There is too much of this sort of sorrow experienced by the people of the earth, but when it comes to a man with an occupation, a business man or a young man getting ready for business, it is positively foolish and detrimental. We know that it has been the practice of people in all times to fret and worry about the things of the past, for there are numerous sayings cautioning them against it. One of them is very appropriate: “Never cry over spilled milk.” It is gone and can not be restored. Many persons may have what is called a “skeleton” in his closet, but it does not do him nor his friends any good service to keep rattling its bones continually. If you have been very wrong in the past, repent and begin over again. DON’T BE BASHFUL There are many persons who stand in their own way to success by their timidity, or bashfulness. Such people are too self-conscious, and betray their lack of self-confidence which is regarded as an evidence of ignorance, or at least, inability to perform the duties they aspire to impose upon themselves. Every man is better acquainted with himself than anybody else, but when he relies upon the knowledge of others as superior to his own knowledge, he loses the respect of his fellows, and finally loses his own respect and becomes bashful in their presence. You should cultivate courage and exhibit symptoms of self-confidence, for by that means you show others that you are willing to “dare” and venture a trial of your capacity. If you are too timid and have no confidence in yourself, you must not expect others to take you except at your own valuation. There is, however, such a thing as being over-confident and brazen, which is the extreme of timidity, and becomes boastfulness. Men have a way of studying each other and judging from their own standpoint, and if they perceive any timidity or bashfulness, they judge against you as incompetent. On the other hand, they quickly see beneath the surface of boasting, and reach the same opinion. Be self-confident, and gentlemanly about it, for so you will pull through any opportunity, besides making hosts of friends in a business and social way. Look a man straight in the eye, but do not try to look him down. DON’T BE UNDECIDED A man who can not make up his mind to do or not to do a thing without a great deal of wobbling first one way and then another, is as bad as an unsafe wall in a building—everybody keeps off lest it fall and do some damage. When a man has first carefully considered a project, or a certain line of action, and also taken the advice of his friends if the matter is important, he should decide one way or the other at once. A wobbly man is weak-kneed, and not to be depended upon for any purpose. If you have ever had dealings with that kind of a man you will understand how painful it is to wait for him to decide.