Laugh and Live Part 2

If the preceding chapters have been carefully read we may readily believe that the successful youth must start with a wholesome, generous viewpoint, a good const.i.tution, and a clean mind. We have had an inkling by this time of what one must do to achieve success in a world where compet.i.tion is keen. We are beginning to realize that these matters are of vital importance and that we are face to face with a problem.

Energy is the natural outpouring of a healthy body. It must be directed, it must be controlled, the same as any other living force. Not only is it a positive necessity to the winner, but it must grow and become _a natural quality_. It does not stand after years of abuse. It does not spring up in the night after a long season of neglect and ill-health.

All of us possess it in varying ways. That fact ought to convince us that we can get hold of ourselves and build up that which nature has given us, rather than allow it to die away. We all have a certain amount of energy ... _why shouldn't we all be successes_? We might to a certain extent, but that doesn't mean that we shall all get rich in the money sense of the world.

When we say: "Why shouldn't we all be successes?" we do not mean that everybody in the world must be greedy for money, nor for power and position. It does not mean that we should be selfish and eager to take everything away from the other fellow. On the contrary, it means that, with energy, we shall be successful _according to our brain tendency_.

Going back to our second chapter we find the phrase "taking stock" of ourselves. Done rightly that alone will inspire success. Now if we are a little farther along on the way towards sane living and the _ability to laugh_ and we know that after this struggle is over the battle is won we must use the powers that self-a.n.a.lysis gives us--_to fight_. The mere recognition of them is power and we must not let them go to waste.

Energy is like steam--it cannot be generated under the boiling point. In other words, _half-heartedness_ never produced it nor made it a practical working tool. We must be energetic in order to augment energy. We must have confidence along with it ... the more the merrier.

The greater the confidence in ourselves the greater the energy which brought it about. Some minds naturally feel confident. These are the lucky ones, the slender few who have grasped life's meaning at the start by "_taking stock_" before they were threatened with defeat. Success comes to them as easily as rolling off the proverbial log. They come sweeping along, conquering, sure of themselves, confident, aspiring, true to their inner selves, ready for work, unafraid of experiences, and _sure of a smile when the clouds are darkest_.

This does not mean that these successes have exceptional ability. If that were the case we would not waste time either in reading or writing about the matter. If we didn't feel that we were potentially able to become successes and possessed the elements of victory in our present make-up not another moment would be spent on the subject. The very simplicity of this use of energy proves to us that it is a quality bubbling forth _in the least of us_ and the strongest. It only needs to be put to work and it becomes self-strengthening. _Living in the open air, sleeping out of doors, taking the proper exercise, looking wholesomely upon life, believing in ourselves_, are all parts of the sane existence which leads to success and laughter.

We ought to feel that everything in life possesses elements akin to human feeling. We should not arrogate to ourselves the sole right to rule and reason. And what has this to do with energy? It is only one of the many vistas that open to us when we learn how to laugh and live. And man alive! _If we never learn to laugh we will never learn to live._

We must not forget that there can be more than one use made of energy.

In the same way that electricity might be misused so might energy be placed in the wrong service. We must not waste any time, therefore, in getting this energy of ours worked into _enthusiasm_ ... enthusiasm for our life work, for our fellow man, _for the zest of life_. We must throw ourselves into the battle and carry the standard. We must leap to the front, not waiting for the other fellow to show the way. Spend your enthusiasm freely and be surprised at how it thrives on usage.

Enthusiasm being produced by energy must of a necessity depend largely upon that. Now the point is, how shall we guard and keep fresh this element in ourselves? We know that the body is producing this quality.

Like the steam engine we are keeping the fires going by exercise, wholesome thinking and sincerity of purpose. We are the engineers. Our hand is on the throttle. Sharp turns lie ahead but our eyes look forward fearlessly. We glance about us to see that we are in the pink of condition. We know that our mind is functioning properly and that the awakened confidence is already inherent in our natures and stands beside us night and day like the officer upon the bridge of the s.h.i.+p. _Indeed we are on our way!_

[Ill.u.s.tration: _A Little Spin Among the Saplings_]

Out of energy and enthusiasm comes something else that must not be neglected ... in fact it must be cultivated and guarded from the very beginning ... _laughter_. The mere possession of energy and enthusiasm makes us feel like laughing. We want to leap and jump and dance and sing. If we feel like that don't let us be afraid to do it. _Get out in the air and run like a school boy. Jump ditches, vault fences, swing the arms!_ Never fail to get next to nature when responsive to the call.

Indeed we may woo this call from within ourselves until it comes to be second nature. And when we rise in the morning let us be determined that we will start the day with a hearty laugh anyhow. Laugh because you are alive, laugh with everything. _Let yourself go._ That is the secret--the ability to let one's self go!

If we follow this religiously we will be surprised how successful the day will be. Everything gives way before it.

