The Freedom of Life A Simple Guide to Personal Freedom
"We all came into the world alone, and we must go out of the world alone, and yet we are exquisitely and beautifully dependent upon one another..." "Miss Call's first book, 'Power Through Repose,' brought rest and strength to thousands of nervously exhausted men and women. In her new book, the gospel of orderly living is preached with equal success." -The Dial "A remedy for distressing waste of nervous force which attends our daily lives. She shows how we may be spared the pain and annoyance of doing right in the wrong way." -The Interior CONTENTS INTRODUCTION THE FREEDOM OF LIFE HOW TO SLEEP RESTFULLY RESISTANCE HURRY, WORRY, AND IRRITABILITY NERVOUS FEARS SELF-CONSCIOUSNESS LIFE OTHER PEOPLE HUMAN SYMPATHY PERSONAL INDEPENDENCE SELF-CONTROL THE RELIGION OF IT ABOUT CHRISTMAS TO MOTHERS "Interior freedom rests upon the principle of non-resistance to all the things which seem evil or painful to our natural love of self. But non-resistance alone can accomplish nothing good unless, behind it, there is a strong love for righteousness and truth. By refusing to resist the ill will of others, or the stress of circumstances, for the sake of greater usefulness and a clearer point of view, we deepen our conviction of righteousness as the fundamental law of fife, and broaden our horizon so as to appreciate varying and opposite points of view. The only non-resistance that brings this power is the kind which yields mere personal and selfish considerations for the sake of principles. Selfish and weak yielding must always do harm. Unselfish yielding, on the other hand, strengthens the will and increases strength of purpose as the petty obstacles of mere self-love are removed. Concentration alone cannot long remain wholesome, for it needs the light of growing self-knowledge to prevent its becoming self-centred. Yielding alone is of no avail, for in itself it has no constructive power. But if we try to look at ourselves as we really are, we shall find great strength in yielding where only our small and private interests are concerned, and concentrating upon living the broad principles of righteousness which must directly or indirectly affect all those with whom we come into contact."