Читать книгу The Pelman System of Mind and Memory Training - Lessons I to XII - Анон - Страница 51

9. Let us examine two instances:—

CASE No. 1. J. M.—an engineer. Has been abroad where he had a bad attack of fever. Suffers from weak concentration and poor memory. Is anxious to prosper but feels a want of enthusiasm, and his mental failings go against him.

Here the physical element is at fault—and the cause is a serious illness that depleted the nervous system. His mind is all right, in that he likes his profession, and he is ambitious; but mind depends upon body to a large extent, and until he can, by physical culture, attain a higher standard of health he will suffer a serious handicap. It is the same with every man who knowingly runs health risks and suffers accordingly. Weak or ailing bodies are seldom found in conjunction with minds characterised by great energy; and the only safe rule is this: to obtain mental efficiency begin with physical efficiency.

CASE No. 2. L. B. G.—a solicitor’s managing clerk. Healthy. Master of his work—even likes it to the extent of always doing his best for the firm. Keeps this ideal before him. Sometimes desires to become a Solicitor. Has once or twice begun to prepare for the Preliminary Exam. but gate up after a month’s work.

Here the mental element is defective. L.B.G. lacks will-power, and he lacks that because his ability to feel deeply—his emotive force—is faulty. He has interest in his work, the discharge of his duties being marked by a conscientiousness that appeals to all employers; but he is spasmodic in forming and acting on his desires; his mental energy is intermittent. Here the human power-house is quite adequate physically—not quite adequate mentally. The probable cause is two-fold: partly an inherited weakness, but more an induced habit of putting off—a failure to concentrate. Thus interest-power needs to be intensely strong to overcome a physical or mental hindrance or a combination of the two.