Poor self-confidence is a like a disease, to be diagnosed as carefully as any other sickness. Poor self-confidence arises largely from allowing your mind to habitually dwell upon negative thoughts of doubt, failure, and inefficiency. This negative power can become so great, that it affects almost every aspect of your life.

However, when you have a firm, decisive, and positive disposition, it is curious to see how space clears around you, and leaves you room and freedom.

Confidence begets confidence! A strong self-confidence will often safeguard your interests and give you an abiding sense of security. It makes you feel equal to almost any undertaking, however difficult, leading you to think and believe that, "They can conquer who believe they can."

Strengthening your will-power will confer many advantages and great power.

Think deeply upon satisfaction that will come to you from doing things definitely and promptly, and increased self-confidence that will surely follow from habit of finishing everything that you undertake in a thorough manner. Not only will developing a strong, well-directed will-power give you a daily advantage, it can also help you to realize your life’s ambition.

There are many things we desire to avoid - such as poverty, pain, misfortune, and ill health; while there are things we much desire to have - such as wealth, power, knowledge, and independence. It is, however, intensity of our desire that counts for most.

Here is an example...

"I desire to become a good tennis player," says one.

"How strong is your desire?" asks teacher. "Will you practice regularly every day for an hour?!"

"I don’t think I can," says student, "because I am too busy during day, and at night I am too tired."

"What personal sacrifices are you ready to make?"

"None," is answer.

"Then," replies teacher, "your desire is not strong enough to make you a good tennis player."

Now sometimes an idea must be repeated many times before an enduring impression can be made upon your mind.

This is illustrated in modern methods of advertising. The first time you see an announcement, it may not impresses you. But if it is repeated again and again, in newspaper, magazine, television - there is a magic number of impressions that will lead you to become a purchaser.

Mental habits are established in same way. A suggestion is made to your mind once, twice, a hundred, or a thousand times. Some day this repeated suggestion will become a fixed habit, and fulfill its duty subconsciously. Simple reiteration is a very powerful tool. For example, if a shy person were to repeat aloud for a few minutes daily, with earnestness and concentration, a list of words such as courage, valor, bravery, gallantry, intrepidity, pluck, backbone, and audacity - he or she would shortly find these qualities being incorporated in his or her own personality.

We must be particularly careful about outside influences (the Dark Side for us Star Wars fans).