been demonstrated by thousands of people, and which is coming more and more before the attention of the race.

The new psychology is teaching people better things. It tells them they are masters of their emotions and feelings, not their slaves. It tells them that brain cells can be developed to function in desirable ways. Old brain cells that have been functioning unpleasantly can be retired and allowed to waste away from lack of use. People can remake themselves and change their entire natures. This is not just an empty theory. It is a practical fact that thousands of people have demonstrated, and it is attracting more and more attention throughout humanity.

No matter what theory of mind we entertain, we must admit that the brain is the organ and instrument of the mind, in our present state of existence, at least, and that the brain must be considered in this matter. The brain is like a wonderful musical instrument, having millions of keys, upon which we may play innumerable combinations of sounds. We come into the world with certain tendencies, temperaments, and predispositions. We may account for these tendencies by heredity, or we may account for them upon theories of pre-existence, but the facts remain the same. Certain keys seem to respond to our touch more easily than others. Certain notes seem to sound forth as the current of circumstances sweeps over the strings. And certain other notes are less easily vibrated. But we find that if we but make an effort of the will to restrain the utterance of some of these easily sounded strings, they will grow more difficult to sound, and less liable to be stirred by the passing breeze. And if we will pay attention to some of the other strings that have not been giving forth a clear tone, we will soon get them in good working order; their notes will chime forth clear and vibrant, and will drown the less pleasant sounds.

No matter what theory of mind we hold, we must admit that the brain is the mind’s organ and instrument, at least in our present state of existence. So we must consider the brain in this matter. The brain is like a wonderful musical instrument with millions of keys. On these keys we can play countless combinations of sounds. We come into the world with certain tendencies, temperaments, and predispositions. We may explain these tendencies through heredity or through theories of an earlier existence. But the facts remain the same. Certain keys seem to respond to our touch more easily than others. Certain notes seem to sound as the current of circumstances sweeps over the strings. Other notes are harder to make vibrate. But if we use our will to restrain some of these easily sounded strings, we find that they become harder to sound. They become less likely to be stirred by a passing breeze. And if we pay attention to some of the other strings that have not been giving a clear tone, we will soon get them working well. Their notes will ring out clear and vibrant, drowning out the less pleasant sounds.

We have millions of unused brain-cells awaiting our cultivation. We are using but a few of them, and some of these we are working to death. We are able to give some of these cells a rest, by using other cells. The brain may be trained and cultivated in a manner incredible to one who has not looked into the subject. Mental attitudes may be acquired and cultivated, changed and discarded, at will. There is no longer any excuse for people manifesting unpleasant and harmful mental states. We have the remedy in our own hands.

We have millions of unused brain cells waiting to be developed. We use only a few of them, and we are working some of those to death. We can give some of these cells a rest by using others. The brain can be trained and developed in ways that seem incredible to anyone who has not studied the subject. We can acquire and develop mental attitudes, change them, and discard them at will. People no longer have any excuse for showing unpleasant and harmful mental states. We have the remedy in our own hands.

We acquire habits of thought, feeling, and action, by repeated use. We may be born with a tendency in a certain direction, or we may acquire tendencies by suggestions from others; such as the examples of those around us, suggestions from reading, listening to teachers. We are a bundle of mental habits. Each time we indulge in an undesirable thought or habit, the easier does it become to repeat that thought or action. And the oftener we give forth a certain desirable thought, or perform a desirable action, the easier does it become for us to repeat that thought or action.

We develop habits of thought, feeling, and action through repetition. We may be born with certain tendencies, or we may develop them through suggestions from others. These suggestions may come from the examples of people around us, from reading, or from listening to teachers. We are a bundle of mental habits. Each time we indulge in an undesirable thought or habit, it becomes easier to repeat that thought or action. And the more often we have a desirable thought or perform a desirable action, the easier it becomes to repeat it.

Mental scientists are in the habit of speaking of desirable thoughts or mental attitudes as “positive,” and of the undesirable ones as “negative.” There is a good reason for this. The mind instinctively recognizes certain things as good for the individual to which it belongs, and it clears the path for such thoughts, and interposes the least resistance to them. They have a much greater effect than an undesirable thought possesses, and one positive thought will counteract a number of negative thoughts. The best way to overcome undesirable or negative thoughts and feelings is to cultivate the positive ones, The positive thought is the strongest plant, and will in time starve out the negative one by withdrawing from it the nourishment necessary for its existence.

Mental scientists often call desirable thoughts or mental attitudes “positive” and undesirable ones “negative.” There is a good reason for this. The mind instinctively recognizes certain things as good for the person it belongs to. It clears the path for such thoughts and offers them the least resistance. Positive thoughts have a much greater effect than undesirable ones. One positive thought can counteract several negative thoughts. The best way to overcome undesirable or negative thoughts and feelings is to cultivate positive ones. The positive thought is the stronger plant. In time, it will starve out the negative thought by taking away the nourishment it needs to survive.

Of course the negative thought will set up a vigorous resistance at first, for it is a fight for life with it. In the slang words of the time, it “sees its finish” if the positive thought is allowed to grow and develop; and, consequently, it makes things unpleasant for the individual until he has started well into the work of starving it out. Brain cells do not like to be laid on the shelf any more than does any other form of living energy, and they rebel and struggle until they become too weak to do so. The best way is to pay as little attention as possible to these weeds of the mind, but put in as much time as possible watering, caring for and attending to the new and beautiful plants in the garden of the mind.

