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“How
to Develop Self-Confidence
In Speech and Manner” eBook Online Version
Memorize the following: Give me a lever long enough and a prop strong enough, I can single-handed move the world.
--Archimedes.
FOR THE EIGHTEENTH DAY
Temperance--Practice sobriety, self-denial, and moderation. Be temperate in all things. Be strong and resolute. Make the most of yourself. As "the wish is father to the thought," think particularly of those things you desire to bring to pass. Keep yourself in strong and healthy condition.
Exercise--Affirm these earnestly:
1. Let your tastes be simple.
2. Avoid excess of every kind.
3. Daily practice self-restraint.
4. Be temperate in all things.
5. Abstain from that which will harm you.
Memorize the following:
Well observe the rule of not too much, by temperance taught in what thou eat'st and drink'st.
--Milton.
FOR THE NINETEENTH DAY
Sympathy--Feel kindly toward others. Be thoughtful and tolerant. Make the path smooth for others by acts of kindness and words of cheer. Practice self-forgetfulness. Help others to be happy, confident, hopeful, and successful.
Exercise--Think particularly of these things:
1. I am part of all I have met.
2. Grow strong through sympathy.
3. Be always gracious toward others.
4. Have sympathy for all human kind.
5. Constantly develop large-heartedness.
Memorize the following:
Yet, taught by time, my heart has learned to glow, for others' good, and melt at others' wo.
--Pope's Homer.
FOR THE TWENTIETH DAY
Geniality--Cheerfulness wins friends. The mind is lighted by mental sunshine, and reflects itself in the face. One can not be depressed while the corners of the mouth turn up. Make yourself attractive, magnetic, and interesting to others. Constantly influence and attract friends.
Exercise--Say these words smilingly:
1. I am always cheerful.
2. My life makes for happiness and success.
3. I smile in the face of trouble.
4. I am brighter and happier every day.
5. I am smiling now.
Memorize the following:
For it stirs the blood in an old man's heart; and makes his pulses fly, to catch the thrill of a happy voice, and the light of a pleasant eye.
--Willis.
FOR THE TWENTY-FIRST DAY
Truth--Let the motto be "The truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.'' Think the truth, speak the truth, live the truth. Power and self-confidence come from consciousness of being right. Let the life be based upon truth.
Exercise--Repeat these words many times:
1. The truth at any cost.
2. Truth is born of honesty and sincerity.
3. I dare to be true.
4. I love truth for truth's sake.
5. The truth is always right.
Memorize the following:
Truth crushed to earth shall rise again: The eternal years of God are hers; but error, wounded, writhes in pain, and dies amid her worshipers.
--Bryant.
FOR THE TWENTY-SECOND DAY
Speech--To-day use the deep tones of the voice. Speak deliberately, and articulate words clearly. Let the aim be to use simple, direct English. Avoid slang and loose expressions. Investigate every word whose meaning or pronunciation is doubtful.
Exercise--Practice these aloud.
1. Repeat e, a, aw, ah, o, oo.
2. Strike sharply he, ha, haw, ho, hoo.
3. Sing "bell," sustaining the "1."
4. Repeat rapidly be-ba-baw-bah-bo-boo.
5. Burst the voice on ba, baw, bo, boo.
Memorize the following:
Speak not at all, in any wise, till you have somewhat to speak; care not for the reward of your speaking, but simply and with undivided mind for the truth of your speaking.--Carlyle.
FOR THE TWENTY-THIRD DAY
Duty--Do the work that lies nearest. Do it as well as you can. Do it gladly. The reward of doing one duty is the power to do another. Be constantly inspired by a love of work well and faithfully done.
Exercise--Say these words positively:
1. I daily do my full duty.
2. My course is ever onward.
3. Duty is the path to success.
4. Duty knows no fear.
5. I dare to do my duty.
Memorize the following:
So nigh is grandeur to our dust, so near is God to man. When Duty whispers low, thou must, the youth replies, I can.
--Emerson.
FOR THE TWENTY-FOURTH DAY
Purity--Cultivate purity of mind and body. Guard against evil thoughts. Let moral integrity be a priceless possession. Personal example stimulates others. Practice self-restraint. Daily give strong spiritual and moral suggestions.
Exercise--Emphasize these thoughts:
1. To the pure all things are pure.
2. Purity begets pride and worthiness.
3. Clean hands, clean heart, clean conscience.
4. The windows of purity are always clear.
5. Purity is beauty of life.
Memorize the following:
To thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man.
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