Unit 1 Personality新编大学英语第二版第三册课文翻译.docx

1、Unit 1 Personality新编大学英语第二版第三册课文翻译Unit 1 PersonalityThe Misery of ShynessShyness is the cause of much unhappiness for a great many people. All kinds of people describe themselves as shy: short, tall, dull, intelligent, young, old, slim, overweight. Shy people are anxious and self-conscious; that is,

2、 they are excessively concerned with their own appearance and actions. Worrisome thoughts are constantly swirling in their minds: What kind of impression am I making? Do they like me? Do I sound stupid? Im ugly. Im wearing unattractive clothes. It is obvious that such uncomfortable feelings must aff

3、ect people adversely. A persons self-concept is reflected in the way he or she behaves, and the way a person behaves affects other peoples reactions. In general, the way people think about themselves has a profound effect on all areas of their lives. For instance, people who have a positive sense of

4、 self-worth or high self-esteem usually act with confidence. Because they have self-assurance, they do not need constant praise and encouragement from others to feel good about themselves. Self-confident people participate in life enthusiastically and spontaneously. They are not affected by what oth

5、ers think they should do. People with high self-esteem are not hurt by criticism; they do not regard criticism as a personal attack. Instead, they view a criticism as a suggestion for improvement. In contrast, shy people, having low self-esteem, are likely to be passive and easily influenced by othe

6、rs. They need reassurance that they are doing the right thing. Shy people are very sensitive to criticism; they feel it confirms their inferiority. They also find it difficult to be pleased by compliments because they believe they are unworthy of praise. A shy person may respond to a compliment with

7、 a statement like this one: Youre just saying that to make me feel good. I know its not true. It is clear that, while self-awareness is a healthy quality, overdoing it is detrimental, or harmful. Can shyness be completely eliminated, or at least reduced? Fortunately, people can overcome shyness with

8、 determined and patient effort in building self-confidence. Since shyness goes hand in hand with lack of self-esteem, it is important for people to accept their weaknesses as well as their strengths. For example, most people would like to be A students in every subject. It is not fair for them to la

9、bel themselves as inferior because they have difficulty in some areas. Peoples expectations of themselves must be realistic. Dwelling on the impossible leads to a sense of inadequacy, and even feelings of envy, or jealousy. We are self-destructive when we envy a student who gets better grades. If yo

10、u are shy, here are some specific helpful steps toward building self-confidence and overcoming shyness: 1. Recognize your personal strengths and weaknesses. Everyone has both. As self-acceptance grows, shyness naturally diminishes. 2. Set reasonable goals. For example, you may be timid about being w

11、ith a group of strangers at a party. Dont feel that you must converse with everyone. Concentrate on talking to only one or two people. You will feel more comfortable. 3. Guilt and shame are destructive feelings. Dont waste time and energy on them. Suppose you have hurt someones feelings. Feeling ash

12、amed accomplishes nothing. Instead, accept the fact that you have made a mistake, and make up your mind to be more sensitive in the future. 4. There are numerous approaches to all issues. Few opinions are completely right or wrong. Dont be afraid to speak up and give your point of view. 5. Do not ma

13、ke negative comments about yourself. This is a form of self-rejection. Avoid describing yourself as stupid, ugly, a failure. Accent the positive. 6. Accept criticism thoughtfully. Do not interpret it as a personal attack. If, for example, a friend complains about your cooking, accept it as a comment

14、 on your cooking, not yourself. Be assured that you are still good friends, but perhaps your cooking could improve. 7. Remember that everyone experiences some failures and disappointments. Profit from them as learning experiences. Very often a disappointment becomes a turning point for a wonderful e

15、xperience to come along. For instance, you may be rejected by the college of your choice. However, at the college you actually attend, you may find a quality of education beyond what you had expected. 8. Do not associate with people who make you feel inadequate. Try to change their attitude or yours

16、, or remove yourself from that relationship. People who hurt you do not have your best interests at heart. 9. Set aside time to relax, enjoy hobbies, and re-evaluate your goals regularly. Time spent this way helps you learn more about yourself. 10. Practice being in social situations. Dont isolate yourself from people. Try making one acquaintance at a time; eventually you will circulate in large groups with skill and self-assurance. Each on