Yogesh Katyal
“There’s only one corner of the universe you can be certain of which is improving,” wrote the famous author Aldous Huxley,” and that’s your own self.”
When you set out on a course of self improvement, it is proof that you are aware of shortcomings-which are always better than being ignorant of them. It indicates that you have a vision of your own possibilities. There are many aspects of self improvement, and many ways of bringing them to fruition. Some take only days, others months, some even years.
Take the matter of our outward appearance and personal grooming. To achieve improvement here takes only the resolve to bring it about plus a little trouble, and may be the outlay of a few shillings on extra laundry, or the cleaning and repair of clothes. If we want to improve ourselves, it is possible that we could well begin in this sphere. Perhaps we have fallen into lazy and indifferent attitude about our appearance and have grown to accept low standards in matters of personal grooming.
The next obvious sphere for self improvement is the matter of voice and speech. Others tend to judge us arbitrarily not only on what we look like but what we sound like. Most speech defects arise from slovenly habits which have led to the speech organs being in poor condition. The tongue and lips are the chief offenders. Neither are moved enough in speech generally, but they can easily be made more supple by a few minutes of daily exercise for a few weeks. As far as your voice is concerned, the greater enemy of attractiveness is monotony. Make sure you are not a droner. If you are, carry out this first aid treatment immediately.
Get hold of a book of short poems and find two or three that appeal to you. Read these aloud with understanding and feeling everyday. This will show you the attractive qualities in your voice, and with little perseverance you will find them becoming evident in your everyday speech.
Something must be said, too about vocabulary. The more words we have at our command, the more effectively we shall be able to express ourselves. Most people manage to get along on a limited vocabulary by using such phrases as “sort of” or “you know what I mean,” or by flogging mercilessly such hacks as “nice”,”preety”,”big” and “very”. It is the mark of an educated person that he has at an immediate command a comprehensive storage of words. If you wish to improve your general education, it is best to concentrate upon two, three or four subjects a year according to the time you have available. To call ourselves reasonably educated in a general sense we should have a knowledge of geography and geology which will help us to understand the planet upon which we find ourselves, and some knowledge of astronomy so as to understand the setting or back-cloth of this planet. Knowledge of history would give us some idea as to what mankind has been doing prior to our arrival. We should also become acquainted with some of the great works of literature and if possible gain some mastery over a language other than our own. In addition some knowledge of the basic principles of physics, chemistry and mathematics is highly desirable, to say nothing of a nodding acquaintance with some of the finding of psychology.
A self improvement programme should include also an overhaul of our attitude to life and our relationships with others, and the matter of our own self regard. Concentrate more on happy, beautiful, wonderful, innocent things of life rather than its tragedies, injustices, iniquities and enigmas. Aim at establishing and maintaining harmonious relationships with everyone you meet- even those that do not attract you. This will mean considerable patience and restraint on your part, but it can be done. The secret lies in consideration for others and trying to like them inspite of their imperfections. Knowledge of psychology helps us here by enabling us to understand why people behave as they do. Two other important principles in keeping on good terms with others are never to expect gratitude for services given, and never to expect perfection in others. You must learn to forgive yourself and to regard yourself as a worthwhile member of society. Growing self confidence and learning to like others will enable you to mix more easily with people including those of the opposite sex .The joys and satisfactions that these social contacts will amply repay you for all the effort you have expended in the exiting and noble task of self improvement.
The poet Robert Browning said:” My business is not to remake myself, but to make the absolute best of what God made”.
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