erything that
causes you pain, everything that is disagreeable, undesirable; all
unkind thoughts of anger, hatred, jealousy, all selfish, uncharitable
thoughts. Do not allow them to print their black hideous pictures upon
your mind. And when you have let go of all the rubbish and have swept
and dusted and garnished your mind, fill it full of the pleasantest,
sweetest, happiest, most helpful, encouraging, uplifting
thought-pictures possible.
An evening-happiness bath ought to be the custom in every home. A bath
of love and good-will toward every living creature is more important
than a water bath.
We should fall asleep in the most cheerful, the happiest possible frame
of mind. Our minds should be filled with lofty thoughts--with thoughts
of love and of helpfulness--thoughts which will continue to create that
which is helpful and uplifting, which will renew the soul and help us
to awake in the morning refreshed and in superb condition for the day's
work.
If you have any difficulty in banishing unpleasant or torturing
thoughts, force yourself to read some good, inspiring book--something
that will smooth out your wrinkles and put you in a happy mood;
something that will make you see the real grandeur and beauty of life;
something that will make you feel ashamed of petty meannesses and
narrow, uncharitable thoughts.
After a little practise, you will be surprised to see how quickly and
completely you can change your whole mental attitude so that you will
face life the right way before you fall asleep.
You will be surprised also to find how wonderfully serene, calm,
refreshed, and rejuvenated you will be when you wake in the morning,
and how much easier it will be to start right, and wear a smile that
won't come off during the day, than it was when you went to bed in an
ill-humored, worrying or ugly mood, or full of ungenerous, uncharitable
thoughts.
Unless you tune your mind to harmony for sleep, there will be a
constant strain upon the nervous system. Even if you do manage to go
to sleep with a troubled mind, the brain keeps on working and you will
wake up exhausted.
We should take special pains to erase the memory of all unfortunate
experiences of the day, all domestic business or professional troubles
and anxieties, in order to retire in a placid, peaceful, harmonious
state of mind; not only because of the necessity of rising refreshed
and invigorated in the morning, but because the character and the
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