ooling when he was a small boy, he has
given himself a splendid education, mainly since he was twenty-one. I
have never known any one else who carried on such a vigorous campaign
in self-victory, self-development, self-training, self-culture as this
young man has.

At first it may seem silly to you to be talking to yourself, but you
will derive so much benefit from it that you will have recourse to it
in remedying all your defects. There is no fault, however great or
small, which will not succumb to persistent audible suggestion. For
example, you may be naturally timid and shrink from meeting people; and
you may distrust your own ability. If so, you will be greatly helped
by assuring yourself in your daily self-talks that you are not timid;
that, on the contrary, you are the embodiment of courage and bravery.
Assure yourself that there is no reason why you should be timid,
because there is nothing inferior or peculiar about you; that you are
attractive and that you know how to act in the presence of others. Say
to yourself that you are never again going to allow yourself to harbor
any thoughts of self-depreciation or timidity or inferiority; that you
are going to hold your head up and go about as though you were a king,
a conqueror, instead of crawling about like a whipped cur; you are
going to assert your manhood, your individuality.

If you lack initiative, stoutly affirm your ability to begin things,
and to push them to a finish. And always put your resolve into action
at the first opportunity.

You will be surprised to see how you can increase your courage, your
confidence, and your ability, if you will be sincere with yourself and
strong and persistent in your affirmations.

I know of nothing so helpful for the timid, those who lack faith in
themselves, as the habit of constantly affirming their own importance,
their own power, their own divinity. The trouble is that we do not
think half enough of ourselves; do not accurately measure our ability;
do not put the right estimate upon our possibilities. We berate
ourselves, belittle, efface ourselves, because we do not see the
larger, diviner man in us.

Try this experiment the very next time you get discouraged or think
that you are a failure, that your work does not amount to much--turn
about face. Resolve that you will go no further in that direction.
Stop and face the other way, and _go_ the other way. Every time you
think you are a failure, it help