Success Through A Positive Mental Attitude

It was our recommendation that the parents and daughter be given an Activity Vector Analysis by one of the authors. In Chapter 10 entitled: "How to Motivate Others," you have read about Activity Vector Analysis. These results were very revealing. We found that the girl possessed ambitions, energies, and traits so far beyond either of the parents that it would be difficult for them to comprehend her reactions to them until they understood that each person is different.

The parents thought that while it was nice to know how to play a piano, it was good for a girl to work at home and work in a store in the summer. A passion to be a pianist was just a waste of time. "She will get married some day and will have to keep house. She should be more practical," the parents reasoned. The daughter's capacities and the tendencies that motivated her were explained to the parents. Reasons were given why it was

hard for them to understand her. An explanation was also given to the daughter as to why her parents thought one way and she another. When the three endeavored to understand what brought about their problem and how they could adjust to it with a positive mental attitude, they were able to live together in greater harmony.

To have a happy home, be understanding. To be happy, be understanding of other people. Realize that another person's energy level and capacities may not be the same as yours. He may not think like you. Try to understand that what he likes may not be what you like. When you realize this, you will find it easier to develop a PMA in yourself and to do that which will create desirable reactions in others.

Opposite poles of a magnet attract each other and do persons with opposite personality traits. And where there is a community of interest, two individuals may experience a happy association together although each has opposite characteristics in many respects. One may be ambitious, aggressive, confident, and optimistic and possess tremendous drive, energy, and stick-to-itiveness. The other may have a tendency to be satisfied, fearful, timid, shy, tactful, and humble and may lack confidence in himself. Often such persons are attracted to each other, and when associated together complement, strengthen, and inspire each other.

And they blend their personalities and thus the extremes of each become neutralized. What would grow into rigidity on the part of one and frustration on the part of the other is thus avoided.

Would you be happy and inspired if you were married to a person whose personality was exactly like yours? Be truthful with yourself. The answer would probably be "no."

Children, too, can be taught to be understanding and to be appreciative of all that their parents do for them. Much unhappiness is caused in homes because the children do not appreciate and understand their parents. But whose fault is it? The child's or the parents' or both?

Some time ago we had an appointment with the president of a large and successful organization. His name has appeared in a favorable light in every large newspaper in the country for the good work he did while holding public office. Yet on the day we saw him, he was most unhappy. "No one likes me! Even my children hate me! Why is this?" he asked.

Actually this man is a person of good intent. He gave his children everything that money would buy. He deliberately kept them from the needs that forced him as a child to gain the strength he developed as a man. He tried to protect them from those things in life that to him were not beautiful. He eliminated the necessity for them to struggle as he had had to struggle. He never asked or expected appreciation from his sons and daughters when they were children and he never got it. Yet he assumed that they understood him without endeavoring to find out.

Things would have been different had he taught his children to be appreciative and to gain strength by at least partially fighting their own battles. He experienced happiness in making them happy without teaching them to be happy by making others happy. Therefore they made him unhappy. Perhaps if he had confided in them when they were growing up and told of the struggles he had endured for their benefit, they might have been more understanding.

But there is no need for this man, or anyone in a like situation, to remain unhappy. He can turn up the PMA side of his talisman and try earnestly to make himself known to and understood by his dear ones.

And he can take the time to show that he loves them by sharing himself instead of just giving them those material things with which his wealth can supply them. If he shares himself as liberally as he shared his money with them, he will experience the rich reward of having them return love and understanding to him.