All these refer to an important point--that we should be teachable and
should receive right impressions. This is of primary importance.
Breathing means the taking of breath. We should begin the day with
joyous and glad acceptance of life and all that it brings. A spirit of
thankfulness and acceptance is the true spirit of life.
We, however, need active expression. As breathing implies not only
taking breath but giving it out, so impression and expression are
necessary elements of the rhythm of life.
Hence even these six things are incomplete. We should also exercise our
higher faculties and powers, especially those we are not habitually
using in our work. Our whole nature should be active if we are truly to
live. Our higher faculties should not be regarded as concerned only in
mere dreaming. Our ideals should be connected with our daily work and
contact with mankind if we are to cease drudging or working without
imagination. Accordingly by word, thought or act, we should express
every day the best that is in us. Moreover, fully as important as these,
we should every day come into sympathetic touch with our fellow-beings
and call forth the best in them.
Expression implies a neighbor,--some other being with whom we can
communicate. Do not think for a moment that such expression is empty. Of
course, we must go on and endeavor every day to serve someone by a kind
act, but a kind word must not be despised. How many hearts are over
burdened because they lack a sympathetic listener! To be a polite
listener is one of the beautiful things in human life. Remember, also,
that many who have seen an opportunity and desired to do a kind act have
failed from inability to express the wish by word, smile or bow.
Expression is not separate from impression. We must receive our
impressions from every source, then we must express to others the best
that is in us and become such sympathetic listeners that others will
unfold the best in themselves and thus come into that plane where we can
sympathetically participate in the lives of others.