How to Build Self-Confidence by NAPOLEON HILL
How to Build Self-Confidence
by NAPOLEON HILL
The scientific principles outlined in this lesson have brought
success and happiness to millions of people. This particular
treatise on ‘‘How to Build Self-Confidence’’ was written more than
seven years ago as a part of a general course in applied psychology.
Later it was published in booklet form, and more than three
hundred thousand of the booklets have been distributed. One large
industrial concern presented a copy of it to every employee on its
payrolls, several thousand people.
The lesson which you are about to read has an interesting history. I
have evidence of more than a hundred cases of men and women
finding their proper bearings in life through the aid of that which you
are about to read.
The most striking example of immediate transformation of failure
into success, through the aid of this article, happened about four
years ago, during the war. One day a tramp came to my office. When I
looked up at him, he was standing in the door with his cap in his
hands, looking as if he wanted to apologize for being on earth.
I was about to offer him a quarter when he startled me by pulling a
little brown-covered booklet out of his pocket. It was a copy of How to
Build Self-Confidence.He said, ‘‘It must have been the hand of fate that
slipped this little booklet into my pocket yesterday afternoon. I was
on my way to punch a hole in Lake Michigan when someone gave me
An attractive personality is something that is always found near
a heart that beats with kindness and sympathy for struggling
humanity.
this book. I read it. It caused me to stop and think, and now I am
satisfied that, if you will, you can put me back on my feet again.’’
I looked the tramp over again. He was about the worst-looking
specimen of humanity I have ever seen. He wore a two weeks’ growth
of beard. His clothes were unpressed and ragged. He wore no collar.
His shoes were run down at the heels. But, he had come to me for
help that I could not refuse. I asked him to come in and sit down.
Frankly, I had not the slightest idea that I could do anything for him,
but I did not have the heart to tell him so.
I asked him to tell me his story, to tell me what brought him down
to that station in life. He told me his story. Briefly, it was this: Prior to
the war, he was a successful manufacturer up in the state of Michigan.
The war caused his factory to fail. It wiped out his savings and his
business, and the blow broke his heart. It undermined his faith in
himself, so he left his wife and children and went out and became a
beggar.
After I had heard this story, I thought of a plan for helping him. I
said to him, ‘‘I have listened to your story with a great deal of interest,
and I wish I could do something for you, but there is absolutely
nothing that I can do.’’
I watched him for a few seconds.He turned white and looked as if he
were about to faint. Then I said, ‘‘But, there is a man in this building to
whom I will introduce you, and that man can put you back on your feet
in less than six months if you will rely upon him.’’ He stopped me and
said, ‘‘For God’s sake, lead me to him.’’ I took him out into my
laboratory and stood him in front of what looked to be a curtain over a
door. I reached over and pulled the curtain aside, and he stood face to
face with the person to whom I had promised to introduce him,
looking himself squarely in the face, in a tall looking glass.
I pointed my finger at the glass and said, ‘‘There is the only person
on earth who can help you, sir; and unless you sit down and become
acquainted with the strength back of that personality, you might just
as well go ahead and ‘punch a hole in Lake Michigan’ because you will
be no good to yourself or to anyone else.’’
He walked over real close to the glass, rubbed his bewhiskered
face, then stepped back, and tears began to trickle down his cheeks.
I led him to the elevator and sent him away, never expecting to see
him again.
About four days later, I met him on the streets of Chicago. A
complete transformation had taken place. He was walking at a rapid
pace with his chin up in the air at a forty-five-degree angle. He was
dressed from head to foot with new clothes. He looked like success,
and he walked as if he felt like success. He saw me and came over and
shook hands.
He said, ‘‘Mr. Hill, you have changed the whole course of my life.
You have saved me from myself by introducing me to myself—to my
real self—the one I did not know before—and one of these days, I
am coming back to see you again. When I do, I am going to be a
successful man. I am going to bring you a check. Your name will be
filled in at the top, and my name will be filled in at the bottom. The
amount will be left blank, for you to fill in, because you have marked
the biggest turning point in my life.’’
