Change from a negative to positive personality
I.M. Soni

Have you ever wondered as to who are the people you instinctively keep a distance from? And who are the ones you are attracted to?

To the former class belong the scowlers and sackcloths. They are the gloomy ones who go about as if the world is coming to an end. They ‘regale’ you with their ailments. They virtually stink.

To the latter category belong the bloomers who spread sunshine of the soul. They sparkle with spirit. They come to your company like a whiff of fresh air. They are welcome in any company.

In short, the first category comprises the nibbling negatives of the human race, the second the powerful positives, also known as the salt of the earth.

To which category do you belong? If you honestly think that you belong to the first, do not despair. You can change. You can bring about a renaissance in your personality. This mini revolution is within your reach. Action should be your buzzword.

“The power of humans to turn a minus into a plus is among the finest and noblest of all human characteristics”.

Alfred Adler says, “It is possible to use this statement with regard to one’s own personality.”

You take a significant step when you resolve to part company with negative thoughts, words and actions.

As much as possible, delete the word ‘no’ from your vocabulary and the negative from your thoughts.

‘Yes’ opens doors, makes life more exciting, develops your potential. Thinking positively means zest, joy, hope, self-realisation, health, opportunities, more money.

Expel hate and bitterness. Foster liking and loving and forgiveness. Rule out envy, jealousy, despair, regret, condemnation.

See the beauty around you. Above the meanest street there are always the clouds and the blue sky.

Stop thinking negatively about yourself, your appearance, abilities, your past, your work, holidays enterprise and activities.

Holding only positive thoughts about all these will soon transform your personality from a minus to a plus one.

Only one person is capable of preventing you becoming like your ideal. That is yourself.

If you say “I want to change and I will change” and if you affirm every day “I am gradually approximating to my ideal” — then all things are possible.

Keep an attractive picture of yourself clear in your mind’s eye. Look at yourself in the mirror, and tell yourself that you are becoming more and more lovable.

Change your self-image and you change your

personality.

If, you’ve been writing yourself off as a failure, a fop, unwanted unpopular, unhealthy, maladjusted to sex life and society, rather dull, living on the borderline, then scrub this negative, minus self-image off your mental slate immediately.

See yourself as confident, smiling, healthy, a good mixer, competent. This is the way to bring about your own private renaissance, personal revolution!

Change your hairstyle. Ring the changes in your dressing and check that you are keeping abreast with the latest trends. If you normally use somber, sedate colours, go in for something brighter.

Use a holiday to give yourself maximum change. Sample not only different places but different types of holiday.

Use ingenuity and imagination to give yourself plenty of change. It will refresh your spirit and help you become more of a plus personality.

Make these affirmations daily so that you become steadily healthier.

“I hold a mental picture of perfect health. This keeps my mind clear and active, and my body vigorous and strong.

“I eliminate all feelings of anger, fear or resentment. I substitute thoughts of love, peace and friendliness.

“I care for my body, nourishing it with the right foods. I feed my mind with constructive creative ideas.

“I hold only positive, peaceful thoughts and attitudes and all my reactions and actions are positive.”

Use these lines every day. They are designed to brace and strengthen the whole man.

Without self-confidence you are only half alive. You miss much joy and excitement and fun. How can we acquire it?

Here are some techniques

List all your good qualities and past achievements. Browse over your list every day for a fortnight, and then once a week. Remember, what you have done once you can do again and do better.

Practise auto-suggestion. Say to yourself at least 20 times each night as you fall asleep:

“Every day in every way, I’m growing more and more self-confident.”

Join a public speaking class. You may say: “I don’t want to speak in public.” Never mind. Experience has shown that most people feel much more self-confident when they have put themselves through this discipline of speaking even briefly every week to a small audience.

You have dormant talents not yet developed.

Sir Julian Huxley, the famous biologist, not only asserts that the average human being has great untapped resources, but says that it is our duty to develop them.

One way of doing this is to see that you are always learning something fresh.

Study a new subject every year or two. Build up your vocabulary. Spend a part of everyday reading a worthwhile book.

The more you use your mind the better it will become. The powers you develop and the knowledge you acquire will be cumulative in their effect.

With effort, desire and determination you can improve your health and physique. You may develop all manner of skills and abilities. These powers are present. Give them the opportunities to surface.

Personality is conveyed by conversation. Beware of a flat toneless speech. Shun a mournful, lugubrious monotone, put zest and vitality into your speech. Avoid complaining, or making harsh criticisms and bitter reproaches.

If you only realised how much attractive you look when you smile, there would be little need for such exhortations as this. Years drop off our age when you smile. A smile improves appearance. Take a little effort at first to break the old habits of glumness. Why go around like a sphinx? You immediately become more alive when you smile.