A young boy who looked on the bright side of everything was given a ball and a bat by his father. The father told the boy that when he got home from work, he would play a whole inning of baseball with his son. Sure enough, when the father arrived home, he took the son out in the back yard to see what he could do.

The little boy threw the ball up, swung the bat, and missed. "Strike one," the father said. The boy tossed the ball up again, swung, and missed. His father said, "Strike two." With more determination than ever, the boy threw the ball up a third time, swung a mighty swing, missed, and spun around, falling to the grass. His father said, "Strike three. You're out. What do you think?"

To this, the optimistic little boy answered, "Man, am I a good pitcher!"

A little positive thinking can go a long way in motivation. However, the lower a person's sense of self-worth, the less that person tends to accomplish both physically and mentally. A low self-image affects a child in virtually every aspect of life—dress, conversation, facial expression, future employment possibilities, even the future of his or her marriage.

In my counseling of young children, teenagers, and even adults, I have found that certain individuals seem to be programmed to fail. But I also have found there is something we can do to enhance a person's level of self-worth.

It's essential that we get our children involved in at least one activity where they can be successful. The more successful they become in various activities, the more it raises their self-worth. We should literally help them through at least one accomplishment, whether it is playing the trumpet, swimming, painting—anything. A child may say, "I can't do that." But we must find an activity that interests the child and then let the child know that we believe in him and that he is capable of accomplishing the task.

I can still recall when my high school basketball coach yelled at me one day, telling me I was too slow. It took me years to get rid of the memory of those words ringing in my ears, "Smalley, you're too slow." When I went out for track, it was difficult for me to run because I kept reminding myself I was too slow. My low self-image actually inhibited my ability to run.

© Copyright 2006 Smalley Relationship Center

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