Think and Grow Rich test: Are you gaining or losing self-confidence?
October 2nd, 2009 by JD
My answers to the Think and Grow Rich Self-Assessment Test
Recently, I was reminded of the self-assessment test in Napoleon Hill’s best-selling book, Think and Grow Rich.
There are fifty-four questions in that test, and I’m going to be giving my answers and thoughts on one or two of them as close to daily as I can manage. I may miss a day here or there, but I’m going to follow through until I reach the end of the test.
I’ve started the series of posts with:
Question Number 10. Are you gaining or losing self-confidence as you grow older?
Overall, I’m definitely losing self-confidence as I grow older.
That’s not necessarily as bad as it looks at first glance, however.
When I was younger, I thought I could do anything I set my mind to, and for the most part, that turned out to be true. Along the way, however, I learned that I was much better at accomplishing some things than I was at others. That led me to focusing more on my strengths and less on my weaknesses.
That focus is contrary to what many people recommend.
As I focus on what I do best, I’m gaining in self-confidence, knowledge and skill. I think that is a very good thing, but, outside those areas, my self-confidence has declined markedly.
I’m not sure that it matters a whole lot, because I’m no longer doing, or even wanting to do, many of those things that I don’t feel I can do as well.
If I were going to give a short answer, focused on business, I’d simply say that my self-confidence is growing every year, even though the results I’m achieving don’t always match.
A longer, and more-truthful, answer requires that I acknowledge that there are many other areas where I no longer feel that I can do anything I want. How important this is, especially for the purposes of this test, I don’t know. I don’t think it’s all that important.
What about you?
Are you gaining or losing self-confidence as you grow older?
Act on your dream!
JD
This entry was posted on Friday, October 2nd, 2009 at 6:04 am and is filed under Books, Self-Improvement, Success and Failure. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
October 2nd, 2009 at 1:43 pm
Wow–what a great idea of things to blog about!
I would say that my self-confidence is definitely GROWING as I age–simply because I am starting to realize that much of my life I have been paying attention to limiting beliefs. And as I break through each of them, I have more confidence to break through others. Here’s a quick example:
Last weekend my husband and I stopped at a little snack shop and I got a root beer float. It was mostly ice cream with just a little bit of root beer. When I had only ice cream left, I mentioned it to my husband, who said, “Why don’t you go ask for some more root beer?”
My knee-jerk reaction was, “Nah–they’re not going to give me more root beer.” But I recognized it as a limiting belief and went up and asked. And guess what? They gave me more root beer!
It’s little things like this–little steps of progress along the way that help me see my confidence build more and more.
Margie Remmers
http://www.BuildingConfidencePicks.com
October 2nd, 2009 at 8:21 pm
I’d have to say that I’m losing some of my self confidence, and I don’t like it one bit.
When I first got into business, I had all the confidence in the world that I was going to be living well in 10 years. Well, it’s year 8, and I’ve lived really well for 2 of those 8 years, and that’s not enough.
Also, I’ve suddenly realized that maybe I can do a few things physically that I could do 20 years ago, but I’ll pay for it for a long time afterwards, and just need to stop thinking I’m 30 at this point. That’s a terrible thing to think about, but it’s just how life treats us.
so yes, in many ways, my self confidence has gotten worse. Yet I haven’t given up, and I keep going, which means I’ve found my way of fighting through these issues towards better things. And that, I hope, shows what I’m made of.
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October 5th, 2009 at 8:41 am
Good morning, Mitch.
So, even though you’re losing self-confidence in some areas, can I take your comment to indicate that it is growing in others?
Or, are you just keeping on working towards your goals, even if your self-confidence is lessening?
One of the things that Napoleon Hill stresses is perseverance. I think continuing to do your best, even when your self-confidence may be waning, is a very important quality and may be one of the most important.
Yes, it shows what you’re made of.
All the best,
JD
October 5th, 2009 at 8:54 am
Good morning, Margie.
Welcome to our discussions.
(I just now saw your comment because it was caught in my Askimet spam queue, for some reason. I’m glad I saw it and approved it.)
Good for you! I’m happy to hear that your self-confidence is growing. I hope that’s true for most people who take Mr. Hill’s test.
Breaking through self-limiting beliefs is a very important thing to do if we want to grow and improve.
A lot of little steps leads to a good destination, as your example shows.
Thanks for sharing your experiences.
All the best,
JD
October 5th, 2009 at 5:20 pm
Hi John,
I never let my lack of self confidence keep me from pushing forward. I just keep trying and, hopefully, will succeed on some level here and there.
As for growing confidence in other areas, no, I wouldn’t say that. What I will say is that I have areas where I have all the self confidence I need, so it doesn’t grow or diminish. But I have other areas where self confidence is a problem, yet I don’t give up. I battle from within; after all, we all have to have something in mind to shoot for.
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