Wednesday, 10 April 2013 – Recognition and praise are coming my way because people are noticing the back room at We Care.
Last Friday and Saturday, I put in the time and effort to clean up the back room at We Care. The difference is dramatic. When I started, half of the room was completely blocked. Now you can walk all the way through the room to the back.
The cool part is that everything in the room when I started is still in the room. Now it’s organised. And it feels good to get recognition for doing it.
That’s a big part of getting happy – recognition for who you are and what you do. If you don’t get it, then you should go looking for it.
Friday afternoon – when I just had the room mostly done – I invited Lori to come look at the room and tell me what she thought. I told her flat out that I was fishing for compliments. We both laughed about it, but I know how important recognition is to me right now.
Let’s not kid each other. I just had my wife and three kids reject me completely. That hurts and makes you really start to question just how valuable and lovable you are. Of course, I don’t think anybody loves me because I clean up a room, but having the recognition does help me feel valuable.
I can remember growing up and hearing people say “don’t blow your own horn.” For the most part, I agree with that sentiment. Nobody wants to hear me bragging about myself all the time. Then again, there are times when you have to know that if you don’t blow your own horn, nobody else is going to either.
The key is accurate thought. If you’re asking someone for recognition because you’re feeling low and want someone to lift your spirits, then be honest about it. Just like I did with Lori. I told her I was fishing for compliments, and Lori is completely familiar with my situation. She understood I was using it to build myself back up.
When someone praises you or gives you recognition without you asking, thank them. I disagree strongly with false humility. Having invested about 12 hours into cleaning up the back room, there’s no way I’m going to say “it’s nothing” when somebody gives me recognition for having done it. I simple say thank you, and them I appreciate having the recognition.
