our own self－esteem. The loss of esteem reduces the will and ability to set and reach goals. In a series of reading Douglas teaches how to avoid negative statements, how to change them into self－facing behavior, and how to take charge of your mental attitude. Where other motivational and self－help work stops with the theoretical plan for success, Douglas takes everyday examples and puts them into his books. From raising children who believe in themselves to using self－esteem to help bridge the gap in the workplace, he gives readers concrete solutions to the problems that might ruin their interpersonal relations.

　　Self－esteem building comes from filling your thoughts with positive affirmations (肯定) and learning to react to failures with motivation instead of self－destruction. These lessons are valuable for anyone who feels that life is even slightly out of control. People who feel they have adequate esteem can learn to use it to make their success grander, faster, and more beneficial for others. Douglas approaches this process of self－development as a means of more than creating good things for the individual but also for setting up keys for influencing good things for others.

　　For more than thirty years, Dr. Douglas has addressed more than two million people on topics from time management to speaking effectively to raising drug－free children. He is the author of fifteen books, including How to Make a Habit of Succeeding.

　　语篇解读：本文主要讲述了自尊心强的优势，以及如何培养自尊。

　　1．What can we infer from Paragraph One?

　　A．Most people behave well enough.

　　B．Self－respect means being above normality.

C．Self－esteem matters much.