He turned and disappeared in the crowded streets of Chicago. As I
watched him go, I wondered if I would ever see him again. I
wondered if he would really make good. I just wondered and
wondered. It seemed almost like reading some tale from the Arabian
Nights.
Which brings me to the end of my introductory remarks, and to an
appropriate place to say that this man has come back to see me again.
He made good. If I mentioned his name in these columns, you would
recognize it immediately, because he has attained phenomenal
success and placed himself at the head of a business that is known
from coast to coast.
I am trying to get him to tell his own story in these columns, that
others may profit by his example. I hope I will succeed, because there
are millions of others who have lost faith in the only person on this
earthly plane who can do anything for them, just as this man had
done, who might find themselves through his own story.
In the meantime, following is the article which brought about this
unusual transformation in a man who had fallen to the lowest depths
of despondency.
This can prove to be the most valuable book you ever read. It
shows you how to make application of the principles of auto-suggestion
and concentration in developing the most necessary of
all qualities for success, self-confidence.
There are two great objects for which all humanity seems to be
striving. One is to attain happiness, and the other is to accumulate
material wealth—money!
You will begin to see the importance of developing self-confidence
when you stop to realize that neither of these two chief objects of life
can be achieved without it.
Try as hard as you wish, and you cannot be happy unless you
believe in yourself! Work with all the strength at your command, and
you cannot accumulate more than barely enough to live on unless you
believe in yourself!
The one and only person in all this world through whose efforts
you can be supremely happy under all circumstances, and through
whose labor you can accumulate all the material wealth that you can
use legitimately, is yourself.
When you come into a full realization of this great truth, a new,
vibrant feeling of inspiration will seize you, and you will become
conscious of a tremendous amount of vitality and power which you
did not know that you possessed before.
You will accomplish more because you will dare to undertake
more! You will realize, possibly for the first time in your life, that
you possess the ability to accomplish anything that you wish to
accomplish! You will realize how little your success in any under-taking
will depend upon others and how much it will depend upon you.
We recommend that you purchase a copy of Emerson’s Essays and
read ‘‘Self-Reliance.’’ It will fill you with new inspirations, enthusiasm,
and determination.
Then, after you have read the essay on self-reliance, read the one
on compensation. In these two essays, you will find some remarkably
helpful truths.
In the development of self-confidence, one of the first steps you
must take is to dispel forever the feeling that you cannot accomplish
anything you undertake. Fear is the chief negative that stands between
you and self-confidence, but we shall show you how to scientifically
eliminate fear and develop courage in its place.
Reposing in your brain is a sleeping genius which can never be
aroused except through the exercise of self-confidence. When it is
once aroused, you will be amazed at what you can accomplish. You
will surprise all who knew you before your transformation took place.
You will brush aside all obstacles and sweep on to victory, backed by
an invisible force which recognizes no obstacles.
A careful analysis of the successful men of the world shows that
the dominating quality which they all possessed was self-confidence.
The purpose of this chart is to show you how you may, through
the principles of auto-suggestion and concentration, place any
thought or desire in your conscious mind and hold it there until
it becomes crystallized into reality. These principles are scientific and
accurate. They have been tested thousands of times by leading
scientists of the world. To prove their accuracy, you have only to try
them out, as hundreds of others are doing, by memorizing the
following chart:
1. I know that I have the ability to accomplish all that I undertake. I
know that to succeed, I have only to establish this belief in
myself and follow it with vigorous, aggressive action. I will
establish it.
2. I realize that my thoughts eventually reproduce themselves in
material form and substance and become real in the physical
state. Therefore, I will concentrate upon the daily task of
thinking of the person I intend to be and of drawing a mental
picture of this person and of transforming this picture into
reality. (Here describe in detail your ‘‘chief aim’’ or the life-work
you have selected.)
3. I am studying with the firm intention of mastering the fundamental
principles through which I may attract to me the
desirable things of life. Through this study, I am becoming
more self-reliant and more cheerful. I am developing more
sympathy for my fellow men, and I am becoming stronger, both
mentally and physically. I am learning to smile the smile that
plays upon the heart as well as upon the lips.
