Or consider the salesman who suffered a facial disfigurement
as the result of an automobile accident. Each
morning when he shaved he could see the horrible disfiguring
scar on Ms cheek and the grotesque twist to his
mouth. For the first time in his life he became painfully
self-conscious. He was ashamed of himself and felt that
his appearance must be repulsive to others. The scar became
an obsession with him. He was "different" from other
people. He began to "wonder" what others were thinking
of him. Soon Ms ego was even more mutilated than his
face. He began to lose confidence in himself. He became
bitter and hostile. Soon almost all his attention was
directed toward himself—and his primary goal became
the protection of his ego and the avoidance of situations
which might bring humiliation. It is easy to understand
how the correction of his facial disfigurement and the restoration
of a "normal" face would overnight change this
man's entire attitude and outlook, his feelings about himself,
and result in greater success in his work.