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