4. I am mastering and overpowering the habit of starting something
that I do not finish. From this time forward, I will first
plan all that I wish to do, making a clear mental picture of it, and
then I will let nothing interfere with my plans until I have
developed them into realities.
5. I have clearly mapped out and planned the work that I intend to
follow for the ensuing five years. I have set a price upon my
services for each of the five years, a price that I intend to
command through strict application of the principle of efficient,
satisfactory service!
6. I fully realize that genuine success will come only through strict
application of the ‘‘Golden Rule’’ principles. I will, therefore,
engage in no transaction which does not benefit alike all who
participate in it. I will succeed by attracting to me the forces
that I wish to use. I will induce others to serve me because of
my willingness to serve them. I will gain the friendship of my
fellow men because of my kindness and my willingness to be a
friend. I will eliminate from my mind fear by developing in its
place courage. I will eliminate skepticism by developing faith. I
will eliminate hatred and cynicism by developing love for
humanity.
7. I will learn to stand upon my feet and express myself in clear,
concise, and simple language, and to speak with force and
enthusiasm, in a matter that will carry conviction. I will cause
others to become interested in me, because I will first become
interested in them. I will eliminate selfishness and develop in its
place the spirit of service.
Let us particularly direct your attention to the second paragraph of
this self-confidence building chart. Under this heading, you must
clearly and definitely state the ‘‘chief aim,’’ and by deliberately placing
it in your conscious mind, you are making use of the principle of
auto-suggestion, and by memorizing this chart and holding its
contents in readiness so you may call it into the conscious mind
at any minute, and by actually calling it into your consciousness many
times a day, you are making use of the principle of concentration.
Your mind may be likened to the sensitive plate of a camera. The
‘‘chief aim’’ held before your mind, through the foregoing chart, may
be likened to the object of which you wish to make a clear, definite
picture. When this picture becomes transferred permanently to the
sensitive plates of your subconscious mind, you will notice that every
act and every movement of your body will have a tendency toward
transforming this picture into a physical reality.
Your mind first draws a picture of that which it wants, and then it
proceeds to direct your bodily activity toward acquiring it.
Keep fear away from your conscious mind as you would keep
poison out of your food, for it is the one barrier that will stand
between you and self-confidence.
After you have committed this self-confidence building chart to
memory, make a habit of repeating it aloud at least twice a day. All of
your thoughts have a tendency, within themselves, to produce appropriate
or corresponding activities in your body, but thoughts which are
There is a sure way to avoid criticism—be nothing and do
nothing.
Get a job as a street sweeper and kill out ambition. The
remedy never fails.
followed by affirmation through spoken words will crystallize into
reality in much less time than those which are not followed by
expression in words. Going still further, thoughts which are followed
by both spoken and written words will crystallize into physical reality in
still less time than those which are inhibited and merely held in
consciousness silently. Therefore, we not only strongly recommend
that you will memorize this self-confidence building chart, but we also
suggest that you write it out and repeat it aloud at least twice a day for at
least two weeks. By following these suggestions, you will have taken
three decided steps toward realizing your goal:
First, you will have created it in thought.
Second, you will have caused this to produce bodily action tending
toward its ultimate transformation into reality, through the muscular
action of the vocal organs in speaking aloud.
Third, you will have caused this thought to actually begin the
process of transformation into physical reality through the muscular
action of your hand in writing it out on paper.
These three steps would complete your task entirely in many lines
of work, for example, in architecture. The architect first thinks, paints
a clear picture of his building on the sensitive plates of his mind, then
transfers this picture to paper with his hand, and lo! his work is
completed.
We recommend that you stand before a looking glass where you
can see yourself as you repeat the words of the self-confidence
building chart. Look yourself squarely in the eyes as though you were
some other person, and talk with vehemence. If there is any feeling of
lack of courage, shake your fist in the face of that person you see in
the glass and arouse him to a feeling of reaction. Make him want to
say something; make him want to do something.
Soon you will actually see the lines on your face begin to change
from an expression of weakness to one of strength. You will
commence to see strength and beauty in that face which you never
saw before, and this wonderful transformation will be quite as
noticeable to others.
