Building Inner Strength and IntegrityUNCONSCIOUSLY we are forming habits every moment of our lives.Some are habits of a desirable nature; some are those of a most undesirablenature. Some, though not so bad in themselves, are exceedingly bad in theircumulative effects, and cause us at times much loss, much pain and anguish,while their opposites would, on the contrary, bring as much peace and joy, as wellas a continually increasing power.Have we it within our power to determine at all times what types of habitsshall take form in our lives? In other words, is habit-forming, character building,a matter of mere chance, or have we it within our own control? We have, entirelyand absolutely. "I will be what I will to be," can be said and should be said byevery human soul.After this has been bravely and determinedly said, and not only said, butfully inwardly realized, something yet remains. Something remains to be saidregarding the great law underlying habit-forming, character building; for there isa simple, natural, and thoroughly scientific method that all should know.A method whereby old, undesirable, earth-binding habits can be broken,and new, desirable, heaven lifting habits can be acquired, a method whereby lifein part or in its totality can be changed, provided one is sufficiently in earnest toknow and, knowing it, to apply the law.Thought is the force underlying all. And what do we mean by this? Simplythis: Your every act - every conscious act - is preceded by a thought. Yourdominating thoughts determine your dominating actions. In the realm of our ownminds we have absolute control, or we should have, and if at any time we havenot, then there is a method by which we can gain control, and in the realm of themind become thorough masters. In order to get to the very foundation of thematter, let us look to this for a moment. For if thought is always parent to ouracts, habits, character, life, then it is first necessary that we know fully how tocontrol our thoughts.- 4 -- 5 -Here let us refer to that law of the mind which is the same as is the law inConnection with the reflex nerve system of the body, the law which says thatwhenever one does a certain thing in a certain way it is easier to do the samething in the same way the next time, and still easier the next, and the next, andthe next, until in time it comes to pass that no effort is required, or no effortworth speaking of; but on the opposite would require the effort. The mind carrieswith it the power that perpetuates its own type of thought, the same as the bodycarries with it through the reflex nerve system the power which perpetuates andmakes continually easier its own particular acts. Thus a simple effort to controlone's thoughts, a simple setting about it, even if at first failure is the result, andeven if for a time failure seems to be about the only result, will in time, sooner orlater, bring him to the point of easy, full, and complete control.