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“How
to Develop Self-Confidence
In Speech and Manner” eBook Online Version
But here is another man who awakens with noble aspirations blossoming in his mind. He is grateful for the blue sky overhead and for the birds singing in the trees. He reflects their music in his ringing "good-morning," and as he steps out into the clear, invigorating air he determines to see only the best in all around him. His attitude of mind is positive, strong, and constructive. He goes forward under good auspices, for hope and enthusiasm are a force of constant attraction. There is no dawdling, doubt, hesitation, fear of any kind. He is confident, upright, and optimistic. The strong and unwavering faith he has in himself others soon come to have in him. He enters upon every undertaking with the most positive assurance and self-reliance. The great and mighty force of his persistent thinking makes his life what it is, and his friends write him down a successful man. The greatest force in the world to-day for developing personality is auto-suggestion. There is practically no limit to which a man may build both his mental and spiritual powers through the application of suggestions from himself to himself. The psychologists may be trusted to work out the question of whether there are two minds in man, the conscious and subconscious, but we know that the ego, the "I," the soul, call it what you wish, is constantly at work within us and constantly suggesting to our outward working mind what it should or should not do, all the while making for good or evil, success or failure.
Can we control this thought of ours? We can. To illustrate: You are reading a book and suddenly discover that, while your eyes have been following the printed page, your mind has wandered far and distant. Then you bring back your mind, so to speak, put it upon the printed page, and again you read. What was it that discovered your mind wandering away and gently led it back? If you can direct your mind in this way to the thoughts of a book, you can as readily apply it to any other sources you choose. The working mind, then, is a machine, and working along positive lines and for positive ends, it moves in harmony and imparts to the owner a sense of satisfaction and confidence.
No one likes to think of physical bondage, yet thousands of men dwell in mental bondage without being conscious of it. Habit, prejudice, unbelief, skepticism, or some other negative element so hedges them in that their lives are warped, circumscribed, and unfruitful. Fearthought of some kind holds them in complete thralldom.
But the miracle may be performed any morning. A single positive thought enters the mind and begins its wonderful work. This thought leads to another and another, and soon a man begins to think he is perhaps not so badly off after all. He may at least make the effort. He takes new courage and then and there his horizon widens, his interests increase, and by reiterating and emphasizing his positive thoughts he changes his entire life. A man should train himself not to resent the petty little happenings that are an inevitable part of his every-day life. He should rather welcome them as opportunities for self-development. Suppose a fellow man does accidentally come into collision with you on the street, is that any reason why you should deepen the lines of your face with a disagreeable frown? Does that mend matters? Whom do you injure but yourself? Does it make the other man feel any better toward you? These are pertinent questions and worthy of careful answers. A matter has been worrying you for weeks, possibly a money matter, and you lose hours of sleep over it. Stop to inquire whether it is really as important as that. Would you not rather lose that money than lose your health? Will you sacrifice your disposition and comfort for a few dollars that you may lose as soon as you get them? Is it worth while? These worries that we build up for ourselves are insignificantly small and petty in the light of eternity. A man desirous of becoming self-confident in the highest sense should be too big for such little things.
WORD LIST NO. I
You should develop yourself daily to be:
Confident
Intrepid
Commanding
Courageous
Unflinching
Masterful
Resolute
Hardy
Mighty-Brave
Determined
Robust
Chivalrous
Indomitable
Sturdy
Bold
Aspiring
Vigorous
Daring
Eager
Powerful
Self-reliant
Ambitious
Strong
Reliable
Energetic
Hopeful
Audacious
Invincible
Sanguine
Heroic
Resistless
Enthusiastic
Plucky
Efficient
Exultant
Manly
Capable
Optimistic
Valiant
Potent
Cheerful
Gallant
Forcible
Genial
Spirited
Influential
Vivacious
Animated
Attractive
Triumphant
Happy
Magnetic
Successful
Jubilant
Influential
Prosperous
Charming
Dominant
Victorious
WORD LIST NO. II
You should develop yourself daily to be:
Earnest
Persistent
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