Some Essential Qualities For Personality Development::

FAITH IN ONESELF:- Swamiji held faith in one's potential divinity as the sheet anchor of personality development. Faith in God came next only to faith in oneself. If one believes that one's real nature is the spirit--not the body or the mind--one would be a better individual with strong character.

THINK POSITIVE THOUGHTS:- Swamiji decried, in no uncertain terms, weakness in human beings. Positive, wholesome thoughts based on our inherent divinity are essential for a strong character. 'Go on doing good, thinking holy thoughts continuously, that is the only way to suppress base impressions... Character is repeated habits and repeated habits alone can reform character.' Further, according to Swamiji, the only sin is to think of oneself and others as weak.

ATTITUDE TOWARDS FAILURES AND MISTAKES:- Swamiji advocated upholding the ideal once again even if a person failed a thousand times. He appreciated committing mistakes and learning from them rather than leading an inert existence like a wall, which cannot even tell a lie.

SELF-RELIANCE:- Man is the maker of his own destiny, said Swamiji:'We are responsible for what we are, and whatever we wish ourselves to be, we have the power to make ourselves.'

RENUNCIATION AND SERVICE:- Swamiji held selfless service as a paramount means to character development. This, coupled with renunciation of selfishness and desire for the fruits of action, was considered by Swamiji as the twin ideal of our nationa. 'Intensity her in those channels,' said he,'and the rest will take care of itself.

Remarks of the authority of this book...
This booklet:

This booklet is a humble attempt to present Swamiji's ideas on personality development spread over the nine volumes of his complete works. We hope that a perusal of this booklet inspires our youth to make a deep study of Swamiji and his works, and awakens in them a desire to mould their character and develop their personality. A noble character and developed personality will ensure excellence in one's chosen field, and contribute to individual and national development. Says Swamiji: 'Teach yourselves, teach every one his real nature, call upon the sleeping soul and see how it awakes. Power will come, glory will come,goodness will come, purity will come and everything that is excellent will come when this sleeping soul is roused to self-conscious activity.'