We Were Created
For Good Works
From the minute we are born we are told what is good, shown how to perform it, commanded to live it, and disciplined if we don’t. Consequently, each of us grows up with a sense of what is good and, more importantly, how we measure up. Usually, our self-assessment is heavily influenced by several factors:
Attitudes Of Authority Figures
If our parents/teachers respond with understanding toward our failures or firm but accepting discipline toward our wayward tendencies, we feel fairly good about ourselves even if we shouldn’t.
Positive responses encourage a “warm fuzzy” that fosters a sense of confidence about how good we are. We feel normal and safe. There’s nothing to worry about.
If authority figures are constantly critical, however, we develop a sense of hopelessness. “Can I ever be good enough?”
We all feed off the responses of others to our behavior and that’s partly how we develop a sense of how good or bad we are. The assessment may be inaccurate. [Read more…] about The Difference Between “Being” and “Doing” Good
