Dr.Norman Vincent Peale is a famous Amwerican author of many successful books such as "Power of Positive Thinking" and "A Guide to Confident Living". Through the piece "Building Self Confidence" Peale helps us to understand that we can master our problems through confidence. "Change your thoughts" says Dr.Peale, "and you change your World".

Peale narrates an incident in his life which turned out to be a very significant one. Peale's first class on that day was economics with Professor Ben. Peale always sat in a corner seat in the back row to avoid the attention of his teachers. When questioned by the Professor, Peale became very nervous and unhappy. Though he read his l;essons regularly, he never felt confidence because of a low self-image and a low self-esteem. "I can't" was his characteristic way of reacting to any challenge.

Professor Ben asked Peale to explain a point in the lesson on that day. Peale had studied the lesson, he knew the answer but he was afraid of speaking in public. With shaking knees and a sweating face, he answered incoherently and sat down. The whole class laughed at him.

At the end of the class, Professer Ben asked Peale to meet him in his room. Peale went to see Ben after the other students had left. The Professor looked at him with concern and asked him what was wrong with him. The Professor said that Peale was doing well in the class probably he will get a first class. But he became nervous and scared when he was asked a question. Peale gussed that he was  suffering fron an inferiority complex. He wanted to get over it any cost.

The Professor assured him that he could get over his inferiority feelings just as Professor Ben did. Peale was  surprised to know that his teacher too had suffered frem his complex. No wonder the Professor was able to identify the same symptoms in Peale. The Professor's answer turned out be the soluntion to his problem. The shy, withdrawn boy became a confident and successful person. The release from negative thought was joyful and wonderful. Now Peale helps others to get rid of their inferiority complex and build a rock-like self-confidence.