Tag Archives: pride

Random thoughts – keeping you on your toes

Celebrate

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July 1st is the Canadian government sanctioned day to acknowledge the significant event, the founding of the country of Canada.   This is a designated statutory holiday and we are encouraged to participate in a social gathering or enjoyable activity to celebrate.

Specifically Canada was founded on July 1st 1867 through the passing of the constitution act.  There were three founding provinces.  Over the years since then the country has grown to encompass 10 provinces and three territories.

Reason to Celebrate

The history of Canada includes mistakes that have led to moments of sadness and sorrow, some of which are very much in the news of late (i.e., residential schools for indigenous peoples.)

Conversely, along with the negative moments the countries history includes much to celebrate.  Those living here since 1867 have, as a whole, contributed to developing a robust and vibrant culture which is recognized internationally by independent analysis.

It is this combination of positive and negative events that combine to make Canada the fabulous multi- cultural country it has become and this is a reason to celebrate and be thank-full for our founders strategic action all those years ago.

Co-existance

Respect for others is built into our constitutional framework and for me the highlight of being Canadian is the way the basic foundation of our country supports and encourages us to behave in ways to fully recognize that everyone is important.

While it may be true that in the past 154 years our collective deportment does not always appear to this basic principle, our greatest achievement is often the ability to recognize this and work to remedy it when needed.

So on this 154 anniversary of the founding of Canada I am proud to be living in this country, to all living here today and past residents I wish you a happy Canada day.

 

Random thoughts – keeping you on your toes

Esteemed Colleague

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I was recently asked by a colleague to add “esteemed” to a reference about their participation in a recent workshop exercise. Admired and respected are default attributes I expect of both myself and those I interract with so I found the request somewhat unecessary.

The concept of respect and admiration should not need highlighting.  If we behave according to the highest principles our actions, which dictate how others percieve us, will speak for themselves.

Trust but validate

Ronald Reagan is quoted as decribing his style for interraction with others as trust but validate.  His default approach is trusting, a behaviour that is both respected and admired.

However, straightforward trust in a world with con men and hustlers  whom for which trust is a flexible concept, does make validation activities prudent.

This should not be considered rude disrespectful but rather a necessary practice to reduce the risk of being mislead to our detriment.

Respect Needs no Acknowledgement

Trust and respect are bi-lateral behaviours that benefit all stakeholders.  These should be the cost of entry, that is good character begins with respect of others.

It should not be neccessary to explictly acknowledge this expected practice through use of adjectives like esteemed.  Rather it is probably more important to highlight cases where distrust and disrespect occur.

This identification, to those involved, of cases where changes in behaviour and attitudes are warranted will do more to create esteemed colleagues than false praise.

 

Random thoughts – keeping you on your toes

Getting Help

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Independent behaviour is characterized by actions that seem to not be influenced by other people, that is we  resist the pressures to conform or obey others, rather we decide and act on our own.

Independence is a cornerstone measure of self esteem.  Not to say high self esteem requires a lot of independent behaviour but rather choosing to act independently or to follow the direction of others comes easily and naturally and feels like a personal choice.

Independent living

Most cultures around the world if not all are founded on the  principle of individual indepence built on a framework of societal dependence.

The level of control exercised by societies can vary significantly but largely the focus on basic human needs, food and shelter starts with the individual.

This concept of individuality has a genetic influence and during our lives the inate need for individual independence is balanced out by the environmental context.  That is we learn conformance behaviour.

Accepting Dependence

Sometimes all of us benefit from, control direction and direct help of others.  The optimum balance between dependnce and independence is a very individual assessment.

There is a balance, it would be impossible to operate fully at one end ofthe spectrum or the other, although conceptually this is what hermetic behaviour is trying to achieve.   That is a very high level of independence.

Recognizing a balance does exist and seeking the best for you is the point of this post.  If you need help, take it.

Random thoughts – keeping you on your toes

The price of pride

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Pride is one of those inwardly directed emotions I have always wondered about the value of.

Why does it exist?

In general emotions drive behavior.  Fear and a commonly associated classic behavioral reaction “flight or fight” is an example of this.

Emotions and their built in behaviors are part of our evolutionary development, that is they are hereditary more than learned.

If we assume that emotions exist for a purpose (e.g., fear to initiate appropriate reaction in dangerous situations);  than what is the value behind the secondary emotion of pride ((secondary in that it requires a sense of self and an understanding of conceptual distinctions)?

Why Pride?

I believe there are two main expressions of pride.

Firstly, and usually the most apparent, is the expression of inflated of self worth and personal status.   This can be directly communicated or be indicated through the way you behave. This is usually perceived negatively by others and is not really effective in collaborative or team environments.

Alternately when internalized and used to create self satisfaction toward one’s own or others choices and actions the resulting behavior is usually positive and can be leveraged as a foundation for success both individual or group.

In the latter case, pride can have positive results but this requires self awareness to ensure the emotional drivers are channeled into both effective and appropriate behavior.

Conclusion

Pride, like the other suite of emotions (primary and secondary) does serve a purpose but like all emotions needs to be managed carefully to ensure that it is channeled into the most useful actions.

A simple example of channeling emotion to action is the emotion of  fear and the basic flight or fight reaction.  The emotion can trigger the urgent need for a response but cannot guide that response.

The message here is to check in with yourself before reacting to an emotional driver leading to a prideful response to be sure the resulting behavior is best for both you and others (we are social animals after all).