You need not follow the exact wording of the self-confidence
building chart, but select words which more appropriately express
your desire. As a matter of fact, you may write an entirely new chart if
you prefer. The wording is immaterial as long as it clearly defines the
picture which you intend to transform into reality.
Look upon this chart as being a blueprint or detailed description
of the person you intend tobe. Record in the blueprint every emotion
which you wish to feel, every act which you wish to perform, and a
clear description of yourself as you wish others to see you. Remember
that this chart is your working plan, and that in time—a very
short time at that—you are going toresemble this planing every detail.
Let this chart become your daily prayer, if you are religiously
inclined, and repeat it as such. If you believe in prayer—as you
undoubtedly do—you cannot doubt for one moment that your
desires, as expressed through the chart, will be fully realized. Do
you not see what a remarkable position of strength you will be placed
in by repeating this chart as a prayer? Do you not see with wonderful
clearness just what the added quality of faith will do toward quickly
and surely transforming your affirmations into physical realities? Do
you not see great possibilities of this method of using the power of
the Infinite for the achievement of your desires?
It makes no difference what your religion may be; this method of
self-development in no way conflicts with it. People of all religions
recognize prayer as the central power around which their creeds are
built. If prayer has the endorsement of all religions, it must be worthy
of employment in the achievement of legitimate ends. Surely the
development of self-confidence is a legitimate and worthy end.
We may not be able to explain the wonderful phenomenon of
prayer, but that should not prevent us from making every possible
legitimate use of it. To make use of it in the transformation of
the written words of the chart into physical reality surely is a legitimate
use, because the purpose of this chart is the development of
man, the greatest and most wonderful handiwork of God.
What could be more worthy purpose than that of freeing the
human mind from the greatest of all curses, fear? And, what is the
self-confidence building chart for except to eliminate fear and build
courage in its place?
By making use of this chart in the manner indicated, do you not see
how one is placed in the anomalous position of being compelled to
develop self-confidence or doubt the power of prayer and aspiration?
Do you not see what a powerful impetus is given to your undertaking
by the added quality of faith which attaches to prayer?
You need not confine your chart to the development of self-confidence
exclusively. Add to it any other quality that you wish to
develop, happiness for example, and it will bring you what you order.
To deny this is to deny the power of prayer itself.
You are now in possession of the great pass key that will unlock the
door to whatever you wish yourself to be. Call this great key whatever
you wish. Consider it in the light of a purely scientific force if you
choose; or, look upon it as a Divine Power, belonging to the great
mass of unknown phenomena which mankind has not yet fathomed.
The result in either case will be the same, success.
If prayer is good for anything at all, surely it may be used as a
medium through which to develop in the human mind the greatest of
all blessings, happiness. You will never enjoy greater happiness than
that which you will experience through the development of self-confidence.
Through this method of self-confidence building, your
Creator stands sponsor for your success. Do you not see what a
tremendous advantage you are giving yourself through this procedure?
Do you not see how impossible it will be for you to fail? Do you
not see how prayer itself becomes your chief ally?
Faith is the foundation upon which civilization rests. Nothing
seems impossible when built upon faith as the cornerstone to your
self-confidence building. Make use of it, and your building cannot fall.
You will overcome all obstacles, and tear down all resistance in
accomplishing your purposes, through this simple plan. Let no
prejudices stand in the way of your using this plan. To doubt that
it will bring you that which you desire is the equivalent of doubting
prayer.
The great curse of the ages is fear or lack of self-confidence. With
this evil removed, you will see yourself being rapidly transformed into
a person of strength and initiative. You will see yourself breaking out
of the ranks of that great mass which we call followers, and moving
up into the front row of that select few which we call leaders.
Leadership only comes through supreme belief in self, and you know
how to develop that belief.
Remember this as my parting shot at you—that you can be
anything that you deeply and emotionally desire to be. Find out
what you desire most, and you have then and there laid the
foundation for acquiring it. Strong, deeply seated desire is the
beginning of all human achievement—it is the seed, the germ
from which all man’s accomplishments spring.
Emotionalize or vitalize your whole being with any well-fixed,
definite desire, and immediately your personality becomes a magnet
that will attract to you the object of that desire.
To doubt is to remain in ignorance.
Ads go here
