Let us now consider the various forms of applica-tion of suggestion in everyday life. They are several and for convenience I separate them into three forms, or groups, i. e., (1) Involuntary Suggestion; (2) Voluntary Suggestion; and (3) Auto-Suggestion. Let us now consider the first form:

Involuntary Suggestion

By this term I mean the use of suggestion involuntarily; without a particular purpose; or unconsciously. We are giving suggestions of words, manner, action, etc., every moment of our lives. And these suggestions are constantly being accepted by those around us. We are constantly influencing those with whom we come in contact, the greater part of the work being performed unconsciously by us. We are acting as living inspiration for some, and living discouragement for others, according to circumstances. Our moods, actions, words, appearance, manners, etc., act as suggestions to those around us. I am not now speaking of the effect of mentative currents, etc, but of mental suggestion, pure and simple.

A business house is permeated by the personality of its head, and his personal characteristics impress themselves upon those under him, by the means of suggestion. He sets the gait of the place. If he is active, and enterprising, so are the workers employed by him; and if he is careless and shiftless, so will they be apt to be. We affect those around us by our mental attitudes, manifested in action, and they affect us - if we allow them to do so.

Children are quite amenable to suggestion of this sort, being natural imitators, and they soon take on the mental attitude of the parents toward them. If the parent treats the child as being beyond control, the child will respond; if the child be considered obstinate, etc., he will take on the suggestion, and the original trouble will be magnified. People talk before their children, little realizing that the little minds are very suggestible, and are constantly taking suggestive color from those around them. People should endeavor to present to their children only the best, positive, helpful, uplifting, and encouraging mental states. They should avoid giving the child the impression that it is "bad," or "mean," or "deceitful," or "shy," or anything of that sort. The child will be apt to accept the suggestion coming from a source that it naturally looks to for information, and it will be very apt to proceed to act upon the suggestion and make the words of the parent come true. I have heard of children who had become so impressed with their parents' suggestion that they "would come to some bad end, yet," that they had to fight against it the balance of their lives. Sow the suggestive-seeds that you desire to sprout into reality - be careful to select the right kind. This subject of suggestion to children can be merely alluded to here, for it would fill a book of itself. I felt impelled to say a few words about it in this lesson, because my experience has taught me its extreme importance.

This is the rule of Involuntary Suggestion: Our words, actions, manner, tones, appearance, and general personality convey suggestions to those around us, inducing mental states in accordance therewith.

Therefore, act out only the character that you wish to impress upon the world - and act it the best you know how. The world will connect you with the part you are playing, according to the suggestions thus made - sometimes you will get a better verdict than you really deserve; sometimes a worse one, but in either event, your mental attitude, reflected by your involuntary suggestions, will have caused the verdict, whatever it may be. Therefore, form a correct mental attitude, based upon some ideal of the part you wish to play - and then play it out to the best of your ability. Observe the outward appearance of the part you are playing, for this is what the world sees first, last and all the time - and you are judged by your suggestive "make-up," and stage action. Act well your part, for thereupon rests the verdict of the audience.

The second form of the application of suggestion is:

Voluntary Suggestion

This form of the application of suggestion is manifested in cases in which the suggestion is deliberately and purposely made with the end of impressing other persons. Its manifestations may be grouped into three classes, as follows: (a) Suggestive Treatment; (b) Hypnotic Suggestion; (c) Suggestion in the form of Personal Influence.

By (a) Suggestive Treatment I refer to the practice of Mental Suggestion used as a form of "treatment" for physical ills, or mental deficiencies, etc. The treatments for physical ills come under the term of "Mental Therapeutics," and will be spoken of in the chapter bearing that title. Treatment by suggestion for mental deficiencies, etc., is a branch of science that is rapidly coming to the fore. For some time it was clouded by its mistaken connection with hypnotism, but now that it has been divorced therefrom it is being used to a much greater degree by scientists in all parts of the world. Its principle rests on the fact that brain-centers and brain-cells may be " grown," developed, and increased by properly directed suggestions, so that one may be practically "made over" mentally. New qualities may be induced, and objectionable ones decreased. Objectionable habits and traits may be eliminated, and desirable ones substituted or newly induced.

The wonders of this form of practical psychology are being unfolded rapidly, and a great era is before us in this branch of science. The broad principle of the "treatment" lies in the fact that the mental states induced by the proper suggestion tend to exercise and develop the portion of the brain in which they are manifested. Hence the theory once understood, and the best method adopted, the rest of the treatment becomes as simple as developing any muscle of the body by the appropriate exercise. I call this form of treatment "Brain Building," by suggestion, etc.

(b) Suggestion in Hypnotism is a subject that I shall merely refer to here, for this is not a manual of hypnotism. Sufficient it is to say that hypnotism is a combination of the use of mentative energy in a certain form, coupled with suggestion. It is a proven psychological fact that in the hypnotic condition, all suggestions have a greatly exaggerated effect, and a suggestion that would scarcely be noticed in the ordinary state becomes a strong motive force to one in the state of hypnosis. In this state the most absurd suggestions are accepted, and acted upon - the most extraordinary delusions are entertained - and the suggestions of future action, or posthypnotic suggestions, are made effective. I wish to caution my students against allowing themselves to be hypnotized for experimental or other purposes. It is conducive to negative conditions, and I heartily disapprove of the practice. I would not allow anyone to hypnotize me, and I would urge upon my students a similar attitude toward "experimenters."

The best effects of suggestion may be obtained without hypnosis - the latter is merely an abnormal and morbid state, most undesirable to normal people. Let it alone!

(c) Suggestion in Personal Influence is referred to in other parts of this work, and appears more fully in the chapters treating of Personal Influence, for it belongs to that phase of the general subject.

The third form of application of Suggestion is what is known as: