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One of the most important things we have mentioned—which is also the most unorthodox concept present in this eBook—is that stress can be used to kill stress.

To reiterate… when a stressful condition presents itself before you, it is going to trigger some kind of response in you. You are definitely going to react. Now, most people react negatively when they are faced with a stressful situation. However, you should learn how NOT to do that. Instead of behaving negatively and succumbing to all those unappealing indications I mentioned in the previous chapter, you have to channelize all your energies and try to remove the stress itself. You have to work in such a way that your stress is removed, and you can do that by directing your stress-influenced response in the right manner.

This eBook attempts to tell you what these methods are; how this can be done. You do not need any special tools or implements for that. You can do it just by making minor adjustments in your personality and in your way of thinking. Once you have these pat down, you will almost see your stress melting away.

Stress is a response of hormones within the body. It is hormones that create all kinds of sensations within us. Instead of allowing these hormones to react negatively and take us into the abyss of depression, we should focus these hormones to react positively. It is within us to build this high amount of enthusiasm and positive energy within us, energy that can move mountains!

So, the most important thing for you to keep in mind at this juncture is that stress is something quite transient. Do not make it a mainstay in your life. Target your stress-induced responses towards the removal of the factors that caused stress. And, keep your hopes switched on at all times. Be optimistic. That works like a shot in the arm when the going gets tough!

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There are times in the life of every man who takes his stand on high moral principles when his faith in (and knowledge of) those principles is tested to the uttermost.

And the way in which he comes out of the fiery trial decides as to whether he has sufficient strength to live as a man of Truth - and join the company of the free - or shall still remain a slave and a hireling to the cruelest of all taskmasters: Self.

Such times of trial generally assume the form of a temptation to do a wrong thing (and continue in comfort and prosperity), or to stand by what is right and accept poverty and failure.

And so powerful is the trial that (to the tempted one) it plainly appears on the face of things as though - if he chooses the wrong - his material success will be assured for the remainder of his life. But if he does what is right, he will be ruined for ever.

Frequently the man at once quails and gives way before this appalling prospect (which the Path of Righteousness seems to hold out for him). But should he prove sufficiently strong to withstand this onslaught of temptation...

Then the inward seducer - the spirit of self - assumes the garb of an Angel of Light, and whispers: "Think of your wife and children; think of those who are dependent upon you. Will you bring them down to disgrace and starvation?!"

Strong indeed and pure must be the man who can come triumphant out of such a trial. But he who does so, enters at once a higher realm of life (where his spiritual eyes are opened to see beautiful things).

And then poverty and ruin which seemed inevitable do not come; but a more abiding success comes, and with it, a peaceful heart and a quiet conscience.

However, he who fails does not obtain the promised prosperity; and his heart is restless and his conscience tormented and troubled.

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Men should be systematic in their business. A person who does business by rule, having a time and place for everything, doing his work promptly, will accomplish twice as much and with half the trouble of him who does it carelessly and slipshod.

By introducing system into all your transactions, doing one thing at a time, always meeting appointments with punctuality, you find leisure for pastime and recreation; whereas the man who only half does one thing, and then turns to something else, and half does that, will have his business at loose ends, and will never know when his day’s work is done, for it never will be done.

Of course, there is a limit to all these rules. We must try to preserve the happy medium, for there is such a thing as being too systematic. There are men and women, for instance, who put away things so carefully that they can never find them again. It is too much like the “red tape” formality at Washington, and Mr. Dickens’ “Circumlocution Office,”—all theory and no result.

When the “Astor House” was first started in New York city, it was undoubtedly the best hotel in the country. The proprietors had learned a good deal in Europe regarding hotels, and the landlords were proud of the rigid system which pervaded every department of their great establishment.

When twelve o’clock at night had arrived, and there were a number of guests around, one of the proprietors would say, “Touch that bell, John;” and in two minutes sixty servants, with a waterbucket in each hand, would present themselves in the hall. “This,” said the landlord, addressing his guests, “is our firebell; it will show you we are quite safe here; we do everything systematically.”

This was before the Croton water was introduced into the city. But they sometimes carried their system too far. On one occasion, when the hotel was thronged with guests, one of the waiters was suddenly indisposed, and although there were fifty waiters in the hotel, the landlord thought he must have his full complement, or his “system” would be interfered with. Just before dinnertime, he rushed down stairs and said, “There must be another waiter, I am one waiter short, what can I do?” He happened to see “Boots,” the Irishman.

“Pat,” said he, “wash your hands and face; take that white apron and come into the diningroom in five minutes.” Presently Pat appeared as required, and the proprietor said: “Now Pat, you must stand behind these two chairs, and wait on the gentlemen who will occupy them; did you ever act as a waiter?”