Wow, do you know how many touch points this is pinging on me tonight?
Early on I was never criticized and always praised academically. That did me no good. And because in so many ways, because I was a good student, I was invisible. The track stars and the football stars got all of the teacher's attentions. In college I was not one of those students who garnered all of the faculty praise. That did me no good either.
Now, because of that I have a hard time accepting praise because it doesn't seem weighty often times even when it is. I can't value it because most often I don't believe it.
A real mentor is one who will find the line between challenging you and supporting you. I still need to find that. And the obsessing over yourself is your own way of supporting yourself when you don't feel there is enough around you and when your fears are your greatest.
I am enjoying watching you take this journey and relating it to us. Thanks.
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Date: 2005-05-20 02:05 am (UTC)Early on I was never criticized and always praised academically. That did me no good. And because in so many ways, because I was a good student, I was invisible. The track stars and the football stars got all of the teacher's attentions. In college I was not one of those students who garnered all of the faculty praise. That did me no good either.
Now, because of that I have a hard time accepting praise because it doesn't seem weighty often times even when it is. I can't value it because most often I don't believe it.
A real mentor is one who will find the line between challenging you and supporting you. I still need to find that. And the obsessing over yourself is your own way of supporting yourself when you don't feel there is enough around you and when your fears are your greatest.
I am enjoying watching you take this journey and relating it to us. Thanks.