I am still laughing at how one guy described himself the other day, “I am the man who milks a leopard while sitting on a python!” In other words, very tough. And as I literally picture that man in my mind, I am reminded of my friend with a bit pot belly.

My friend has been advised by his doctor to reduce his weight for health reasons. Nothing seems to be working. I would be surprised if it did since despite paying a hefty membership fee to one of the most prestigious health clubs in town, he never sets foot in the place. In fact, this year he sent a messenger with a cheque to make the prompt annual payment, maybe to avoid going there. But that aside, I believe the biggest reason why he might not manage to shed weight is due to his beliefs.

My friend is from the outdated school of thought that believes that nothing says that you are rich and affluent louder than a big stomach. The biggest compliment you can give is walk up to him and say, “Hey man! Have you put on some weight? You must be doing very well!” To that, he will grin happily and lazily rub his stomach with an open palm in slow clockwise movements. The same school of thought believes that a person is thin because he or she does not have enough to eat. So, despite what a doctor says, would such a person aspire to be thin?

What a person believes about himself or herself is important since it affects the efforts that he or she makes in order to move in any particular direction. For example, despite his best efforts, the above self labeled ‘iron man’, might not easily find the tenderness required to deal with sensitive people simply because of what he believes.

It often does not seem like a big deal when someone casually says, “I am stupid!” or “I do not have a mind for business.” However, these things matter since as the Bible says, we confess with our mouths what we harbor in our hearts. Ideas in the mind grow when regularly indulged in the same way that they shrivel and die when neglected. We should encourage good and positive ideas about ourselves by thinking and talking about them often, and starve the wrong or negative ideas by avoiding dwelling in them.