Personality Development

by: Sitaramaprasad   

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I had put lot of effort. I collected a good deal of information from literature and real life, which was a record of sorts.

My book, “ HelpYourself ”, was considerably successful. Five lakhs of copies were sold. I have to agree that ‘my earlier experience and popularity as a writer’ was helpful to some extent for the success of my book. I narrated many instances from my life and my interaction with some celebrities, which satisfied the readers’ curiosity. In that book, I gave many tips to become successful, though I left success undefined.

I started a column too, named “Your problem/ My answer” in a magazine.

One fine day an idea struck my mind. "I have got so much experience in improving the lives of people. So why not help people further, with counseling, definitely for a few bucks?”

So I decided to open a counseling center.

A successful politician opened my clinic and lauded my efforts as a writer. He highlighted the relevance of my work, in the present day’s competitive world.

My first case came rather immediately, that evening. My client, Naraiah, was a young software engineer. He told, he was from a humble background and he was an orphan. He looked confident but was dull.

After offering him a cup of tea, I asked, “What’s your problem?”

“I lost my job in US due to a recent retrenchment. I came back to learn some new software. Now I am in deep depression.”

“ Don’t worry. The fact that you came for counseling, indicates, you have still got some hope left in you”

Then I started telling anecdotes about popular figures, who faced the blues in their lives and who ultimately fought back from that temporary phase.

He interrupted me abruptly. “ Don’t tell me all those stories. I have read enough of these writings. I can not be a Lincoln or Gandhi. Similarly a Gandhi or Lincoln can not become a Naraiah”

“True. You can not become a Lincoln, but you can emulate him to some extent. You have to think a bit positively” I protested.

“Exactly that is my problem. How to think positively? It is impossible for me to think positively”

“Nothing is impossible for a human being. Try hard.”

“Any guy tries his level best. It’s practically impossible for some people, to succeed. Their mental and physical resources are simply not enough.”

“Many popular figures admitted they were not gifted. But due their sheer diligence they excelled ultimately”

“Popularity is a limited space in the hearts of people. Only a lucky few can enter that space. ‘Everybody becoming popular’ means ‘nobody is popular’. Moreover, no famous person gives the credit of his success to some counseling. I do not believe in this business of Personality Development.”

I thought, “Roles are reversed”. I felt humiliated and threatened at once.

“Then why should you come to me and waste your money and time!!”

“Just to talk about all this stuff. Now I feel better”

Then he got up, paid my bill and left.