Our thoughts define who we are. They can make us instantly resourceful or plunge us into the depths of despair. This true story illustrates how thoughts can affect our health and our circumstances.
Many years ago, shortly after Dr. Maxwell Maltz opened his office to start practicing as plastic surgeon, a tall African-American came to see him. Over six feet tall, he towered over the surgeon. He complained about his lip.
After examining his lower lip, he could find nothing wrong with it, and told his patient this.
The patient confessed that it was not his idea, but his girlfriend's. She had told him that she was afraid to be seen with him in public because of his lower lip.
Dr. Maltz thought the man a dignified giant who had become attached to an overly critical woman.
Although there was nothing wrong with his lip, the patient insisted on an operation. Thinking that an outrageous fee would bring the man to his senses, Dr. Maltz said it would cost $1200. The ruse appeared to work. The patient said that he couldn't afford such a fee, thanked the good doctor, and even bowed courteously.
But, the very next day, the man was back, a little black bag in his hand. He dumped its contents on the table, and hundreds and hundreds of bills poured out. Twelve hundred dollars lay on the table; his life's savings.
Dr. Maltz was shocked, and saddened too, because he didn't want to deprive the man such a huge sum of money. He confessed that he had merely quoted that figure to dissuade the money from having the operation. In that case, said the patient, he would find another plastic surgeon who would do it for him. Backed into a corner, Dr. Maltz said that he would do it for a smaller fee on the condition that he tell his lover that he paid $1200 for the operation.
The operation was simple enough. Under local anesthesia, he cut the superfluous tissue from inside the lip, approximated the rims of the wound with extremely fine silk, and bandaged the upper lip for support. The operation only took a half hour.
The patient returned a few times to have the bandages changed. There was no visible scar because all the surgery was done inside the lip.
Although the patient did not look much different, his whole attitude changed. After the stitches were removed, he crushed the doctors hand in a hearty handshake, thanked him profusely, and strode out of the room, a commanding figure.
However, a few weeks later he was back. Dr. Maltz barely recognized him. He had lost a considerable amount of weight, he stooped, his handshake was weak and timorous, and his voice barely audible.
"The bug, sir --the bug!" proclaimed the man.
"What bug?"
"The bug, sir ?the African bug. It's got me, and it's killing me."
Apparently after the last stitches had been removed he had gone and seen his woman. She had asked how much it cost. After he had told her $1200 dollars, as the doctor had recommended, she had flown into a rage and claimed that he had cheated her of the money. She revoked her love and cursed him, promising a swift death.
Deeply troubled, the man had gone to his room. He lay there for four days. A loud rapping on the door forced him to open it. The landlady, concerned about his unusual behavior, had brought a "doctor".
The so-called "doctor" listened to the man's explanation about the curse. He examined the man's lower lip and confirmed that he had indeed been bitten by the African bug. The doctor had tried to drive out the bugs with liquids, pastes, and strong potions, but the bug was too strong.
Dr. Maltz, examined the inside of the lower lip, filled a syringe with Novacain, then, after it had taken effect, removed the scar tissue.
"It's only some scar tissue," he explained to the man, holding it up.
"You mean, there's no bug, no African bug?"
"Never was."
The man suddenly regained his full height. A rich smile spread over his face, his voice boomed out a gravely, courteous thanks, and he bowed. Once again, he strode out of his office.
A few months afterward, Dr. Maltz received a letter from the former patient. Enclosed was a picture of a smiling, handsome giant with a lovely girl beside him. Emboldened by his new appearance and his freedom from the illusion of the African Bug, he had met a new girl, courted her, and married.
Resource Box
Saleem Rana got his Masters degree in psychotherapy from California Lutheran University. His articles on the internet have inspired over ten thousand people from around the world. Discover how to create a remarkable life
Copyright 2004 Saleem Rana. Please feel free to pass this article on to your friends, or use it in your ezine or newsletter. It's a shareware article.
Have you heard of the FABS? The FABS are quadruplets;... Read More
No one becomes successful by accident. Motivational speaker Les Brown... Read More
Words, Ignorance, and Casper The Friendly Ghost!Do your best to... Read More
Does negative thinking pay? Is it desirable for me to... Read More
Do you talk with yourself? When we hear people talking... Read More
Before we are able to use the Universal Thought System... Read More
Getting motivated is sometimes easy enough to do, at least... Read More
When you look at your future in terms of your... Read More
For the twelve hundred hostages, most especially Timur Kasumova.It's a... Read More
When you have a case of FABS, it may be... Read More
My story explains the struggles I had as a 23-year-old... Read More
Not Amen, just so we're clear on that.AND.The little connector... Read More
WE ARE ALL THINKING ALL OF THE TIME.Can you believe... Read More
If you suffer from low self-esteem, it's because you don't... Read More
A Model of the dysfunctional, unconscious human psyche. A way... Read More
Every day that I eat EnergyRich? Food, I get almost... Read More
A rager, or rageaholic, is a person who is addicted... Read More
Emotions have the tendency to take over our actions and... Read More
Recently a great idea popped into my head about creating... Read More
Dr. Phil says each of us has a personal "truth"... Read More
Thousands of dollars will be yours, just by using your... Read More
There is an old joke about a man who is... Read More
The infamous "glass ceiling" is blamed for business issues for... Read More
Imagine what your life would be like if you could... Read More
Since the beginning of human history we have been living... Read More
Kasia is a talented landscape designer who speaks several languages,... Read More
In order to learn how to relieve ourselves of self-defeating... Read More
Human nature is created so that you can choose your... Read More
Did you ever run into that person that just nags... Read More
When I was a young girl, my sister and I... Read More
The other day one of my "challenging clients" and I... Read More
Life is the greatest roller coaster ride we will ever... Read More
Drinking damages the soul; being lustful damages the vitality; greed... Read More
Many of us allow our fear to stop us in... Read More
Aging is a matter of the mind.The years may creep... Read More
Our thoughts define who we are. They can make us... Read More
I heard these words from a client who had been... Read More
When you're feeling "low," or out of the flow, it's... Read More
Your response (reaction?) to change is conditioned by your entire... Read More
Look for the positives!Seek them out - those little scary... Read More
Attitude, has a way of preening itself, often without awareness... Read More
Yea, I know........I hear you saying "that's easy for you... Read More
The world is going downhill faster than an Olympic skier.... Read More
Have you ever dreaded an upcoming presentation, meeting or function... Read More
"There is an infinitely worthier subject for philosophers (to study)... Read More
Many times when an angry or rageful man comes into... Read More
The fear of success is more common than some might... Read More
When I was a young man, even a teenager for... Read More
Our thoughts really belong to the collective consciousness of the... Read More
I was a young girl aged 12, when the one... Read More
It really doesn't matter what your objectives are in this... Read More
Do you feel that your negative thoughts are holding you... Read More
It would be pretty hard to become successful without first... Read More
Life is the greatest roller coaster ride we will ever... Read More
"Who am I fooling?" "I'm a loser," "I'm too old,"... Read More
One day while in deep meditation and self analysis, a... Read More
I'm sure most of you remember the children's book about... Read More
There is an old joke about a man who is... Read More
Did you know that our thoughts may be influencing our... Read More
One of the most important aspects of living a healthy... Read More
Recently, I coached a young woman whom I'll call Mary... Read More
Have you ever noticed what can happen if you just... Read More
An old Joni Mitchell song reminds us, "don't it always... Read More
At your next staff meeting lead your team through the... Read More
When someone thinks of a person with self-esteem most people... Read More
Recently, a dear friend who has been both a coach... Read More
Positive Attitude Tips |