planning a habit and hold to it through life. It will give you a great
lift toward whatever prize you seek.


Rule III. _Search systematically and persistently._

When once you have started upon an effort at recollection, persevere.
The date or face or event that you wish to recall _is bound up with a
multitude of other facts of observation and of your mind life_ of the
past. Success in recalling it depends simply upon your ability _to hit
upon some idea so indissolubly associated with the object of search that
the recall of one automatically recalls the other_. Consequently the
thing to do is to hold your attention to one definite line of thought
until you have exhausted its possibilities. You must pass in review all
the associated matters and suppress or ignore them until the right one
comes to mind. This may be a short-cut process or a roundabout process,
but it will bring results nine times out of ten, and if habitually
persisted in will greatly improve your power of voluntary recall.

[Sidenote: _Formation of Correct Memory Habits_]


Rule IV. _The instant you recollect a thing to be done, do it._

Every idea that memory thrusts into your consciousness carries with it
the impulse to act upon it. If you fail to do so, the matter may not
again occur to you, or when it does it may be too late.

_Your mental mechanism will serve you faithfully only as long as you act
upon its suggestions._