The happiest people
of all are those who can shift their interest rapidly from point to
point, and throw themselves into the act of the moment, whatever it
may be. Of course this is largely at first a matter of temperament,
but temperament is not unalterable; and self-discipline working
along the lines of habit has a great attractiveness, the moment we
feel that life is beginning to shape itself upon real lines.
XVI
FEAR OF LIFE
Let us divide our fears up into definite divisions, and see how it
is best to deal with them. Lowest and worst of all is the shapeless
and bodiless fear, which is a real disease of brain and nerves. I
know no more poignant description of this than in the strange book
Lavengro:
"'What ails you, my child,' said a mother to her son, as he lay on
a couch under the influence of the dreadful one; 'what ails you?
you seem afraid!'
"Boy. And so I am; a dreadful fear is upon me.
"Mother. But of what? there is no one can harm you; of what are you
apprehensive?
"Boy. Of nothing that I can express; I know not what I am afraid
of, but afraid I am.
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