Joseph L. Ryan
Supervisor, Foreign Division, Royal Typewriter Company 51 Judson Place, Rockville
Centre, Long Island, New York
Several years ago I was a witness in a lawsuit that caused me a great deal of mental
strain and worry. After the case was over, and I was returning home in the train, I had a
sudden and violent physical collapse. Heart trouble. I found it almost impossible to
breathe.
When I got home the doctor gave me an injection. I wasn't in bed-I hadn't been able to
get any farther than the living-room settee. When I regained consciousness, I saw that
the parish priest was already there to give me final absolution!
I saw the stunned grief on the faces of my family. I knew my number was up. Later, I
found out that the doctor had prepared my wife for the fact that I would probably be
dead in less than thirty minutes. My heart was so weak I was warned not to try to speak
or to move even a finger.
I had never been a saint, but I had learned one thing-not to argue with God. So I closed
my eyes and said: "Thy will be done. ... If it has to come now, Thy will be done."
As soon as I gave in to that thought, I seemed to relax all over. My terror disappeared,
and I asked myself quickly what was the worst that could happen now. Well, the worst
seemed to be a possible return of the spasms, with excruciating pains- then all would be
over. I would go to meet my Maker and soon be at peace.
I lay on that settee and waited for an hour, but the pains didn't return. Finally, I began to
ask myself what I would do with my life if I didn't die now. I determined that I would exert
every effort to regain my health. I would stop abusing myself with tension and worry and
rebuild my strength.
That was four years ago. I have rebuilt my strength to such a degree that even my
doctor is amazed at the improvement my cardiograms show. I no longer worry. I have a
new zest for life. But I can honestly say that if I hadn't faced the worst- my imminent
death-and then tried to improve upon it, I don't believe I would be here today. If I hadn't
accepted the worst, I believe I would have died from my own fear and panic.
Mr. Ryan is alive today because he made use of the principle described in the Magic
Formula-FACE THE WORST THAT CAN HAPPEN.
I Am A Great Dismisser
By
Ordway Tead
Chairman of the Board of Higher Education New York, New York
WORRY is a habit-a habit that I broke long ago. I believe that my habit of refraining from
worrying is due largely to three things.
First: I am too busy to indulge in self-destroying anxiety. I have three main activities-
each one of which should be virtually a full-time job in itself. I lecture to large groups at
Columbia University: I am also chairman of the Board of Higher Education of New York