CHAPTER VI

BUILDING UP A PERSONALITY

More and more personality is coming into its own as man's greatest a.s.set. There was never a day when it was not, but in former years this essential quality was not listed under the name ... _personality_. Had we lived in the days of our fathers' youth we would have heard about "remarkable men," "men of big caliber," "large character," "splendid presence," and the like. But it remained for our day and generation to discover the real word--_personality_--meaning the _most perfect combination possible of man's highest attributes_. At least that would be the definition in its fullest sense.

Of course everyone has a certain personality and, no matter in what degree, its possession is valuable. Personality is an acorn, so to speak, which may be cultivated into a st.u.r.dy oak. Personality is one's _inner self outwardly expressed_. It represents the conquest of our weaknesses and naturally impresses our strength of character upon others.

With personality our foundation is firm. On this pedestal we may stand squarely and face life with equanimity. For such there is no end to achievement while good health and youthful spirit remain.

It is impossible to come into the presence of a personality without becoming immediately aware of it. It is reflected by people of _small stature ... poor physiques ... homely visages_, as well as men of the highest physical development. The great Napoleon was just above five feet while Lincoln towered over the six-foot line. Men of personality are the last to say die. Their store of _combativeness_ carries them beyond their real span of existence either in years or achievement.

Thus, the mind shows its mastery over matter. Alexander Pope was still writing while propped upon the pillows of his death bed. Mark Twain joked with friends when he knew his hour was at hand.

_Personality is magnetic._ It can charm the friend or put fear into the heart of the enemy. Joan of Arc, a frail woman, won battles at the head of her troops. History is filled with incidents where men of personality have turned defeat into victory by leading their soldiers back into the fray.

Wholesome personality is the fulfillment of self-development--physically, mentally and spiritually. But all personality is not wholesome for it often shows in the face of the man _who is a rogue at heart_. Therefore, all personality is not for the good of the world. It is only of the wholesome kind that we speak. To such as possess it the goal is divine. Personality could never be perfected without living a _life of preparedness_ backed up by our most earnest and honest convictions. Personality is made up of many qualities and differs in man only as man is different from his brother man.

Perfect personality requires constant care in its development and constant guard for its safety. It cannot be purchased in the open market. It must be built upon piece by piece and everything we are becomes a part of it.

Personality would be indeed imperfect if it did not give us _full poise_. If we neglect our physical poise we pull down our mental poise, likewise our spiritual poise. That is why personality must be kept constantly protected against encroachment; but this can be so fixed by purpose, plan, and power of will that it becomes automatically safeguarded. Once in possession we have only to make it part of our natural selves and _wear it unconsciously_ to the last breath of life.

Then the question is, why should we allow ourselves to be satisfied with an imperfect personality? It only reflects back upon ourselves. Haven't we often heard a man say: "_He is all right but_...!" Perhaps the personality in question was untidy, or that his walk was that of a laggard, or that he affected an egotistical air of superiority--whatever the impairment it should have been done away with.

A man of personality should never be haunted with worry from the sneers of his inferiors because of their own laxity. Some men perfect their manner of speech to a degree which takes it above that of their weaker fellows, others develop fine qualities which are viewed by ordinary individuals as affectations but which are in reality the result of _innate refinement_.

The man of no refinement has indeed an uphill fight but with persistence and ambition to succeed he can win. Lincoln, the rail splitter, is the most s.h.i.+ning example of _the power to will victory_. For him to have fallen by the wayside would have caused no comment for it would have been expected in those early days of struggle, but to those who have the benefit of inherited tendencies toward personality, to fail in its development is in the nature of a crime.

Personality does not mean over-refinement. _St.u.r.dy qualities_ are the necessary ones. Over-refinement leads to the softer life and ofttimes to degeneracy. Exalted ego is an indication of degeneracy and may have been inherited. Of those things we inherit that are good we must hold, and everlastingly must we watch those which are bad. It is never wise to wander far away from basic principles into preachment. What we need is guidance along the road to the goal of personality. First of all we need _health_ and second, _the will to do_. Next, we must use these weapons in the right direction, for personality is at its zenith when backed up by _strong physique and brain power_.

From previous chapters we have learned that success of any kind is predicated upon keeping ourselves in trim, and in good humor. Keeping in trim is no trick at all. We can make it a part of every physical action and as keeping in trim means perfection of body and soundness of mind we should never neglect to utilize any effort that will help us toward bodily efficiency. _There is exercise in stooping over to pick up a pin if we will go about it the right way. We can correct an ill-formed body by adopting and maintaining a certain carriage. We may hold our chin in such a way as to provide against stooped shoulders._

We have opportunities both morning and evening to indulge in various forms of light, systematic exercises which will push forward the day's work with zest and vim.

Poise has everything to do with personality, therefore the physical structure must come in for its share of proper attention. No man of refined personality would walk the streets with a soiled face or uncombed hair. Such things do not give poise. They are the evidences of a laggard spirit. The more we exercise the more energetic we become, the surer we are of ourselves, the farther we get in the development of our personality.

