speech, to say "No" to
anything; in short, to keep up to the mark or make any kind of effort
that _you_ WILL _do it_--as calmly and unthinkingly as may be. Do not
desire to do it sternly or forcibly, or in spite of obstacles--but
simply and coolly make up your mind to _do it_--and it will much more
likely be done. And it is absolutely true--_crede experto_--that if
persevered in, this willing yourself to will by easy impulse unto
impulse given, will lead to marvelous and most satisfactory results.

There is one thing of which the young or oversanguine or heedless
should be warned. Do not expect from self-suggestion, nor anything
else in this life, prompt perfection, or the _maximum_ of success. You
may pre-determine to be cheerful, but if you are very susceptible to
bad weather, and the day should be dismal, or you should hear of the
death of a friend, or a great disaster of any kind, some depression of
spirits _must_ ensue. On the other hand, note well that forming habit
by frequent repetition of willing yourself to equanimity and
cheerfulness, and also to the banishing of repulsive images when they
come, will infallibly result in a very much happier state of mind. As
soon as you actually begin to realize that you are acquiring such
control remember that is the golden hour--and redouble your efforts.
_Perseverando vinces_.

I have, I trust, thus far in a few words explained to the reader the
rationale of a system of mental discipline based on the will, and how
by a very easy process the latter may, like Attention and Interest, be
gradually awakened. As I have before declared, everyone would like to
have a strong or vigorous will, and there is a library of books or
sermons in some form, exhorting the weak to awaken and fortify their
wills or characters, but all represent it as a hard and vigorous
process, akin to "storm and stress," battle and victory, and none
really tell us how to go about it. I have indeed only indicated that
it is by self-suggestion that the first steps are taken. Let us now
consider the early beginning of the art or science ere discussing
further developments.

CHAPTER III.

WILL DEVELOPMENT.

"Ce domaine de la Suggestion est immense. Il n'y a pas un
seul fait de notre vie mentale qui ne puisse etre reproduit et
exagere artificiellement par ce moyen."--_Binet et Frere, Le
Magnetisme Animal_.

Omitting the many vague indications in earlier writers, as well as
those drawn