Poise: How to Attain It

with the possession of poise while one is unabl

ed without bias and the proper measures

ry constrained and abortive movement, m

se, while they are really only deceiving themselves by the idea that they are giving a good illustration of it. They become the

aking the trouble to reflect. They always overshoot the mark, exposing themselves quite u

sh undertakings, retaining his powers for those that are like

sibility of success because one is di

n who obtains them does so only by virtue of the experience gained

ly a step along th

fore, the result of

the sole characteristic of those who were possest by this idea. The man who has had the wit to acquire poise will guard himself carefull

must be banished from the thou

rd ideal one understands

n to this word which has warp

k, an impossible dream indulged in only by po

minds allows them to indulge without shame

y take refuge and in whose shadow they conceal themselves, thinking

with the tinsel of fond illusion, under which

can carry in his heart, is something

is worldl

er renown

it is the end for

d cultivate and strive after n

ess is in no way affected by the lowlin

and exaggerated in the effort to dist

matter how humble, it is p

a dream. It is an aspiration toward something better th

pment of the ideal, which is increase

fortune. It might be supposed, therefore, that such people, once they

his idea is very

sed. The doing of good, charity, the desire to better the condition of those who st

te in every heart--and that the genius of the race has m

they see not only their immediate successors, but those who are to continue their race, which they wish to be a st

The thing to do is to multiply it, to make something more of it, and to take it

very victory and taking each defeat as a means for gaining experience

hance of learning the lesson of events, will be so thoroughly discouraged at the first check, that he will draw back fr

not outlast a few minute

from those vague dreams which are the sure indications of feebleness, reveries in wh

ind is to exaggerate one's disappointments

ble of the crumpled rose-leaf breaking the

mself on his wealth, nor upon the comforts he possesses and that he values so highly. He thinks of nothing but the

f the grain of sand in the working-parts of a machine, which prevents it from running. He is wise enough to be able to estimat

t of each one of them. If he thinks of the disadvantages at all, it will be merely

which, when practised in a rational manner, will do more

oneself thoroughly is a good way to improve oneself, and the knowledge that one is

preceding chapter, develops, in the man who submits himself to it, faculties of judgment so

tion is that it gives to the subject one is anxiou

emotions are aroused, and the nerves become active factors in dist

nish the subject which is causing us too profound emotion by the simple process

assed, one can return to the former train of tho

mastery of one's thoughts, the parent of poise, which

n may lead to the inroad of a horde of secondary ideas, which press one upon the other wi

se. They lead one nowhere, and create in us habits

moment one becomes conscious of them, and to banish the chaos of scattered fancies by devoting one's whole mind

are likely to be made to what they may say. The mere fact that they have already form

d by a contradiction that may put them at a los

to speak and then ask themselves if, under these circumstances, the

st be with this fact in their minds that they devote themselves to the better preparation of their arguments or,

e may the better perceive their logic, and also to allow of our repeating them a

the morrow, just as perfectly as we have exprest it to-day, a stateme

ffairs should be sought aft

n of his exaggerated ideas and his false concept

o become accustomed to

hould seize every occasion to

, which, in forcing him to break down his reserve, will make it ne

real and honest activity

will leave him to his peaceful retirement and the other will

t which will compel him to

y should be rigidly represt. They are always harmful to one's equ

r forget the we

ver, but silen

ces, is the indisputable proof of t

lection has enabled us to discipline our too-violent emotions, is a qualit

xpend themselves in angry denunciations that use up

o allow it to be known at what point he has

is ready to speak, it is to utter some firm decisio

eir antagonisms, who, under the sting of a hurt to their va

ightened by the sense of their own inferior

ovoke perhaps a little pit

ng most deadly weapons, but which are constructed of such fragile

in the face of insult and provocation is f

f mechanical calm which produces decis

eir coldness and by their tone of finality. His words are always followed by deeds, and are the more

who possess poise, one of various methods of

poise, which, judiciously employed, unite in giving them an inc

. Moody people are nearly always those who are convinced of their own lack of ability

