Brian.Shaler.name | Blog | Pride Versus Praise

Pride Versus Praise

June 2, 2007

There is a common trait among people who are precariously proud. It is a lack of praise. They hate to compliment others. In the web and business worlds, these people are everywhere.

Insecurity

A major roadblock prevents these people from being supportive of others. It is a feeling of insecurity regarding superiority and inferiority. They feel that complimenting others is a way of admitting inferiority to them. Instead, they resort to critique, which instead conveys a message of superiority. Unlike compliments, critique is not an esteem-booster for the recipient. It is quite the opposite, a demotivator.

Personal Growth

Complimenting others can help break down this insecurity. It is an important flaw to overcome. By being a motivator for others, you can build more and better friendships. Tell your friend you are impressed by his or her work. By complimenting others in your neighborhood, you can help spark a trend of friendliness.

The Challenge

Try to set your ego aside and compliment people you have never met before. If you see a kid on a scooter, a short "nice scooter" will do. Go find blogs that are just starting out and leave complimentary comments. A few kind words could help the beginning author to write more and feel like he or she has an actual audience to write for.

Once you start sharing these random acts of kindness, you will begin to feel more positive about yourself and others.

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