The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1915-11-18
AS WE REALLY ARE.

AS WE REALLY AXE.
If we could only see ourselves as others
see US what a revelation it would be Per-
haps the picture would not be altogethr to
our liking because, question the assestlon
as we may, there is a certain amount OF
cOnceit in normal human nature, and it is
only in proportion to our individual share
whether it becomes disagreeable O" not.
For some unaccountable reason most of US
appear to be we'll satisfied with ourselves
and to resent any criticism which may be
made Of Us in general. We like our own
way of doing things and do not hesitate to
say SO. We cannot conceive of how any,
one else can disagree with our views once
they understand them, and we are disposed
to insist upon the recognition of our opin-
ions by all those with whom we may come
in contact. We are not always willing to
credit others with the same degree of per-
ception and the same keen intelligence that
we pride ourselves upon possessing and, as
a consequence, are quite likely to make
ourselves dictatorial in our bearing towards
others. 1t is this pride of opinion which
mars an otherwise strong character, for no
matter how admirable other characteristics
are the presence of conceit, or in other
words simply an inordinate pride of opin-
ion, detracts from real strength of charac-
ter
Confidence in ourselves is great asset,
it must be admitted, but, on the other hand
it is easy to overate our self confidence
and then to pay later for our mistakes in
many ways. We are told that unless we
have faith in ourselves and in our ability
to accomplish things we cannot succeed,
but faith without intelligence to guide it is
of little use, just as faith without works
counts for nothing. In this connection it
follows plainly that because we succeed
through our self confidence we must not
form the idea that we are infallibe and that
our opinion is better than anyone else's.
There is not a very long step from self
confidence to self cOnceit, distinct as the
two qualities may be in our mind at first.
1t is very easy to confuse them, and once
we leave behind US the healthy influence
which proceeds from worthy confidence
in ourselves we grow, as it were, into
self conceit which, while it may stimulate
and encourage at first soon makes US lose
ourselves in its grasp. We see only with
biased vision, vision that cannot take in
the broad sweep Of life as it appears to
others, but which is narrowed only to our
immediate needs and our personal con-
Germs. What care we about the great out
side interests and their effect upon the
world atarge if those interests do not touch
Us intimately? Our affairs are of prime
Importance and because we prove to our
own satisfaction that we are past masters
in the art OF managing our own concerns
we believe that We are capable of debating
to others as we'll. 1t is right here that our
self-concet runs away with our self-con-
hdence and changes US from helpful work
ers into really harmful beings.
We forget, as a rule, there are those who
watch us, as it were, many of whom while
expecting good counsel from us receive
only into)lerant treatment and others of
whom while looking to US for help have their
hopes changed to suspicious. The pride
OF opinion which at first we may think is
something to boast of, something Of which
to be proud of, and something with which
we expect 10 sway others, soon degenerates
into anything but helpful weapon in our
hands. We may be able to make use of it
to certain extent, it is true, but human
endurance has its limit in this regard as
we'll as in all others, and we soon learn that
there are those whose opinions are entitled
to respect and consideration even though
they are not in accord with our own. Of
course 1t is entirely probable that on many
occasions we did not intend to give offence
by our wilful perseverance in our personal
views, but only sought to impress them
upon others. We cannot forget however,
that We do not always convey the impress
sion we seek, and while at heart we NAV
be innocent of any intention to offend yet
there are those who do not see things in
the same light and who form very different
conclusions from those we intend to con-
vey. 1t is in circumstances such AS these
that others form their impressions of US
and see Us in very different way from that
in which We see ourselves. Perhaps if we
could understand something of the differ
ent angles of observation that are possible
to the human mind We might form better
idea OF the impression we make upon
Others, and realizing the significance of
that impression, make at least an earnest
effort to understand our limitations as we'll
as our capabilities. In this way we would
show ourselves as we really are, not as we
would like to believe that we are.
GEN. A. B. BOOTH.