WHY YOUR SELF IMAGE DETERMINES YOUR SUCCESS

WHY YOUR SELF IMAGE DETERMINES YOUR SUCCESS

Maxwell Maltz was an American cosmetic surgeon and is the author of Psycho-Cybernetics which is arguably considered one of the greatest books ever written. The concept of self image and how it determines one’s success was introduced by Maltz and many considered it to be the great psychological discovery of all- time.

Maltz believed that you”cannot long outperform or escape your self-image”.

If you do escape briefly, you’ll be “snapped back,” like a rubber band, extended between two fingers, coming loose from one.

Maltz claimed that the person who has a “fat” self-image-whose self-image claims to have a “sweet tooth,” to be unable to resist “junk food,” who cannot find the time to exercise-will be unable to lose weight and keep it off no matter what he tries to do consciously in opposition to that self- image.

The person who perceives himself to be a “failure type person” will find some way to fail, in spite of all his good intentions or his willpower, even if opportunity is literally dumped in his lap. The person who con- chives himself to be a victim of injustice, one “who was meant to suffer,” will invariably find circumstances to verify his opinions.

Whatever is difficult for you, whatever frustrations you have in your life, Maltz believed that they are likely “proving” and reinforcing something ingrained in your self- image like a groove in a record.

Obviously, it’s not enough to say “it’s all in your head.” In fact, that’s insulting. It is more productive to explain that “it” is based on certain ingrained, possibly hidden patterns of thought that, if altered, will free you to tap more of your potential and experience vastly different results.

The story that best illustrates the impact on self image is the story of two men with facial scars.The first person was a salesperson with a facial scar who believed that his scar made him inferior and a lousy sales person. The second was a dualist who also had a facial scar. A scar in the dualist society proved that you were a member in good and was seen as a symbol of prestige in his profession. The dualist believed the scar contributed to much of his success in life.

Two men who both had scars led dramatically different lives and had dramatically different self images. One viewed himself as a success in life and the other believed he was a failure.

If a scar on the face enhances the self-image (as in the case of the German duelist), self-esteem and self-confidence are increased. If a scar on the face detracts from the self-image (as in the case of the salesman), loss of self-esteem and self-confidence result.

The good news is that Maltz believed you can change your self image and end self sabotage once and for all.

In closing, Maltz claimed that the goals you attempt to convey are filtered through the self-image, and if they are inconsistent with the self-image, they are rejected or modified.

By discovering how to alter your self-image, you end its conflict with your goals and will do what is necessary for you to achieve them.

http://www.pdfarchive.info/pdf/M/Ma/Maltz_Maxwell_-_The_New_Psycho-Cybernetics.pdf