Think not on what you lack as on what you have!

IN life, self-confidence is an indispensable pre-requisite without which it is hard to achieve success in any field. Those lacking confidence often harbour some form of inferiority complex which could be related to some past incident, impression, disability or feeling which made a severe impact on the individual's mind during childhood. The realisation that conditions are now different from the circumstances that prevailed in the past should however abet an individual to shed his complex.

In some cases individuals have an inferiority complex when required to perform deeds like speaking in public, participating in competitions, contributing ideas in a Conference or the like.  One way to do away with this is to do the very thing which one is shy or frightened of, repeatedly. When doing so, one should dispel the obsession or illusion that others are watching and observing all of one's actions with keen interest. People are basically interested in themselves and little in others and the realisation of this basic human psychology goes a long way to remove one's inferiority complex.

In some cases where things cannot be changed, like when one is handicapped, facts have to be faced boldly and things then done in an optimistic manner. If one is born blind, deaf, dumb or maimed, medical help can be sought but
if deformities cannot be altered it is of no use to worry about them endlessly. Instead one should accept such handicaps as a challenge to go ahead to attain objectives with redoubled vigour.

There are many who have attained success in spite of severe and serious handicaps. Helen Keller went stone blind and yet she did so much to alleviate the sufferings of the blind and otherwise incapacitated people. Thomas Alva Edison was stone deaf and yet he was able to bring about many inventions. Franklin D. Roosevelt was rendered invalid because of a polio attack and yet he got elected four times in succession as the President of the United States. El Greco, the great painter, could hardly see and similarly Napoleon was short, lacked height and yet gained incomparable stature as a General. Bader with wooden legs became one of Germany's best fighter pilots.

In Tanzania, nothing much has been done to alleviate the plight of the disabled and yet there are a few examples where people with incurable diseases or with permanent handicap, have excelled in one way or another. With the same handicap, one can shine with success or stand in the street corner begging for livelihood. Whey then does one need to be cowed down with the latter option? Think not on what you lack as much as on what you have!