Concentration - How To Acquire It

( Originally Published 1885 )

YOU have shown by your questions that you appreciate the value and the necessity of the power of concentration of the mind, but some of you fail to see how it can be secured. We shall have time for but a few of the questions this morning.

Question I. —" Can the power to concentrate the mind upon one subject be cultivated to any great extent? Do not different persons differ radically by nature in respect to this power ? "

Question II. —"How can the power to think upon one subject, to the exclusion of irrelevant thoughts, be acquired? Is not this power of slow growth ? "

Question III. —"DEAR TEACHER : I liked your remarks this morning about the power of applying our minds to whatever we want to, but I for one cannot do it. I have tried again and again. It seems to me we are subject to fits and moods, and when we can we can, and when we can't we can't, and there is the end of it. At any rate, that is my case.

"Now, last Saturday, I wrote my essay nearly all at one sitting, but I could not do it again. I had been at work on it for many days and had accomplished but little. Saturday I was going away with Cyrus, and, just as I was ready to start, he came over to say that his brother had come, and therefore he could not go. So, having nothing else to do, I sat down to try my essay. The thoughts came faster than I could write them down, and in an hour or two I had it nearly finished. True, I had to prune and trim it afterwards, and, of course, I am not vain enough to suppose that the thoughts after all were worth anything. The paper had no particular merit, but it was good for me. It was better than I had thought I could do ; better than I could have done by any ordinary process. Now, is not the mind subject to fits and moods? and when the mood is on we can succeed, but if it is not on we work in vain. THOMAS."

These three questions represent nearly all I have received. If I can answer them satisfactorily, I am sure you will find the time well spent.

Let us take the third first. Yes, the mind is subject to fits and moods ; but we can cultivate the moods. We can train the mind to work or not to work. The thing for us to do is so to train and school and discipline the mind that it will do our bidding. In other words, that the will shall govern and control all the powers. You will observe that when Saturday had come the burden of the week's lessons was off. Thomas's mind was free and elastic ; then, when Cyrus could not go, nothing was left for Thomas to think about but that essay. The circumstances were favorable to the entire concentration of the mind's powers. The case illustrates, at least, that when the mind is thus concentrated it acts with far greater power and success than otherwise. The question that concerns us especially is how to secure this power, how to cultivate the habit.

1. In the first place, you must exercise the full power of the will. By this I mean that you must be determined to bring it to pass. A student who cares but little whether he succeeds or not, will not succeed. It is the determination, the absolute will-force, that finds a way or makes a way.

You will be surprised, by a little practice, to see to what an extent this power may be increased. Try it, and see for yourselves.

2. In the next place you must be methodical. Every lesson should have its own time. If you try to learn your algebra or your Greek to-day at nine o'clock, and tomorrow at twelve, and the next day at three, and so on, you will be lifting on the short arm of the lever. The power, then, must be greater than the weight, and, in this case, it never is so ; consequently, the lesson is not learned. Have a set time every day for the same lesson, and adhere to it. Then again, if possible, have the same place in which to study, the same chair to sit in, and the same desk, in the same corner, and get your lesson from the same book.

3. Learn by trial what circumstances are favorable and what unfavorable, and, turning aside from the less favorable, put yourself, so far as practicable, under the influence of the most promising conditions. For example, some will study better sitting, others standing ; some in the morning or in the evening ; some alone, others, possibly, in company ; some long before the lesson is to be recited, others immediately before the recitation ; some can learn faster by studying aloud, others in the most perfect silence ; some can learn mathematics best in the morning, others in the evening ; some take their memory studies early in the day, some later. Now, whatever moods you can find yourself subject to, cultivate all favorable circumstances.

4. Then, if you are committing to memory, much aid is found in writing out the points to be remembered. The use of the pen or pencil is essential in fixing thoughts in the mind.

5. Learn effectually, I pray you, the secret of self-dependence. Do not lean upon any one. Stand erect by your own power. Whatever lesson you have to learn, rely upon yourself, and do not seek the aid of your sisters or aunts.

The true office of education is to discipline and develop the powers of the mind. It is to give power, not to learn facts ; and he who has learned how to get a lesson in an hour that previously had taken two hours has made no small acquisition.

One of the greatest benefits to be derived from a course of school training is in acquiring the power to bring things to pass; to secure the habit of accomplishing your under-takings. He can because he thinks he can, feels sure he can, has learned to trust in himself, believe in himself, rely upon himself, is the true translation of "Possunt, quia posse videntur."

It is related of two monks that one of them expressed to the other his regrets that he could not say his prayers without his thoughts wandering to other topics. His brother thought that was unnecessary. He was not troubled in that way.

" Aren't you ? " said the other. " Well, if you will recite the Pater Noster without harboring any thought but that expressed by the words of the prayer, I will give you my horse."

"Agreed," said his brother ; and, sinking on his knees, he began : "'Paler noster, quid es in coelis, sanctificetur nomen tuum.' I wonder if he will give me the saddle," thought the monk.

"Ah, brother, I was mistaken ; I trusted unwisely in my own powers. I cannot do it."

Nevertheless, the lesson was not lost upon him, but applying himself to the task, he soon acquired such a power of concentration as to become an earnest, devout monk, and finally a great scholar with a world-wide reputation. Promptness, punctuality, de-termination, and correct habits of study and work will give you the victory.