Erin, I think your essay hits the bullseye. Unfortunately, these days, much of our society isn’t structured this way. Growing up in the Ronald Reagan years, I fondly recall him telling the public that he believed in us, as individuals to pursue and achieve our dreams, so much more than he believed that someone else could achieve them for us, let alone government provide for us what we could provide for ourselves through hard work.
“When recognition is given regardless of commitment or the significance of the accomplishment, the distinction between responsibility and excellence begins to erode.”
When we accomplish things on our own we build self-esteem. When we have them handed to us, or we are given recognition for participation, we don’t build self-esteem.
I once heard someone say that which is given to us for free without our effort, invisibly extracts self-esteem.
Self-esteem is developed through hard work. Through failure. Through picking yourself up over and over. It is through this process it becomes core to our identity.
For me the tenets of your of your essay are ones of self esteem.
Thanks, James. And, yes to all of this - I always appreciate your thoughtful insight. . 😊
I think there’s been a rise in fragility that has led to insecurity when we’re not good at everything, ultimately overshadowing our unique talents and gifts. What if, instead, we were free to focus on what we’re truly meant to do—and pursue it with excellence, outshining the rest?
Ironically, the push for equality often leads to diminished diversity, as we all feel pressured to fit the same mold rather than celebrate our individual strengths. True equality shouldn’t mean being the same; it should mean having the freedom to pursue our own paths and excel in what makes us unique.
Erin, I think your essay hits the bullseye. Unfortunately, these days, much of our society isn’t structured this way. Growing up in the Ronald Reagan years, I fondly recall him telling the public that he believed in us, as individuals to pursue and achieve our dreams, so much more than he believed that someone else could achieve them for us, let alone government provide for us what we could provide for ourselves through hard work.
“When recognition is given regardless of commitment or the significance of the accomplishment, the distinction between responsibility and excellence begins to erode.”
When we accomplish things on our own we build self-esteem. When we have them handed to us, or we are given recognition for participation, we don’t build self-esteem.
I once heard someone say that which is given to us for free without our effort, invisibly extracts self-esteem.
Self-esteem is developed through hard work. Through failure. Through picking yourself up over and over. It is through this process it becomes core to our identity.
For me the tenets of your of your essay are ones of self esteem.
Thanks for reading this far 😊
Thanks, James. And, yes to all of this - I always appreciate your thoughtful insight. . 😊
I think there’s been a rise in fragility that has led to insecurity when we’re not good at everything, ultimately overshadowing our unique talents and gifts. What if, instead, we were free to focus on what we’re truly meant to do—and pursue it with excellence, outshining the rest?
Ironically, the push for equality often leads to diminished diversity, as we all feel pressured to fit the same mold rather than celebrate our individual strengths. True equality shouldn’t mean being the same; it should mean having the freedom to pursue our own paths and excel in what makes us unique.
One more tag on Erin, I just read this quote:
"Self-esteem comes from what you think of you, not what other people think of you."
- Gloria Gaynor