Getting Acquainted with the Real You - part 1

Articles In This Section:

· Getting Acquainted with the Real You - part 1

· Getting Acquainted with the Real You - part 2

· Getting Acquainted with the Real You - part 3

· ONE WORKS HARDER AT BEING A FAILURE THAN AT BEING A SUCCESS - part 1

· ONE WORKS HARDER AT BEING A FAILURE THAN AT BEING A SUCCESS - part 2

· ONE WORKS HARDER AT BEING A FAILURE THAN AT BEING A SUCCESS - part 3

· THE REAL YOU! - part 1

· THE REAL YOU! - part 2

· THE REAL YOU! - part 3

IN ABOUT 400 B.C., when Socrates said to his followers: "Know Thyself," I am sure this great sage was not referring to the physical being. His every utterance was directed to the intellect, i.e., to the mind.

I once read a story in which the author said there were two entities residing within every being: a plus entity and a minus entity. The plus entity saw nothing but good—health, strength, success, happiness, etc. The minus entity saw just the opposite— gloom, poor health, failure, etc. This author felt that we were influenced by only one entity at a time. If we were to allow the plus entity to take over, we would walk erectly with chests out and chins up, a spark in our eyes and a resolute expression of determination on our faces. If the minus entity should be in charge, the reverse would be true. There would be a lag in our steps; with listless eyes and drooping mouths, our faces would reflect abject despair.

I am not so sure that two entities dwell within our beings, but I do know with certainty that our minds run either in a negative or a positive direction.

According to early psychologists, 95 per cent of all people lean toward the negative side in their thinking. This opinion would imply that most people are under the control of their negative selves, and it would also indicate why such a large percentage of people are unhappy and unsuccessful.

The title of this chapter is: "Getting Acquainted with the Real You." If you are one of the 95 per cent who lean toward the negative side, you might not be particularly pleased to meet the real YOU. But, instead of being regretful, you will have cause for rejoicing, because you will have learned why you are as you are, and what you can do to change your situation.

In the previous chapter you were given a simple test to learn whether you are inclined negatively or positively. This is the first—and perhaps the most important—step toward getting acquainted with the real you.

The illustrations which follow are intended for those who are negatively inclined. In fact, this description may apply to most readers of this book, because, after all, a strictly positive-minded person really does not need it.

Let me tell you the story of a man who stayed awake all night—and was glad of it. We will call him Joseph Benson.

Joe had run into a streak of bad luck and found himself without money and with a mass of overdue bills on his desk. Things looked serious for this unhappy man, who was already feeling the effects of loss of sleep.