Dissociated Thoughts

The Common Delusion

7 November 2021

Today's prompt is taken from a book I own. "Great Quotes From Great Leaders", published by Motorola, my employer. This one is from Norman Vincent Peale. "The trouble with most of us, is that we would rather be ruined by praise than saved by criticism." Do you feel this is a valid statement? Tell us why you feel the way you do.

If this were not a valid statement, would people have decided participation trophies were needed? Everyone is out for praise, for all the good things in life to happen - yet comparatively speaking, few want to put in the effort necessary to earn these things for themselves or to hear from others how they could change certain things to improve on what is there. I don't see it near as much here on WDC, but out in the world people don't want their flaws pointed out so they can be improved upon. What is losing but a lesson in the ways a person needs to better themselves? We can't all be winners after all. Criticism comes in all forms and not all of it is destructive. Where are we being led in this world where criticism is being shunned, losing is being avoided, and participation trophies are being given to all? We need those things to grow and evolve. Praise is great and all, but in order to grow as human beings, we also need the flip side of the coin. Life is not without struggle and conflict. All we are doing by seeking praise and closing our eyes, ears, and minds to the rest is deluding ourselves. We need them both to grow. We need a balance there. How will we evolve as human beings without that balance? Can we grow if all we are given is praise? It doesn't look like it from where I'm standing.