The Washington herald., 1916-10-30
Couldn't Stand a Rebuff.
By oRIsON SWEET MARnEN.

A perplexed young man was recently talking to
me about his failure to get on. He felt that this
was due to his over-sensitiveness, which he did
not know how to rid himself Of His employer,
it seemed, was constantly hurting him so that he
could not do his best! His criticisms, the young
man complained, sounded like reflections upon
his honesty" and his ability and he could not stand
that.
He was type of thousands who fail to get on
because they are too thn-skinned. They cannot
take their medicine. They take every criticism or
adverse suggestion as personal afront.
This young man has already lost several prom
isng positions because of his over-senstiveness
If his employer finds the least fault with his work
or criticses him in any way he Immediately gives
notice to quit. In trying to show him the folly
of such course if he ever expected to get on,
said, "Your employer probably knows very we'll
that you have good material in you that you could
undoubtedly get ahead rapidly if you were not so
thin-skinned, abnormay sensitive; but no en-
ployer no matter how good-natured, will interest
himself very much in employe when he sees
that instead of accepting every little suggestion or
criticism for what it is, he resents it as an insult
Listen to him and follow his advice. Do not take
1t in such spirit to antagonize him so that he
will say to himself: 1T is not worth while to
bother with this fellow; there is nothing to him
cine. Let him CO."
Many times when over-sensitive people make
failure, they too mortified to try to reinstate
themselves, too much afraid of being hurt again
Time and again have known of persons to be out
of work for a long time because they could not
bear to push themselves, to adopt aggressive meth
DDS. They too fearful of rebuff, even to
ask for position.
There are great many men who could have
made a superb success of their lives but for the
fact that it hurts them to have people criticize
or denounce them. They are so afraid of public
opinion that they don't dare to 60 ahead to push
out from the crowd. They are so fearful of
arousing antagonism they don't dare to be ind-
vidua independent
The person who wants to make the most of
the talents and opportunities his Creator has given
him, must get rid of senstivencss or he will never
accomplish what he sent here to do
The Good Book says Blessed are the meek
for they shall inherit the earth" 1t does not say
blessed arc the sensitive, for they shall inherit
the earth" They will not inherit much of any
thing but humiliating experiences and disappoint-
ments The great prizes of life are hidden from
the over-senstive, who cannot stand up against
the rough wind of criticism dcnunciation
Mr.. Roosevelt, when he was President told me
that he never lost hours sleep on account Of
the horrible way he carricatured, denounced
and criticized by his enemies He had hosts of
friends and he philosopher enough to realize
that men of force must inevitably antagonize a
great many people. He did not expect everybody
to believe as he did, and he never had anv i'll feel
ngs toward his enemies or his critics. Even CAL
umnies and downright lies did not disturb him
because he was conscious that he was doing his
level best, and he was and is philosopher enough
to accept the inevitable and make the best of it.
Here is a good idea for all OF us, especially
for the over-sensitiveness. No one is infaIlible.
The very abcst are liable to make mistakes. But
every man who is honest and earnest and doing
his best has right to peace of mind happiness,
and to progress in his chosen calling This is his
blrthright. He should take the stand that while
he would always take friendly criticism in the
spirit IN which it was offered, he would not allow
any faulthnding criticism to disconcert or TN
poise him.
Progress in life depends largely on how we
stand up under rebufs and criticism