LOOK IN A MENTAL MIRROR AND SEE IF YOU CAN THINK.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 143, 18 June 1931, Page 8

LOOK IN A MENTAL MIRROR AND SEE IF YOU CAN THINK.

I o-Day’s Signed Article.

Most People have Mental Myopia and are Unconscious of the Fact.

By

Edward Earle Purington

Can you think? You probably can. You may even surpass in achievements of thoughts some of the professional thinkers who tell folks how to think. Please construe the pointed query afjove not as an insult to your intelligence, but as a challenge to it. We do not doubt your mental capacity, but only wish to help you confirm it. You will know soon, if you have not known before, how to size up a real thinker. Such knowledge will be of the highest worth and importance.

'J'HE MAIN DIFFERENCE between a millionaire and a pauper is that the millionaire has learned how to think while the pauper has not. If the millionaire got his wealth by inheritance, he may not be a thinker, and his money should not be considered a measure of his mind. But if he earned his fortune, he knew how to do more and better thinking for success than most of his rivals or competitors. Who is the wealthiest man of to-day? Some financial experts name John D. Rockefeller, others name Henry Ford. Have you read the biographies or various printed statements of these two men? If so, you will doubtless have remarked on the exceptional character of their habitual thought, so clear, so fine, so sure. Like all great leaders, they first made themselves great thinkers.

Focus Related to Fame. Looking through history, we note that all the outstanding figures had outstanding minds. Their mental focus brought them eternal fame. The list and account of these mental masters would fill a spacious library. We cite a few names of the world’s real thinkers: Moses, Abraham, Socrates, Plato, Newton, Darwin, Columbus, Gladstone, Franklin, Emerson, Bell, Morse, Burbank, Einstein, Edison, Wilson. They all dared to think above the crowd, ahead of the crowd, for the good of the world. So, rightly, the world honours them. Going to the other extreme, that of small and mediocre citizens, what do we find? A number of amazing and disappointing facts. Most young people have never been taught how to think. As a result, the majority of so-called mature brains are idle, rusty, wobbly, empty or weazened to a pitiful extent. The average man utilises not more than 10 per cent of his brain capacity. Few minds are habitually clear, active, strong, effective and reliable; whereas all minds should be.

Non-Thinkers Expensive. We pay millions a year to offset damages produced by non-thinkers. Among these costly and innumerable follies are the accidents, fires, losses, robberies, crimes, illnesses and failures. Nearly all trouble may be traced to the disuse or misuse of brain power. Deficient or defective thought is responsible for most of the pains, grievances, woes, miseries and worries that plague mankind. If everybody only did enough right thinking, followed by right acting, there would be no need for gaols, courts, reformatories, penitentiaries, policemen, fire insurance companies, hospitals, sanitariums, surgical houses or asylums. You might show how clearly and fully you 1 can think by explaining the preceding sentence in itemised dfetail.

A famous Oriental philosopher has been touring U.S.A. holding lectures and classes for the attainment of correct thinking. We should hail with delight any such missionary project. We may with advantage learn meditation from Orientals while they are learning action from us. Mental balance would result on both sides.

Mental Short-Sightedness. This brain expert from the Far East holds an opinion worthy of our attention. He believes that most cases of crime, offence, loss, misunderstanding, hatred, worry, fear, grief or disappointment of any kind are the outcome of a habit of holding a viewpoint extremely and blindly personal. In short, most people suffer with mental myopia and are unconscious of the fact.

A thoughtful student of the Oriental teacher is a practical business man trained to get results. He has itemised what he will do in every-day application of the wholesome teachings thus mastered. “ I will no longer jump at conclusions or be a victim of rash emotions. I will follow truth and not prejudice. I will be as impartial as the laws of the universe. I will

take the impersonal view of race, of ancestry, of fame, of criticism, of politics, of sex, of religion. “ Social position means nothing necessarily. What counts is our life, not our lineage. I will regard everybody fairly, paying no heed to conventional, superficial aspects. “Fame is of slight moment. A celebrity may have notability—or notoriety. People should discern which. I will endeavour to see through fame, into character, and thus know famous people. “ Reputation, however, is to be considered. Whoever criticises me or my work does me a favour. I will appreciate the favour, not be offended by it, and try to make the most of it by seeing how far it is deserved. “ Political parties do not concern me. In general, they are not worth noticing. I will support the best man for public office, regarding him ahead of his party. “ Men should learn about women. The usual masculine conceit is absurd and I won’t be guilty of it. I will seek - the guidance of woman’s intuition wherever I need that most. “ Religion does not consist of membership in yny church. Religion is practical devotion to ideals. Therefore I will not judge of anybody’s religion, but will make my own the best I can.” Towards a Vital Goal. Thought may be defined as the mental process leading to a vital goal. What is the vital goal? Truth. tVhat are the mental processes? Instinct, reason, observation, intuition, inspiration, revelation. If the goal were always kept in view, and the process always kept in order, everything would go right with everybody; health, success .and happiness would be universal. When things go wrong, here is the important question to ask: How did I fail to think right or think enough or do what I knew I ought to do? In short, a bruise only points to a brain that wasn’t used. The proper remedy for a bruise, therefore, is not merely a medical antiseptic but also a mental prophylactic. We get hurt only when we do not use our heads. Why keep on getting hurt? Man at the Top. Most leaders make themselves great by learning how to think and their example should be useful to everybody who seeks advancement. Here is a mental picture of the mental features of a typical man who has reached the top: He puts facts ahead of feelings and opinions. He consults national authorities on vital questions. He takes the largfe view, but concentrates on small details. He combines radical ideas with conservative methods. He specialises in the science of linguistic economy. He talks and acts so that everybody who knows him trusts him. He makes all criticism instructive, helpful, hopeful. He guards against bias, prejudice or partisanship—his own as well as other people’s. He follows both reason and intuition, each guiding the other. He blends the caution of the pessimist and the courage of the optimist. He regards both insight and outlook essential to progress. He welcomes desirable innovations, refusing to be a petrified victim of custom or habit. He likes to shoulder responsibility and tackle hard jobs. He spends money wisely and saves it regularly. He plans how to get the finest and fullest co-operation, for mutual benefits. He aims to be fraternal in the activities bearing on other human lives. . He gets pointers from adversity that lead to prosperity. He resolves to find the one right way to do everything. He has the superb wisdom to keep smiling, no matter what happens or how many other folks get worried and woeful. (Anglo-American N.S. —Copyright.)

QNE of the most remarkable islands in the world is Patmos, where St John wrote the Book of Revelation. It was always the destination of thousands of pilgrims, and in the old days the rich man who wished to expiate his sins usually did so by building a church. The result is that this tiny island contains the ruins of no fewer than 300 churches. The population is considerably larger now than it was when most of the buildings were founded. As there are only 700 houses on the island there is almost a church for each two families. The people are Greeks, whose only occupation is sponge-fishing, though there used at one time to be a trade in the manufacture of stockings.