Page 212 - Napoleon Hill Think and Grow Rich Full Book | Success Learned

Experimenting with diets, physical exercises, reducing systems, without pro-
fessional guidance. Trying home remedies, patent medicines and "quack" rem-
edies.

HYPOCHONDRIA. The habit of talking of illness, concentrating the mind upon
disease, and expecting its appearance until a nervous break occurs. Nothing that
comes in bottles can cure this condition. It is brought on by negative thinking and
nothing but positive thought can affect a cure.

Hypochondria, (a medical term for imaginary disease) is said to do as much dam-
age on occasion, as the disease one fears might do. Most so-called cases of "nerves"
come from imaginary illness.

EXERCISE. Fear of ill health often interferes with proper physical exercise, and
results in over-weight, by causing one to avoid outdoor life.

SUSCEPTIBILITY. Fear of ill health breaks down Nature's body resistance, and
creates a favorable condition for any form of disease one may contact. The fear of
ill health often is related to the fear of Poverty, especially in the case of the hypo-
chondriac, who constantly worries about the possibility of having to pay doctor's
bills, hospital bills, etc. This type of person spends much time preparing for sick-
ness, talking about death, saving money for cemetery lots, and burial expenses,
etc.

SELF-CODDLING. The habit of making a bid for sympathy, using imaginary ill-
ness as the lure. (People often resort to this trick to avoid work). The habit of
feigning illness to cover plain laziness, or to serve as an alibi for lack of ambi-
tion.

INTEMPERANCE. The habit of using alcohol or narcotics to destroy pains such
as headaches, neuralgia, etc., instead of eliminating the cause.

The habit of reading about illness and worrying over the possibility of being
stricken by it. The habit of reading patent medicine advertisements.

THE FEAR OF LOSS OF LOVE

The original source of this inherent fear needs but little description, because it
obviously grew out of man's polygamous habit of stealing his fellow-man's mate,
and his habit of taking liberties with her whenever he could.

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NAPOLEON HILL THINK AND GROW RICH