by Napoleon Hill
Available in 122 free installments
Owner:
Of course this man had meant well. He had the right intent toward his children and toward others. But he had not been sensitive to their reactions. He had simply assumed that they would understand. And he had not taken the time to help them to do so.
Now this man could help himself by reading inspirational books. We recommended several including: How to Win Friends and Influence People. And we told him that his children were people.
Attract and repel through verbal communications. Regardless of who you are ? you are a wonderful person! Yet certain individuals may not think so. If you feel that they react unfavorably with unwarranted antagonism to the many things you say and do, you can do something about it. They are just as human as you are.
You have the power to attract and repel! You can use this power wisely to attract the right friends and repel those who have an undesirable or injurious influence on you. With a negative mental attitude ? you are apt automatically to repel the good things in life and attract the undesirable including the wrong kind of friends.
Undesirable reactions on the part of others may be due to what you say and how you say it; or because of your true inner feelings and attitudes. The voice, like music, is often a reflection of the mood, attitude, and hidden thoughts of the mind. It may be just as difficult for you to realize that the fault lies with you as it is for
you to take the initiative and correct yourself when you realize the fault does at times lie with you ? but you can do it!
You can learn from a good salesman. For he is forced to train himself to be sensitive to the reactions of prospective customers ? and do something about it.
The customer is always right attitude of successful merchants is a most difficult attitude for some individuals to adopt; yet ? it gets results!
If you would endeavor to make your relatives happy with the same positive mental attitude that a salesman uses to sell his merchandise to prospective customers, your home and social life would become a more happy and successful one ? that is if you have a problem of personality conflict at home.
If your feelings are frequently hurt because of what people say, or how they say it, it is quite likely that you yourself are frequently guilty of offending others by what you say or how you say it. Try to determine the true reasons for your reactions of hurt feelings and then avoid causing the same reactions in others.
If gossip offends you, you can assume that you shouldn't gossip or you will offend others.
If you find someone's tone of voice and attitude towards you objectionable, avoid offending others by speaking or acting in the same manner.
If you are not happy when someone yells at you in an angry voice, assume that it is repellent to another if you yell at him ? even though he is your five-year-old son, or a very close relative.
If you feel offended because another person misunderstands your intent, show your confidence ? give other persons the benefit of the doubt.
If you do not find arguments, sarcasm, humor with a personal sting, or criticism of your ideas, friends or relatives pleasant, it is logical to assume that others will not find them pleasing either.
And if you like to be complimented ? if you like to be remembered ? if it makes you happy to know that someone thinks of you: you can safely assume that others will be happy if you compliment them, or remember them, or drop them a note to let them know you are thinking of them.
A letter can bring happiness. Absence makes the heart grow fonder ? if letters are exchanged. For many a marriage has taken place because love grew stronger through absence.
Poetry, imagination, romance, idealism, ecstasy develop warmth and understanding through the exchange of letters. Each individual can express thoughts that might never be expressed if the written word is not used as the medium. Letters of endearment need not, and should not, stop with marriage. Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain) wrote loving notes to his wife daily even when they were at home. They lived a life of real happiness together.
You are what you think. To write ? you must think. When you write a letter, you crystallize your thinking on paper. Your imagination is developed by recollecting the past, analyzing the present and perceiving the future. The more often you write, the more you take pleasure in writing. By asking questions, you, as the writer, direct the mind of the recipient into desired channels. You can make it easy for him to respond to you. Thus, when he
does, he becomes the writer and you receive additional joy as the recipient.
