PRACTICAL PSYCHOLOGY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23514, 31 May 1938, Page 5

PRACTICAL PSYCHOLOGY

Last Thursday evening the Dunedin Practical Psychology Club discussed “ The Making and Breaking of Habits,” It was stated that man’s character was judged by his actions, and actions or habits tended to become unconscious in time, and were then beyond man’s direct control. One must therefore form new habits to eradicate the old. To change one’s whole character seemed an impossible task; but if one regarded character as a complex of habits, the task of changing it became merely the changing of each habit. Bad habits could be overcome, not so much by fighting them as by the acquiring of new habits. Perhaps the indifferent man would declare that the acquiring of new habits was too much of an effort; but it was well to remember that even such a negation was a habit, and as such was registered in the brain. Habits were unconsciously formed; they grew while one was sleeping. Born of one’s thoughts which were taken into one’s sleeping hours, they were the most potent factor in controlling one’s life. For that reason correct mental habits were the right ones to cultivate, and being based upon principle, they left the individual to act as he. felt right under all conditions. It was pointed out that thought was power, and the same thought repeated created brain and nerve conditions, thus preparing for itself a physical memory. A pleasant-thought brought a smile as an unpleasant one of fear, anger, or worry brought .a frown. Knowing that the nerve cells vibrated from habit without conscious effort, it behoved each one to be careful of the thought he formed or expressed or refrained from expressing, for the silent holding also created nerve conditions that later compelled expressions. Another aspect was presented in pointing out the danger of forming set habits and becoming stagnant or encrusted. Life was ever changing, growing, . progressing, .so man must grow or be left. Making new habits pleasant and giving them all one’s interest caused the old to fade away through lack of attention. Every life had a purpose, and that was in self-mastery. Man was free only as he could free himself from himself. Through coming into the light of the Divine or God power in life, all was altered, and the old chain of habit broken. In its place new radiant habit-forming thoughts were created.