THE VALUE OF HABITS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 144198, 15 September 1913, Page 3

THE VALUE OF HABITS.

ADDRESS TO-THE BROTHERHOOD At tho meeting of the Brotheriiood. yesterday 1 afternoon, the chair was :i‘: taken by Mr. H. Ainsworth, and a*«olo was sung by Mr. Hearn. Tho address . was given by Mr. G. 11. tho subject being “The Value of Habits.” Mr. Dolby said that he had been much struck with the chapter on “habits in I’rofossor W. James’ “Talks to Teachers on Psychology,” and, knowing that tho title of such a book would be sufficient to prevent most ‘of his hearers reading it, he had drawn freely on it as tho foundation for his remarks. Ho proceeded to point put that habits - * wore the result of actions, which, owing to constant repetition, had .become, . semi-mechanical or ; almost ; instinctive; y’ probably 999 out of 1000 of a man’s ao- . tions being the result of habit. advantage of this was economy ,of brain work, leaving .the mind free: to , ' deal with, more’ important matters, y,

The idea that bad habits were much; more easily acquired than good ones was disputed on, the ground that bad; habits, such as drunkenness or unpnnctuality, led always-to certain inconveniences which left no doubt in tho mind as to their character, whereas good habits produced a feeling of ■ satisfaction which was a help in acquiring them. y,

Psychologists had discovered certain ■ i rules for the formation of habits, which • though simple enough, were a useful : guide, . These were as follows: ;To launch ourselves . with as strong and : decided an initiative as possible, to suffer no exception to occur . until tho habit was securely, rooted, and finally that good resolutions should not lowed to evaporate without being acted upon, as it was not tho formation of a :> resolve, but the’putting of‘ it into ac-i-tion, which gave , the now set to the , brain. ' 7 • '• • ■ ;>•: Character was simply the- sum- of: :■ habits, and as every action was either : strengthening old habits or gradually forming now ones, the formation. of - cbaracter was almost entirely in a . man’s own hands. Men, after-middle : . F v ago, were often too apt to allow themselves to, drift with no-definite course , > sot, but tho continuancq of characterbuilding was just as important for ... them as for the young. Those who had children would find-that precept was of far less value than example. The com-, : . paratively young had great opportunities before,them if they would set their minds on some definite objective and sacrifice present pleasures in their -attempt to reach it. They need hay© no anxiety, if they performed .their work each day faithfully that, ultimately they would reach the goal aimed at. “Every ‘good,” in the words of Pro-' fessor James, “that is worth possessing must be paid for in 'strokes of daily effort.” - . f.

In conclusion, one quality was recommended as invaluable in th© attainment, of any object—-the power of concentrated attention, which notonlyenabled.a man to do more work, but also to do it without overstrain. -