Dehypnotize Yourself From False Beliefs

MY friend Dr. Alfred Adler had an experience when a young boy which illustrates just how powerful belief can be upon behavior and ability. He got o f f to a bad start in arithmetic and his teacher became convinced that he was "dumb in mathematics." The teacher then advised the parents of this "fact" and told them not to expect too much of him. They too were convinced. Adler passively accepted the evaluation they had placed upon him. And his grades in arithmetic proved they had been correct. One day, however, he had a sudden flash of insight and thought he saw how to work a problem the teacher had put on the board, and which none of the other pupils could work. He announced as much to the teacher. She and the whole class laughed. Whereupon, he became in­dignant, strode to the blackboard, and worked the prob­lem much to their amazement. In doing so, he realized that he could understand arithmetic. He felt a new con­fidence in his ability, and went on to become a good math student.