A practicable mechanism of self-control.

Let us, then, outline briefly the chief points necessary to note in using this force for our own benefit.  A necessary preliminary is to study our problems, analyze our difficulties, make sure exactly what we want to do and wherein we fail; and thereby to pin our aspirations down to definite resolves to act in certain ways rather than in certain other ways.  Our ideals are apt to be vague and even conflicting, or else so abstract and general as to fail to direct us with precision to any concrete act.  We realize dumbly that we are not what we should be, and we grope for better things; but just wherein the difference consists, just where is the point where we go off the track, is uncertain in our minds.  As in physical achievement, half the success lies in applying the effort at just the right place.  The men who have accomplished much are those who have known exactly what they wanted to do and have concentrated their energies upon that.  If we have so much self-reformation to accomplish as to dissipate our attention, it may be wise to decide which changes are most immediately important and to limit our endeavors at first to those.

Included in this preliminary task is the fixation in our minds of the reasons for the lines of conduct we intend to follow, all the motives that draw us toward them.  This will show us whether we, i.e., our better selves, really wish to acquire these new habits, are really convinced that they are right, or whether we are merely putting before ourselves some one else’s ideal which we vaguely feel we ought or are expected to follow.  One can often convince one’s self quite thoroughly of ideas one did not really believe in by this method of suggestion; but if we are to control our own morals we wish to control them not by some one else’s ideals but by our own.  If a thing is really right to do there must be definite and legitimate reasons for the doing which can appeal to our intelligence and our emotions; these we should bring into the foreground of our thought and express as clearly and forcibly as possible.

We have now the material for our work.  We must so hammer these resolutions and the motives to them into our heads that they will be vividly conscious to us when they are needed.  In this process there are three main points to be remembered — Concentration, Iteration, and Assertion.

(1) Concentration.  The more completely the mind can be concentrated upon the resolution and its motives the deeper will they penetrate into it, to lie there ready for use at the moment of action.  A definite time should be set apart when the mind can be withdrawn from other thoughts and compelled to give all its attention to this matter.  On first waking, or just before going to sleep.  If one is not too tired-one can usually best get away from the distracting details of life.  The resolutions should be written down, with the most important words or phrases underlined,