Helen held up her just-completed work and said, 'Looks good, doesn't it? I reckon I did a great job there'. Her co-workers were shocked: 'You shouldn't praise yourself' and 'Don't blow your own trumpet'. To Helen, praising her own efforts was not boasting. 'Well, I think it's good', she insisted.
Giving yourself praise is similar to giving yourself encouragement, yet it brings out strong reactions.
Were you brought up to be modest and humble, no skiting, boasting or bragging? Don't take it too far! We'll explore:
Eleven-year-old Ron said truthfully, 'I'm good at listening' and his brother promptly retorted, 'Don't brag'. 'You'll get a swelled head' and 'Self-praise is no recommendation' are more of society's sayings to stop one from being conceited and stuck up — worth more than others.
It's labels you must guard against — good labels like 'I'm smart', 'I'm the greatest' and 'Aren't I clever!' Good labels are how we rate ourselves worth more than others, That is what society objects to.
Helen praised her piece of work, not her whole self. Ron praised one of his traits. They assessed what they saw and said what they thought. Honest self-appraisal is not immodest boasting or bragging. It does not make you conceited or stuck up.
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