ere is often a sense of
relief, but more often a reaction which is most unpleasant, and is
greatly increased by the pain given to others. The relief is certain if
we "relax;" and not only is there then no painful reaction, but we gain
a clear head to recognize the justice or injustice of our indignation,
and to see what can be done about its cause.

Petty irritability can be met in the same way. As with nervous pain it
seems at first impossible to "relax to it;" but the Rubicon once
crossed, we cannot long be irritable,--it is so much simpler not to be,
and so much more comfortable.

If when we are tempted to fly into a rage or to snap irritably at
others we could go through a short process of relaxing motions, the
effect would be delightful. But that would be ridiculous; and we must
do our relaxing in the privacy of the closet and recall it when needed
outside, that we may relax without observation except in its happy
results. I know people will say that anything to divert the mind will
cure a high temper or irritability. That is only so to a limited
extent; and so far as it is so, simply proves the best process of
control. Diversion relieves the nervous excitement, turning the
attention in another direction,--and so is relaxing so far as it goes.

Much quicker and easier than self-control is the control which allows
us to meet the irritability of others without echoing it. The
temptation to echo a bad temper or an irritable disposition in others,
we all know; but the relief which comes to ourselves and to the
sufferer as we quietly relax and refuse to reflect it, is a sensation
that many of us have yet to experience. One keeps a clear head in that
way, not to mention a charitable heart; saves any quantity of nervous
strain, and keeps off just so much tendency to nervous prostration.

Practically the way is opened to this better control through a physical
training which gives us the power of relaxing at will, and so of
maintaining a natural, wholesome equilibrium of nerves and muscles.

Personal sensitiveness is, to a great degree, a form of nervous
tension. An individual case of the relief of this sensitiveness,
although laughable in the means of cure, is so perfectly illustrative
of it that it is worth telling. A lady who suffered very much from
having her feelings hurt came to me for advice. I told her whenever
anything was said to wound her, at once to imagine her legs
heavy,--that relaxed her muscles, freed h