How To Enhance Your Life - Dean Amory

Energy and Courage
Energy enables a man to force his way through irksome drudgery and dry details, and carries him
onward and upward in every station in life. It accomplishes more than genius. Energy of will may
be defined to be the very central power of character in a man - in a word, it is the Man himself.
True hope is based on it - and it is hope that gives the real perfume to life. No blessing is equal to
the possession of a stout heart Charles IX, of Sweden, was a firm believer in the power of will,
even in a youth. Laying his hand on the head of his youngest son, when engaged upon a difficult
task, he exclaimed. "He shall do it! he shall do it!"
Nothing that is of real word can be achieved without courageous working. The timid and hesitating
find everything impossible, chiefly because it seems so. The Scriptural injunction, "Whatsoever
thy hand findeth to do, do it with all thy might", must be realized if you wish to succeed. It is
pluck, tenacity, and determined perseverance which wins soldiers' battles, and, indeed, every
battle. It is the one neck nearer that wins the race and shows the blood; it is the one march more
that wins the campaign; the five minutes' more persistent courage that wins the fight. Though your
force be less than another's, you equal and out-master your opponent if you continue it longer and
concentrate it more. The reply of the Spartan father, who said to his son, when complaining that
his sword was too short, "Add a step to it," is applicable to everything in life.
The Strength Of Silence
There is a mighty power in silence, and silence is frequently an evidence of power. There are many
people so weak that they can not hold their tongues, or keep their mouths shut. One who offends
not in word is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body. He who can control his tongue, can
control his entire nature. Hence silence is a token of power, of reserved force. He who knows how
to keep silence knows how to speak; and often his silence is more impressive than his speech.
"Brilliant flashes of silence" is by no means a senseless expression. How often have we seen the
babble of the foolish hushed by the silent glance of an earnest soul; how often the ribald jest or
scurrilous word has died upon the lips when an indignant silence was the only reply it could evoke.
That man or that woman who can stand silent amid reproaches and accusations and sneers and
scons, shows a degree of strength and power which falls not to the lot of every one. The silent
accomplish more than the noisy. The tail of the rattlesnake makes all the noise, but the head does
all the execution.
Idleness Not Happiness
The most common error is that of looking for happiness somewhere outside of useful work. It has
never yet been found when thus sought, and never will be while the world stands; and the sooner
this truth is learned the better for everyone. If you doubt the proposition, glance around among
your friends and acquaintances, and select those who appear to have the most enjoyment in life.
Are they the idlers and pleasure-seekers, or the earnest workers? We know what your answer will
be. Of all the miserable human beings it has been our fortune or misfortune to know, they were the
most wretched who had retired from useful employment to enjoy themselves; while the slave at his
enforced labour, or the hungry toiler for bread, were supremely happy in comparison.
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