The self-condemnatory brain-impression is quite as pernicious as its opposite.  Singularly enough, it goes with it.  One often finds inordinate self-esteem combined with the most abject condemnation of self.  One can be played against the other as a counter-irritant; but this only as a process of rousing, for the irritation of either brings equal misery.  I am not even sure that as a rousing process it is ever really useful.  To be clear of a mistaken brain-impression, a man must recognize it himself; and this recognition can never be brought about by an unasked attempt of help from another.  It is often cleared by help asked and given; and perhaps more often by help which is quite involuntary and unconscious.  One of the greatest points in friendly diplomacy is to be open and absolutely frank so far as we are asked, but never to go beyond.  At least, in the experience of many, that leads more surely to the point where no diplomacy is needed, which is certainly the point to be aimed at in friendship.  It is trying to see a friend living his own idea of himself, and to be obliged to wait until he has discovered that he is only playing a part.  But this very waiting may be of immense assistance in reducing our own moral attitudinizing.

How often do we hear others or find ourselves complaining of a fault over and over again!  “I know that is a fault of mine, and has been for years.  I wish I could get over it.”  “I know that is a fault of mine,”—­one brain-impression; “it has been for years,”—­a dozen or more brain-impressions, according to the number of years; until we have drilled the impression of that fault in, by emphasizing it over and over, to an extent which daily increases the difficulty of dropping it.

So, if we have the habit of unpunctuality, and emphasize it by deploring it, it keeps us always behind time.  If we are sharp-tongued, and dwell with remorse on something said in the past, it increases the tendency in the future.

The slavery to nerve habit is a well-known physiological fact; but nerve habit may be strengthened negatively as well as positively.  When this is more widely recognized, and the negative practice avoided, much will have been done towards freeing us from our subservience to mistaken brain-impressions.

Let us take an instance:  unpunctuality-for example, as that is a common form of repetition.  If we really want to rid ourselves of the habit, suppose every time we are late we cease to deplore it; make a vivid mental picture of ourselves as being on time at the next appointment; then, with the how and the when clearly impressed upon our minds, there should be an absolute refusal to imagine ourselves anything but early.  Surely that would be quite as effective as a constant repetition of the regret we feel at being late, whether this is repeated aloud to others, or only in our own minds.  As we place the two processes side by side, the latter certainly has the advantage, and might be tried, until a better is found.