The Washington herald., 1916-06-16
How to Overcome Timidity.
BY oRIsoN SWEET MARDEN.

How can l overcome my shyness, my self
consciousness which is keeping me back, ruin
ing my happiness?" / am constantly receiving
letters from young people asking this or similar
questions The form may differ, but always the
meaning is the same. How can / get rid OF
timidity, senstiveness? l haven't the courage
to branch out, l cannot push myself aggress-
lively as those about inc do. l shrink from
mingling with people l shrink from respon-
sibility, from everything which brings me into
observation, which makes me the target Of
others eyes l am so sensitive of what othei
people think of me, so afraid l will make bad
impression, that it spols my conversation my
manner, my appearance. l simply suffer tor
lures from this notifying sensitiveness which
Iconstantly holds me back. l have lost position
after position because l cannot take scolding
or criticism without wincing. l feel so out,
so abused and hurt by any fault finding, that
| l cannot stand it. I simply get out"
We are apt to think that there no diseases
or disease tendencies but the physical, but many
of the worst kind mental. Tmidity, NOR
bid self-consciousness, OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
are as truly diseases as smallpox or typhus.
Their victims are often made quite helpless, and
are never capable of doing their best. They are
left in the rear because they never develop the
iaggressive, pushing qualities which are impera-
tive to leadership and to progress. Even though
they possess sterling ability, their lack OF cour-
age the absence of daring and aggressiveness
in their makeup, their shrinking from society,
to great extent, negative their ability
If you are held back by an embarrassing
self-consciousness which mortihes and hinders
you at every point you may overcome it, if
you will. If you find you are inclined to be
tirnid, if you lack courage and initiative, if you
L,e f,,i ion
anywhere; if you blush, and stammer. and arc
awkward in company you can overcome Tyour
defects and build up the qualities you lack, by
training your subjective self to be courageous,
Iunembarrassed at your ease in any surroundings.
! Begin by suggesting courage, harmony, self
possession to this inner self. Stoutly deny that
you are timid, cowardly, afraid to speak be
natural in public before strangers. Assert
that you brave, that you not afraid to
do anything that it is right and proper you
should do.
Practice walking about among your fellows
with your head up, your eyes looking fearlessly
forward as though you self-conhdent, per-
fectly sure of yourself, as capable Of carrying on
a conversation creditablv, or entering a room
gracefully you Of dischargng your daily
duties.
Constantly assert your power and indepcnd-
ence. Say to yourself: II will not allow one
little weak link in my ability chain to thwart
my ambition. to ruin my career. ! don't purpose
to go through the world with the reputation
of being "a weakling' "a timid sensitive fool
| I don't care how it hurts me, will push my way
to the 'front.' will assert. myself. Hereafter I
will never shrink from my situation, any re-
sponsbility which will tend to call me out,
which will force me to use my ability. l have
been shv tiu1id sensitive nonentity long
enough. Now l am done with the whole busi-
ness. l different person, and hereafter my
friends will see the difference They will no
longer find me hanging around the outskirts Of
things, taking a back scat. They will find me
at the front. / don't what people think
of me. That shall longer affect my con-
duct. l shall henceforth live my life in my
own way. | will step of the crowd and do
my own thinking, and if people don't like it l
don't care. I am supported and upheld by the
Power that has made and that sustains all
things. In Him I live and move and have my
being, and the more rely on Him the stronger
l am, the freer from tnidity and self-con-
sciousness. l what l armstrong, free,
courageous unfettered by any weakness. I am
Gods child l partake OF His strength. l am
one with Him, and therefore qualified to carry
myself with grace and dignity in any and every
situation"
| This one thought that God is all, and that
we one with Him. will antdote, neutralize
every weakness, will drive out forever the
not be the victim of foolish bashfulness 1t
would be treason against the Creator, belittel-
ing of the Power that made
Copyright. 1851
New Spirit in the Navy