“I am grateful for what I am and have. My thanksgiving is perpetual. It is surprising how contented one can be with nothing definite ― only a sense of existence…. My breath is sweet to me. O how I laugh when I think of my vague indefinite riches. No run on my bank can drain it, for my wealth is not possession but enjoyment.”
― Henry David Thoreau
What do you count amongst your “vague indefinite riches”?
Working in a group can be an intensely gratifying experience. Sharing ideas, learning and growing from the exchange of different perspectives, giving and getting support—all combine to create an energizing and even inspiring work experience. Except when it really, really doesn’t.
What is something you have learned from working in a group?
“Nobody gets praised for the right reasons.”
― Diana Wynne Jones
When have you been made uncomfortable by praise that you felt was for the wrong reasons?
Pride is a very different thing from conceit. Pride can be the honest joy taken in one’s own accomplishments. There is nothing in the world wrong with praising yourself for a difficult job well done. There’s nothing wrong with accepting praise from others while you’re at it.
What would you like to publicly give yourself credit for?
“But the conceited man did not hear him. Conceited people never hear anything but praise.”
― Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
What helps you to maintain the humility necessary to accept criticism or the need to change?
