I am a short man

[thenzengineer]

Hi,
I am 5'6 and since 14, have always been considered short. Right now I am 19 and currently serve with the Army. I always wanted to join the Military Police but could not as they have a height restriction of 1.75m. I was really annoyed when I was rejected for the internal recruitment because of my height. But I was told by my superior when he heard that the best Special Forces soldiers with the country I serve were all under 5'10, which did boost my self esteem up for a while.

Being short does not frustrate me as much as knowing that I am the shortest male on record in history from both sides of my family and, yes I have finished growing.

Being short is a real hit on my self confidence. I don't know if I can ever accept my height but I know I will eventually have to since I cannot cry over spilled milk.

[Angela]

Well, I really wish my toes were straight, but I have predislocation syndrome or "sand toe" from playing beach volleyball so much, so two of my toes point in the wrong direction. It is painful and sometimes I feel a little ashamed that I behaved so badly towards my poor feet, and they don't look as nice in sandals as they used to. I can forget about high heels. If my toes were straight, I could play volleyball much more, and also my cool quad-skates, which are four wheels like traditional skates except they're rollerblade wheels. These are some very amazing skates, let me tell you, and it causes me a little pain not to be able to whoosh around in them without hurting my dawgs.

I guess I could have surgery -- hey, you could, too! -- but for now I am just practicing accepting my toes because, like your height, there's no use crying over spilled milk or toes that point in the wrong direction.

It's always something.

[newmark]

My martial arts teacher is the same height as you. Strangely, I never think of him as short, even though I'm taller than him. His power and skill are so good that to think of him as small seems kind of strange.
Also, when I've sparred with others, height is not the main issue. At least, not when people have skill. In fact, being shorter is, in some situations, an advantage.
Above I've talked about fighting. If it's true that in something so physical, that size is not the main element; which from my observations of life it isn't. Then how much more true is this in other areas of life.

[MasterD]

You think your height is making you small, though in reality your beliefs about your height are making you small.

Think about this. Isn't there a time in your life you did not feel short? Like it didn't matter, you just felt normal? If so, which is very probable, you know this 'place' exists.

Try questioning your beliefs about your height with The Work by Byron Katie (http://www.thework.com); she wrote a book called Loving What Is.

The point of the matter is that it is a socially conditioned belief that is limiting you right now. In the long run you have to transcend social conditioning and find your unique purpose in this world. Get in the world, not of the world. When I feel most free, most unlimited I feel like I am on some sort of cool, heroic mission on this earth and then nothing matters about myself, ít's just me here carrying out a purpose; not about trying to 'fit in'.

If this concept is new to you get yourself some spiritual books (The Power of Now, A New Earth, Awareness) and watch The Blueprint by Tyler Durden/Owen Cook (realsocialdynamics.com).

[seeker5]

Originally Posted by thenzengineer

Being short is a real hit on my self confidence.

Hey. I agree with MasterD that being short isn't a real hit on your self confidence - it's your belief about being short that is a real hit on your self-confidence.

I met Peter Diamondis a few years ago - he is one of titans of the private space industry, having founded several successful companies and organizations, and guess what? He's shorter then you. He spoke to a crowd of 1000 people, and the crowd respected and loved him so much for what he's done - he obviously didn't let his height bother him.

The president of the company I used to work for until 4 weeks ago makes several million dollars a year and has a networth of over $100 Million, all from what he's earned (ie, he didn't inherit anything). And guess what, he's shorter then you and he also doesn't let his height bother him. In fact, when you see him and talk to him, you know he's extremely confident and self-assured.

I myself have had a hearing loss from birth. When I was in college thinking of dropping out of college, I went to the military recruitment station to see if I could sign up and enlist. And you know what? They were happy to consider me and talk to me, but as soon as they noticed I had a hearing loss, they refused to even consider me to join the military. So with your body, you got much further into the military then I could. I haven't let their refusal to let me into the military affect my self-confidence.

You might want to do something about that belief so it doesn't bother you, so it becomes a nothing. I know what I and others in this thread wrote isn't going to magically erase that negative belief. What we wrote just shows you that it's not your actual height that affects your self-confidence, it's the belief you once chose long ago about what your height means that affect your self-confidence.

[thenzengineer]

Thnx for the advice, I am going to think positively about my height. My height has had its advantages. As newmark said about his martial arts teacher, yes I had a slight advantage when completing a CQB course (Close Quarter Battle) in condensed area.

I just arrivied from a deployment in East Timor and my height was an advantage over there also as the locals were not intimidated by approaching me for help compared to the 8 others in my section who are conincidentally all over 6 feet.

From now on I will stop thinking about my height as something that stops me reaching my potential goals but something that helps me reach it.

Sorry seeker5 about your hearing problem, reading that made me realise that I am lucky to have everything normal about my body which allowed me to join the army easily, which I do love the lifestyle a lot.

[seeker5]

Cool, I'm glad you're willing to work on changing that belief Best of luck!

Remember there are many ways of consciously changing a belief that you have. If one way doesn't work, you can start looking for another way.

[Lauxa]

I found a little something I thought you might enjoy. It's a web page listing famous people that are 5'7" and less:

Famous People Height List - Pt3

[Brutha]

I would rather want to be extremly short and super smart than being big and dumb.

Even in military it's easier to hit a bit target than to hit a small one if you have a gun.