X-Message-Number: 17129
From: "john grigg" <>
Subject: what is the true nature of "self-worth?"
Date: Fri, 27 Jul 2001 21:59:56 

Scott Badger shared:
It's still hard for me to imagine a person struggling
to accomplish a goal, and after finally completing
that goal, having no positive feelings about it ... or
are you really suggesting that is the desirable state?
(end)

I think George is trying to say that the person would feel good about 
accomplishing the goal, but their foundational sense of worth would not come 
from their actions(and especially achievements).

I feel what George is trying to do here is noble, but as he himself states, 
human nature(and society) has us base our "self-worth" on our actions and 
their outcomes.

he continues:
Because I think the range of positive feelings people
experience when they achieve goals naturally leads
them to say things like,  "I feel good about this
thing that I have done. "  Again, I agree that the
translation for the individual should not be, "I am a
good person for having done this thing" but more along
the line of "I now have a greater sense of confidence
in my ability to set and meet my goals".
(end)

I agree!  Are we HUMAN BEINGS or HUMAN DOINGS? :)  The sad thing is many 
people are very afraid of venturing into some new area due to the 
possibility of failing, because they fear the damage it might do to their 
"self-esteem."  I am one of them!

I will have to investigate the works of Bandura and the theory of 
self-efficacy.  Thank you for the information.

best wishes,

John


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