INSOMNIA

Retiring at irregular hours often induces insomnia because sleep is a habit. The habit of sleep can be cultivated because the act of lying down in darkness and quiet is associated in the subconscious mind with the state of sleep. Since thought and feeling retire into the subconscious state during sleep, the subconscious is that part of the mind which functions during sleep, and it possesses the power to draw thought and feeling back into its depths and thus induce sleep. The subconscious mind may be led to produce the state of restful sleep by mental suggestions, and it will seek to carry out the most dominant suggestion it has received.

When wakefulness has become a habit of mind, much patient effort may be required in some cases to entirely overcome it; but rest assured, if the causes of nervous irritability are removed and the proper suggestions are given to the subconscious mind, refreshing sleep will become a permanent habit.

One should form the habit of casting aside all worries and cares, and even the thoughts of daily affairs, before getting into bed. The reclining position should be associated with the idea of sleep and rest of mind and body. Under no circumstances

135

should the mind be allowed to go back over the affairs of the day after going to bed, because mind activity thus induced will settle into the subconscious state and a tiresome dream activity will continue after the conscious mind has become heavy with slumber. Thus, insomnia may be developed.

Many have found devotional study a potent means of turning one’s thoughts away from the vexations and cares of the day. By study of exalted thoughts a more spiritual side of the mind becomes active, the mind energy retires from those parts of the brain that have been active all day, and afterwards, with the reclining position, conies restful slumber.

If, after lying down, the mind reverts to the thoughts of the day, resist them and then let the mind drift passively in the current of thought set flowing by your spiritual studies.

After lying down, do not make any positive effort, such as holding affirmations that would tend to keep the mind alert and active, but simply let your thoughts and feelings drift away from material life and affairs toward the state of immortal existence where the Ever-Present is the Divine Magnet Who attracts your soul towards the deeps of Bliss.

When wakefulness has become such a habit that one expects

136

nothing else, it is well to read and repeat the following thoughts persistently before retiring in order to eradicate the idea of wakefulness from the mind:

When I retire, I shall go to sleep immediately, and no habit of wakefulness shall keep me from sleeping.

When I lie down, the mind energy shall flow away from my brain to the extremities of the body, and my brain shall rest.

Sweet sleep shall steal over my senses, bringing peace and rest to body and brain.

Wakefulness is not a normal condition at night. I can overcome it, because all the needs of my nature tend toward inaction after action, to sleep after wakefulness.

I will not become discouraged even after apparent failures, because I know that all my nature is cooperating with my efforts.

My mind will sooner or later adjust itself to fulfill my desire and need for sleep, because it is obedient to my will and desire.

If I wake during the night, I shall expect to go to sleep again immediately.

137