ke no bones about admittin

r difficult conditions in which

that one day a party of men agreed to undertake a journey,

start, but only a few days had passed wh

ho were encumbered with a load of useless scrupl

ken at the difficulties they encountered in b

l to the rear, from fear of attracting too muc

es along the road, and ate all their store of provisions for the jour

biting a temporary enthusiasm, gave out at

those who walked at the head of the column, kept leading th

reduced in numbers by t

men, after many weary days and nights, reac

tery needed to vanquish and overcome the perils of the way; those who, by their cool and courageous bearing, had been able to

ities of poise worked together for th

t be confounded either with

manifestation of co

enterprises, of which all the risks, howeve

he has determined to perform. He accepts them bravely. He has foreseen th

poise gives them the power of estimating

e their bearing, and to admit the dangers to which they may give rise. Thus they

in order not to see the obstacles that their own la

ress our hatred of the envious, who are always incapable; distrust the slothful; and arm ourselves with a justifiable pride, which, by imparting to us a s

arts a temple to reason, the author of that q

ed the conquest of poise. It is the one pa

hat is productive of good resolutions, enables him to employ in

l-known, many ways o

ordance with the angle at which we examin

gs, and only wants to see them, fr

all their contours

contrary, carefully c

onal thinking comes a true vision of both th

deductive processes, that, in strengthening

ing of the most splendid re

lessly in bypaths instead of

t only toward others, but still more toward ourselves, sinc

untry of fear to reach the goal of reserve, and follows it to the extreme

us to communicate to others t

ir doctrines and impose them upon others by the sheer strength of their atti

s hearers who is not himself persuaded of

people who give their advice in the

hey rarely ever taste of success and usuall

not simply because of its maliciousness, but because envy seems to them to

of others is to bring them down into their own plane and s

f those who are wanting in poise, they can not help feeling a sentiment of

rs by a determination to imitate it, they take the simpler course of e

hat he is a person entirely deficient in those qualities which could attract what he calls luck, but

e it permits the head of a family, who is possest of it to establish abo

ledge how courage communicate

ithout hesitation if he finds himself supported by some one who

ousehold, that the head of a family should be possest of poise, which will awaken in the

is that every head of a family

happen that circumstances, by proving his predictions untrue, woul

ho pride themselves on their infallibility, as we

e than careful not to pose as a p

nfidence suited to the development and the strengthening

the blind faith shown by some

ill never arouse a f

be mingled with it a modicum of indulgent pity, caused by their distrust, if the

to be one that may support and assist their weakness. Their affection for their parents will be in no way

idity occasions can result

n his natural protectors, there is always the risk of his following a metho

mercies of a teacher whose views of life, albeit perfectl

ing astray of their child, would do better to question themselves and to ask their own hearts w

s plant attaches itself to none but the most solid trunks, disdaining the Weaker saplings that will bend beneath its

trength of its trunk as an aid to weakness, covering with the shadow of its branches the

t it presents with pride to the fury of the eleme

us, often quite unconsciously, but always with sufficient force to make it certain

owledgment of weakness that very young children are incapable of ma

time in his life the joy of finding counsel, moral support, or protectio

se are able to draw to themselves sympathies and

est gesture a fittingness that constitutes a special grace, that on

e termed d

insignificant or imposing, sickly or radiating heal

is the paren

ater part of their adversaries, who lay down t

both those who are deprived of it

influencing others in the dir

e here that there must be no harmful in

s proper force when it is the outcome of the qualitie

effrontery, is like those mirages of the d

forward the picture fades away little by little and he perceives that he has been the victim of an empty dream

ith the dissipation of the mirage, comes the contempt of the person who has thus made them take him seriously. They do not find

alities inherent in poise, are sure of being able to preserve it untarnished, becaus

a moment, it is never because o

nergy will cause them to face the battle anew, armed by the very defe

, while the recollection of past reverses makes them more wary and m

that revenge from fate which will ren

e of all. Their existence is held to be a vital thing by all

ing so, and those who are afraid of failure are always anxious to have

that when its mother remains beside it and holds it up by th

vercome by the fear caused by the withdrawal of her protection, which

they are also esteemed and valued by those who possess qualities similar to t

ne should attack them, they will meet it so bravely and will combat it with weapons of such unusual temper that it will hasten to beat a retreat in