CHAPTER I
PERSONAL AIDS TO SUCCESS In the foregoing lecture, Book 1 of 3, methods were given for building a winning personality. In Book 2 of 3 and the following chapters, we shall consider briefly some personal aids to success, the choice of pursuits, business, advertising, sales, the professions, getting and keeping a position, and how to employ one’s talents to the best advantage. It will be necessary to confine ourselves for the most part to general rules which, to make practical, must be modified and adapted to the requirements of the individual. Secret: Modified=Learn, Adapted=Apply, General Rules=Teach, Learn, Apply, and Teach (LAT). The secret continues, keep reading! Physical Culture As the first aid to success, we will consider briefly the subjects of physical culture, health, and hygiene. No one can do their best without a strong, healthy body. A few minutes devoted to physical culture each day will greatly increase the vitality and the working power of the average business and professional. No set of rules of hygiene and physical culture will meet the requirements of everyone, any more than a certain cut of clothing will fit everybody. The following exercises, if practiced daily, will be found helpful: Secret: Physical culture, health, and hygiene. Mix these items with a winning personality and you will have success written all over you! Our temples (bodies) must represent the best we are able to give. General Exercises No apparatus is needed. Time required, 10 to 20 minutes. Repeat each exercise 5 to 15 times before proceeding to the next. Throw all your mind and strength into the muscles in action, keeping them taut and rigid; make them vibrate. Do not strain. Finish by relaxing all parts. 1. Stand erect, heels together, toes at right angles, knees apart, thighs rigid, and arms extended (fingers and arms rigid), bring hands around front to point of meeting, and throw back as far as possible, repeat rapidly. (b) Flex arms up to shoulders. (c) Raise arms above head as high as possible. 2. Stand as in No. 1, bring shoulders forward, empty lungs, lift shoulders, and roll them up and back as far as possible, at the same time filling lungs to greatest capacity, inhaling through nose. Repeat slowly. 3. Kneel 5 to 10 times on each knee, raising weight of body on opposite leg. 4. Lie on back, arms folded; keeping legs straight, raise them up slowly to right angle with body. (b) Rest heels on floor, raise body to sitting position. 5. Lie face down, resting weight on hands and toes, raise body by straightening the arms, and keep the back stiff. 6. Sit on floor, legs straight, reach forward, clasp hands around right foot, pull with arms, resist with leg, draw foot up against body; straighten leg resisting with arms; repeat with left leg. 7. Place ends of thumbs and fingers together back of head, push hard so as to make hands and arms rigid, bend forward keeping legs straight, bring hands over, and touch the floor with fingers; exhale in going down, inhale to fullest capacity in rising. 8. Stand erect, contract and expand diaphragm and abdomen so as to churn stomach. (b) Swing body over and around, reaching down so as to strike each heel with the opposite hand. 9. Stand on toes, crouch down so as to sit on heels, place hands on hips, push down hard, same time raise body slowly to standing position, then reach up as high as possible on tiptoe. 10. With hands push, pull, and twist the head in all directions several times, resisting with the muscles of the neck. Secret: Walking is the best exercise! If you cannot walk or you are in an unsafe area, then follow the guidelines above as an acceptable alternative to walking. Do NOT walk until it hurts, only do what feels natural. The idea is to get the circulation flowing (without causing pain) through all areas of your body that require it. As your stamina increases, you will automatically exert yourself a little more each time. Our ancestors walked, ran, climbed, jumped and rested. It is in us to do the same, but, not to the extent of pain. Have fun and know that the health benefits of walking alone will extend your natural life. Rules of Health and Hygiene 1. “Keep thyself pure” – in body and mind – “Thy body is the temple of the living God. 2. Do not make a glutton of yourself. Do not live to eat, but eat to live. Use no more food than is necessary to nourish the body. Subsist upon well matured, wholesomely cooked cereals, meats, nuts, vegetables, and fruits. Use very little pastry, sweets, preserves, condiments, pickles, cheese, sausage, pork, liver, lard, unripe fruits, or vegetables. Eat slowly and chew thoroughly. 3. Do not use narcotics, alcoholic liquors, fermented wine, ale, beer, opium, morphine, or tobacco in any form. 4. Limit use of strong tea or coffee, or impure water – internally or externally. Drink copiously of pure water, not too much near meal time. Bathe frequently and keep clean. 5. Do not breathe impure air, neither work nor sleep in an unventilated room, nor where the sun never shines. 6. Do not neglect any of the requirements of the body. Be regular in all habits. Keep the feet warm, the head cool, the lungs full, and the spine straight, and avoid draughts, hot rooms, poisonous dusts, and gases. 7. Do not violate the law of chastity – whether married or single – nor dissipate the vital forces by any form of intemperance. 8. Do not wear more clothing than is necessary. Dress all parts evenly and loosely. Suspend all garments from the shoulders. 9. ………………………………
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