Before we can carry any plan to a successful issue, we must concentrate our thoughts and energies upon it. We must picture out the result we want to obtain and then aim to reach it. That you may cultivate the mental attitude necessary to create health and longevity, you must be able to concentrate your attention and thoughts on your desire. To concentrate means to center your mental force on a specific thought, desire, action or undertaking and hold it there for a certain length of time, to the exclusion of all other thoughts. During the period of concentration, the brain, instead of being disturbed and distracted by crowds of undesirable thoughts, is brought to a concentrated focus where it sees and hears only the dictates of its master - the mind. During concentration, thought is given full power to construct that which the mind is focused on.

You may study all of the rules given in these lessons for renewing and prolonging life, yet they will be of no value to you if you do not concentrate your brain upon them and carry the theory into actual practice. Reading of what can be and has been done will not help you if you do not make use of the knowledge and apply it to your own case. The genius of the inventor, the skill of the musician and the subtle art of the writer and orator are all the reward of concentration. I say to you apply yourself. Test all things and hold firmly to that which you find of value to you. On it concentrate your best efforts. Don't try to accomplish wonders at first, but rather try to do what you do better than it has ever been done before, and some day you will see that you have done wonderful things. Perfection in small things makes the perfect whole. Don't waste your time and force; have an aim in life and improve every moment of the day. The amount of force which the average person wastes in aimless ef fort would, if directed and focused upon a special object, bring wonderful results. Whatever your ambition may be, you will find that concentration is the key-note to its attainment.

While studying these lessons, if you concentrate your entire attention upon them, you will learn the full meaning of every word and sentence. Some people are spoken of as being able to read between the lines of a letter or a book. The fact is that the reader, through his ability to concentrate, is able to attract to him the thoughts which the writer had been unable to express on paper. These additional thoughts make it possible for him to learn the whole truth. You can soon grasp the essence of this vital knowledge if you will concentrate.

In these days of amateur photography, nearly everyone has looked through the focusing screen of a camera and has learned that when the scene is incorrectly focused, the impression is indistinct and blurred, and that when the correct focus is obtained, the picture stands out clear and distinct. This illustrates the use of concentration, for the brain receives impressions and pictures much the same as a camera. The person who does not concentrate or focus his attention per ceives an idea in a vague, indistinct way, while the person who has learned to use his concentrative ability, sees the idea clearly and retains for future use a mental picture or impression of it.

If you are lacking in concentrative ability, you may by means of the following exercises so develop your power that you can concentrate for almost any length of time. As you learn to concentrate, your memory will improve, those hazy, indistinct impressions will give way to clear pictures and life will take on a new beauty to you.

I have prepared these exercises so as to accomplish two purposes at once. To teach you to concentrate, and, at the same time, to utilize the same force to renew your body. If you lack concentration power you are to practice the following exercises each day on rising in the morning and before retiring at night.

Exercise No. 1 - How to Focus Your Thoughts

See that the room is thoroughly ventilated and then sit in a comfortable chair, keeping the spine straight and the chin elevated, so that breathing is full and normal. Close your eyes and concentrate your thought on the following statement:

"The Source of Perfect Youth is Within Me." Repeat it over mentally and try to completely absorb the full meaning of the sentence. Do not allow other thoughts to enter your brain and disturb you. Continue this exercise for ten minutes. At first you will probably find it difficult to hold the one thought to the exclusion of all others, but, with each repetition of the exercise, you will find it easier and easier. In a short time, you will experience no difficulty whatever. In fact, you will form a habit of focusing your thoughts on other subjects of importance.

Exercise No. 2 - How to Focus Your Thoughts

Take position as for previous exercise, breathing deeply and regularly. Close the eyes and build up a mental picture or image of yourself as in possession of youth, health and beauty. Dwell upon this image in detail, going over all its parts, and build up the face and form to correspond with your ideal of perfect beauty. Create in your brain a picture of your face and form idealized, the form representing perfect symmetry, the muscles superbly developed, the contour of your face perfect and beautiful, your entire expression that of youth and vigor. Hold this ideal firmly in your brain, no matter what your present personal appearance may indicate. Do not permit other thought images to enter your brain. Do not become discouraged and give up if you at first find it difficult to create this mental image. The more difficult you find it, the more you are in need of this kind of exercise. Persevere and you will succeed. Perseverance of itself implies the power to rise. As you hold this mental picture before you affirm your power to make yourself the personification of your ideal, by the use of constructive thought and hygienic living.

In case your body has already commenced to exhibit the signs of advancing age, you will find the following exercise a valuable aid in developing concentrative ability as well as a power in regaining youth and energy.

Exercise No. 3 - How to Focus Your Thoughts

Take position as in previous exercise. Commence by forming a mental image of yourself as you appear today. Supposing for instance your present legal age is seventy. After you have held this image for a few moments form another image of yourself representing the age of fifty in which you look much younger and stronger. Hold this for a minute or so and then form another image of yourself still younger. Continue this series of images, each growing younger than the previous one, until you find yourself back to the age of 25 or 30. When you have reached this point focus your thoughts on the ideal of youth and beauty as described in the second exercise. Concentrate steadily on this last image for at least five minutes, or, as much longer as you find it interesting and helpful. During these exercises try to fully realize the wonderful change from age to youth that is taking place as a fact in your own body. Look in the mirror and note each day the new changes and improvements. It will not be long before your friends will begin to comment on your improved appearance. Don't under-estimate your power. Remember you are the master of your physical body, that it is your servant, and refuse to allow it to rule you.

The continued practice of these exercises will so imbue your brain with the conception of youth that the vital forces will respond and manifest this ideal. It was explained in the last lesson that constructive thought is the architect of the body, and also that we are constantly taking on a new body through the change of its component particles. The reason I have instructed you to concentrate on beautiful and youthful ideals is because all ideals are quickly incorporated in the mental plan of the body, and, therefore, become important factors in the shaping and rebuilding of the physical temple. If we possessed the same body year after year, it would be impossible for us to make any changes or improvements in it; but, as it is constantly changing, it is within our power to rebuild it according to the plans we consider ideal and desirable and to omit all features that are crude or imperfect.