THE HOUSEHOLD

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 12774, 1 February 1936, Page 10

THE HOUSEHOLD

WAYS of avoiding mental CONFUSION.

(By Lydia Le Baron Walker.)

There are few persons who are not confused at times. Some people are so well poised, mentally, that they can withstand with composure the pressure of conflicting duties, problems, and questions, while others are upset easily. There are also persons who give slight evidence to those about, them of confused thoughts, who bring, peace from chaotic thoughts by putting their minds in order by themselves. There are others who bring the burden of their confusion to those they are with by talking over each little disturbing question, or by being irritable and quick to anger. In the home there are certain things which can be clone to relieve confusion to everyone. Some react to them immediately. One thing is to have rooms in good order. It is distracting to note chairs out ot place, papers strewn about, toys all over a floor, and garments piled on tables or over chairs- Here is a picture of the confusion of inanimate things. By straightening them out a. sense of the rightness of them helps to straighten out knotty thoughts. There is a co-ordination between physical and mental things that exists and should be taken into account.

Another thing which aids in restoring order to thoughts, and that is to be alone. In the quiet of one’s room either in the restoring rays of sunshine on a cool day. or in softly shaded light on a hot day, or in mellow artificial illumination in the evening, sitting comfortable or lying down, let the peaceful atmosphere of the surroundings seep into your mind. Do not try to solve the problems until you have let go of them. This brings us to a third restorative. to which these others have led up, and that is relaxation. Tenseness may bo the cause of the confusion. which straightens out only when dropped through the grateful aid of relaxation. Or the bothersome matters may be the cause of the tenseness, which promotes confusion of mind. The essential thing is to get relaxation and while under its peaceful influence gain the insight needed, not by struggling for it. hut by lofting if come to you through the quickened mental power gained in this mood. (Copyright. 1930.)