[Ill.u.s.tration: _Over the Hills and Far Away--Father and Son_]

CHAPTER VII

HONESTY, THE CHARACTER BUILDER

Just as the straight line is the shortest distance between two points so is honesty the only proper att.i.tude of one person toward another.

Without it there is no understanding possible. It must always remain supreme as a quality without which character becomes a sham, a superficial thing that has no basis in fact. _The ability to look the other fellow in the eye_ is as necessary to character as the foundation is to a house. It comes out of that "_great within_" which we are now exploring. It arises from the courageous facing of our weaknesses and becomes a part of the man _who knows himself and laughs with life_, at the mere joy of living, doing, accomplis.h.i.+ng ... winning against all odds.

Honesty accompanies a proper self-esteem and its cultivation should become a part of our earliest education. It doesn't grow anywhere except within ourselves and will never be handed to us on a silver platter. If we fail to find it when we are young it will have small chance of obtaining a grip on us later. _It is the one quality with which to crown our highest attributes._ It is final proof that we are capable of just thought and square dealing, and is proof positive that we are part and parcel of the wholesome spirit which rules the universe.

Its possession is greater than riches for its dividend is happiness and contentment and we cannot go wrong if we so live that we can look any man in the eye and _tell him the truth_.

To live in the full sense means to be alert. Whatever high moral plane we shall achieve must be held against all temptation. There is no compromise. _Self-deceit_ is nothing less than _self-stultification_. We only fool ourselves and soon find ourselves slipping down hill. It will be hard climbing getting back. And what of the wear and tear on our ambitions meanwhile!

Honesty does not grow naturally out of a dull, uninspired life. It goes with the energetic, the forceful. The dull soul who is content to plod along year after year in the same rut may be honest, and this one redeeming feature may be of such inestimable value to him that it sweetens and softens his entire days. It will bring him friends ...

true-blue friends, who will excuse all other shortcomings _because of his honesty_. It gives him the unadulterated trust of his employer and it arouses a certain admiration among his narrow circle of acquaintances. If this is true with the dullard, the weakling, then what must it mean _when possessed by the great_? We know, for instance, how the nation instinctively turned to General Was.h.i.+ngton when it came to choosing their President after the Revolutionary War. He may have been gifted, he may have been one of the world's greatest captains, but the one quality which endeared him to his countrymen was a tremendous moral superiority. "_He never told a lie_" rang around the world. Summed up, his virtues amounted to those five words. Some statesmen may have been more astute but Was.h.i.+ngton was honest--"_he never told a lie_." The people knew they could trust this man so they elected him to fill the highest place within their gift.

Honesty with ourselves is the first thing to remember. Unless we are, it will be impossible for us to enter into that spiritual contentment enjoyed by those who _are_ honest with themselves. If we are untrue to ourselves how can we be true to others? The framework of a man's moral being must be that of honesty. It must become his very nature and become automatic in its processes. It belongs to the healthy, those who keep themselves well through _vigorous exercise and temperate living_. It is not a quality set aside for the lucky few. Every man, woman and child possesses it in some degree and only its constant neglect trims it to a minimum. It is one of those fundamentals of life, one of those powerful and moving forces that rule society. _We are either honest or we are not._ We cannot be _nearly honest_ and get away with it.

When one stops to consider honesty, even for a moment, its full importance is realized. For example, imagine having a dishonest friend.

Could we go to him with the secrets of our heart? Could we trust him?

Would we trust anyone who might turn traitor? Again: suppose we were untrue to ourselves, and the fact became known. Could we blame others if they pa.s.sed us up as a companion? Never in a thousand years. _We must sleep in the beds we prepare for ourselves._

Men have grown accustomed through the years to certain standards. These are now the moral laws which control and guide the destinies of entire races, whole generations. There must have been a good reason for these laws or they could never have come into being. Society does not adopt many unnecessary rules, but among the vital laws _honesty stands out in bold relief_. It has become deeply imbedded in the minds of mankind that everyone must be true to himself. It is taken for granted that those who are not would naturally be _false to everybody_.

The reason for this lies in the fact that society will not proceed with any course of action without being able to trust its members. The general in charge of an army would have a hard time of it if he were unable to place faith in the subordinate to whom he gave instructions that might lead to a crisis in the battle. Society would dash itself upon the rocks were it not conscious that certain people are courageously honest, _and in these it finds its leaders_.

To rise in life means that our fellow man believes in us and wishes us to do so. Without his co-operation it would be futile to arouse our own ambitions. We could not hope to win a victory all alone and against the great majority who believe in certain standards and conditions. We might fool ourselves into thinking that because of some stroke of fortune we had established an immunity for ourselves. But some day _our consciences_ would tell us how feebly we had succeeded.