| Self-consciousness defined... excessively conscious of | | | | truth? |
| oneself as an object of observation by others. | | | | The mind is a prolific field for the growth of all kinds |
| Self-consciousness is a very dangerous and negative | | | | of thought. If false and negative ideas are allowed to |
| emotion. The victim of self-consciousnesses says to | | | | take root in the field of your mind, they will spread |
| himself: | | | | like weeds with wonderful rapidity, and may easily |
| · "What impression am I making?" · | | | | discourage and overwhelm you. If you have long |
| "Do I look well?" · "What are they thinking | | | | neglected this "mental field" you may now find |
| and saying about me?" · "I am not equal to | | | | yourself in a bad way. |
| this," · "I lack so many things," · "If I | | | | The remedy for you, and for others so situated, is |
| had only been born right," · "I shall surely fail." | | | | to patiently root out every obnoxious habit and to |
| Now this defense mechanism isn't necessarily a | | | | substitute strong, healthy, positive thoughts in their |
| stumbling block. It is a safeguard against rashness and | | | | place. You must at first be content with small |
| over-confidence. The evil of extreme | | | | victories, since you have permitted this mental field |
| self-consciousness is that it makes you do so many | | | | and garden to be overrun with these objectionable |
| things that you do not wish to do. It can change you | | | | thought habits. But you can comfort yourself with |
| line of conduct a hundred times a day, makes you | | | | the assurance that in this way you can and will attain |
| say "yes" when you would rather say "no," and, in | | | | success. |
| short, robs you of you power and individuality. | | | | Timid people concern themselves too much about |
| What is the remedy for this dreaded extreme | | | | what others will think and say. They are constantly |
| elf-consciousness? | | | | studying the impression they are making upon people |
| It is mainly a matter of securing control of your | | | | who probably are not even thinking of them. Their |
| thoughts and intelligently directing them. The mind is a | | | | super sensitiveness causes them to imagine |
| machine, which must be made obedient to the | | | | themselves being criticized, slighted, and unfairly |
| owner's will. When brought under subjection, it will | | | | condemned by those who are probably too absorbed |
| serve your highest and best purposes, but left to | | | | in their own affairs to notice. |
| itself it - may run easily to confusion and destruction. | | | | You may be on the road to success when a single |
| Here you may interject, "But my mind wanders." | | | | act of timidity may derail your chances. People lose |
| Then go after it and bring it back. You say you can | | | | confidence in you if you lack faith in yourself. |
| not? Who is operating your mind? Does it run itself? | | | | Courage is admired, fear never is. Courage is dignified, |
| What would you think of a train that had no | | | | fear is repulsive. The person of courage is welcomed |
| engineer, no conductor, no one to direct it, and was | | | | everywhere, while fear invites itself to a seat in the |
| allowed to run anywhere? Yet this is what you | | | | rear. |
| permit with your train of ideas. Be sensible. Take hold | | | | Everyone should learn to stand firmly upon their own |
| of yourself seriously. Set your will to work. Straighten | | | | feet. |
| your spine. Take time today for mental overhauling. | | | | "Intellectual intrepidity," says Samuel Smiles "is one of |
| You are about to educate your will - and it is serious | | | | the vital conditions of independence and self-reliance |
| business. | | | | in character. A person must have the courage to be |
| Procrastination will not do. From this time forward | | | | himself, and not the shadow or the echo of another. |
| resolve to control and direct your mental powers for | | | | He must exercise his own powers, think his own |
| definite purposes. | | | | thoughts, and speak his own sentiments. He must |
| Constantly hold in your mind a high estimate of | | | | elaborate his own opinions, and form his own |
| yourself, but be sure you have reasons for doing so. | | | | convictions. It has been said that he who dare not |
| It is of little use to say you are well if you are ill. Do | | | | form an opinion must be a coward; he who will not, |
| not deceive yourself. You are no greater than the | | | | must be an idler; he who can not, must be a fool." |
| sum of your thoughts and habits. You must have | | | | Super sensitiveness is a major fault by which you |
| good and sufficient reasons for your self confidence. | | | | lose initiative, self-reliance, and independence. A |
| · Are your impulses of a noble nature? | | | | self-conscious person must, sooner or later, rid |
| · Is your ambition lofty? · Do you | | | | themselves of this fault if they are to be |
| high ideals and do you work persistently to realize | | | | preeminently successful by directing their attention to |
| them? · Are you doing the best you can? | | | | the power of self confidence. |
| · Do you have an uncompromising love for | | | | |