Laugh and Live | Page 9

go to waste.
Energy is like steam--it cannot be generated under the boiling point. In
other words, _half-heartedness_ never produced it nor made it a
practical working tool. We must be energetic in order to augment
energy. We must have confidence along with it ... the more the merrier.
The greater the confidence in ourselves the greater the energy which

brought it about. Some minds naturally feel confident. These are the
lucky ones, the slender few who have grasped life's meaning at the start
by "_taking stock_" before they were threatened with defeat. Success
comes to them as easily as rolling off the proverbial log. They come
sweeping along, conquering, sure of themselves, confident, aspiring,
true to their inner selves, ready for work, unafraid of experiences, and
sure of a smile when the clouds are darkest.
This does not mean that these successes have exceptional ability. If that
were the case we would not waste time either in reading or writing
about the matter. If we didn't feel that we were potentially able to
become successes and possessed the elements of victory in our present
make-up not another moment would be spent on the subject. The very
simplicity of this use of energy proves to us that it is a quality bubbling
forth in the least of us and the strongest. It only needs to be put to work
and it becomes self-strengthening. _Living in the open air, sleeping out
of doors, taking the proper exercise, looking wholesomely upon life,
believing in ourselves_, are all parts of the sane existence which leads
to success and laughter.
We ought to feel that everything in life possesses elements akin to
human feeling. We should not arrogate to ourselves the sole right to
rule and reason. And what has this to do with energy? It is only one of
the many vistas that open to us when we learn how to laugh and live.
And man alive! _If we never learn to laugh we will never learn to live._
We must not forget that there can be more than one use made of energy.
In the same way that electricity might be misused so might energy be
placed in the wrong service. We must not waste any time, therefore, in
getting this energy of ours worked into enthusiasm ... enthusiasm for
our life work, for our fellow man, for the zest of life. We must throw
ourselves into the battle and carry the standard. We must leap to the
front, not waiting for the other fellow to show the way. Spend your
enthusiasm freely and be surprised at how it thrives on usage.
Enthusiasm being produced by energy must of a necessity depend
largely upon that. Now the point is, how shall we guard and keep fresh
this element in ourselves? We know that the body is producing this

quality. Like the steam engine we are keeping the fires going by
exercise, wholesome thinking and sincerity of purpose. We are the
engineers. Our hand is on the throttle. Sharp turns lie ahead but our
eyes look forward fearlessly. We glance about us to see that we are in
the pink of condition. We know that our mind is functioning properly
and that the awakened confidence is already inherent in our natures and
stands beside us night and day like the officer upon the bridge of the
ship. _Indeed we are on our way!_
[Illustration: _A Little Spin Among the Saplings_]
Out of energy and enthusiasm comes something else that must not be
neglected ... in fact it must be cultivated and guarded from the very
beginning ... laughter. The mere possession of energy and enthusiasm
makes us feel like laughing. We want to leap and jump and dance and
sing. If we feel like that don't let us be afraid to do it. _Get out in the air
and run like a school boy. Jump ditches, vault fences, swing the arms!_
Never fail to get next to nature when responsive to the call. Indeed we
may woo this call from within ourselves until it comes to be second
nature. And when we rise in the morning let us be determined that we
will start the day with a hearty laugh anyhow. Laugh because you are
alive, laugh with everything. _Let yourself go._ That is the secret--the
ability to let one's self go!
If we follow this religiously we will be surprised how successful the
day will be. Everything gives way before it.
CHAPTER VI
BUILDING UP A PERSONALITY
More and more personality is coming into its own as man's greatest
asset. There was never a day when it was not, but in former years this
essential quality was not listed under the name ... personality. Had we
lived in the days of our fathers' youth