Of course, the negative thought will resist strongly at first because it is fighting for its life. As people say today, it “sees its end” if the positive thought is allowed to grow and develop. So it makes things unpleasant for the person until he has made good progress in starving it out. Brain cells do not like to be set aside any more than any other form of living energy does. They rebel and struggle until they become too weak to do so. The best approach is to pay as little attention as possible to these weeds of the mind. Instead, spend as much time as possible watering and caring for the new and beautiful plants in the garden of the mind.

For instance, if you are apt to hate people, you can best overcome the negative thought by cultivating Love in its place. Think Love, and act it out, as often as possible. Cultivate thoughts of kindness, and act as kindly as you can to everyone with whom you come in contact. You will have trouble at the start, but gradually Love will master Hate, and the latter will begin to droop and wither. If you have a tendency toward the “blues” cultivate a smile, and a cheerful view of things. Insist upon your mouth wearing upturned corners, and make an effort of the will to look upon the bright side of things. The “blue-devils” will set up a fight, of course, but pay no attention to them—just go on cultivating optimism and cheerfulness. Let “Bright, Cheerful and Happy” be your watchword, and try to live it out

For example, if you tend to hate people, you can best overcome that negative thought by cultivating Love instead. Think about Love and put it into practice as often as possible. Cultivate kind thoughts, and be as kind as you can to everyone you meet. You will struggle at first, but gradually Love will overcome Hate, and Hate will begin to droop and wither. If you tend to get the “blues,” practice smiling and looking at things cheerfully. Make yourself turn up the corners of your mouth, and make an effort to look on the bright side. The “blue-devils” will put up a fight, of course, but pay no attention to them. Just keep cultivating optimism and cheerfulness. Let “Bright, Cheerful and Happy” be your watchword, and try to live by it.

These recipes may seem very old and timeworn, but they are psychological truths and may be used by you to advantage. If you once comprehend the nature of the thing, the affirmations and auto-suggestions of the several schools may be understood and taken advantage of. You may make yourself energetic instead of slothful, active instead of lazy, by this method. It is all a matter of practice and steady work. New Thought people often have much to say about “holding the thought;” and, indeed, it is necessary to “hold the thought” in order to accomplish results. But something more is needed. You must “act out” the thought until it becomes a fixed habit with you. Thoughts take form in action; and in turn actions influence thought. So by “acting out” certain lines of thought, the actions react upon the mind, and increase the development of the part of the mind having close relation to the act. Each time the mind entertains a thought, the easier becomes the resulting action—and each time an act is performed, the easier becomes the corresponding thought. So you see the thing works both ways—action and reaction. If you feel cheerful and happy, it is very natural for you to laugh. And if you will laugh a little, you will begin to feel bright and cheerful. Do you see what I am trying to get at? Here it is, in a nutshell: // you wish to cultivate a certain habit of action, begin by cultivating the mental attitude corresponding to it. And as a means of cultivating that mental attitude, start in to “act-out” or go through, the motions of the act corresponding to the thought. Now, see if you cannot apply this rule. Take up something that you really feel should be done, but which you do not feel like doing. Cultivate the thought leading up to it—say to yourself: “I like to do so and so,” and then go through the motions (cheerfully, remember!) and act out the thought that you like to do the thing. Take an interest in the doing—study out the best way to do it—put brains into it—take a pride in it—and you will find yourself doing the thing with a considerable amount of pleasure and interest—you will have cultivated a new habit.

These methods may seem very old and worn out, but they are based on psychological truths. You can use them to your advantage. Once you understand how this works, you can understand and use the affirmations and autosuggestions of the different schools. With this method, you can make yourself energetic instead of sluggish, active instead of lazy. It is all a matter of practice and steady work. New Thought people often talk about “holding the thought.” And you do need to “hold the thought” to get results. But something more is needed. You must “act out” the thought until it becomes a fixed habit. Thoughts take form in action, and actions in turn influence thought. So when you “act out” certain lines of thought, the actions affect the mind. They help develop the part of the mind closely connected with the action. Each time you think a thought, the resulting action becomes easier. Each time you perform an action, the corresponding thought becomes easier. So you see, it works both ways: action and reaction. If you feel cheerful and happy, it is natural to laugh. And if you laugh a little, you will begin to feel bright and cheerful. Do you see what I am trying to get at? Here it is in a nutshell: If you want to develop a certain habit of action, begin by developing the corresponding mental attitude. To help develop that attitude, start to “act out” or go through the motions of the action that matches the thought. Now see if you can apply this rule. Choose something you really feel you should do, but do not feel like doing. Cultivate the thought that leads to it. Say to yourself, “I like to do such and such.” Then go through the motions and act out the thought that you like doing it. Remember to do this cheerfully! Take an interest in what you are doing. Figure out the best way to do it. Use your brains and take pride in it. You will find yourself doing it with considerable pleasure and interest. You will have developed a new habit.

If you prefer trying it on some mental trait of which you wish to be rid, it will work the same way. Start in to cultivate the opposite trait, and think it out and act it out for all you are worth. Then watch the change that will come over you. Don’t be discouraged at the resistance you will encounter at first, but sing gaily: “I Can and I Will,” and get to work in earnest. The important thing in this work is to keep cheerful and interested. If you manage to do this, the rest will be easy.

If you prefer to try it on a mental trait you want to get rid of, it will work the same way. Start developing the opposite trait. Think and act in keeping with it as much as you can. Then watch how you change. Don’t be discouraged by the resistance you meet at first. Instead, sing cheerfully, “I Can and I Will,” and get to work in earnest. The important thing is to stay cheerful and interested. If you can do that, the rest will be easy.