Criticism and Failure are our Friends and Teachers

Toil and sweat, then stand back and enjoy the consequence of our labors.

Recieve correction and criticism with gladness and we will grow into accomplished individuals with a greater purpose.

As a culture, we have praised children to the point of being dishonest with them. We have told them they did a good job on something when they didn't even try, just to "encourage" them. What we have created are self inflated monsters who feel a sense of entitlement to praise and personal attention.

We no longer have children who can be  team players and cooperate with others, because their focus is completely on themselves as the center of attention. They are selfish and materialistic. There are those exceptions, but for the most part children are entertained continually and not expected to work hard enough to draw a sweat, so they are also lazy and angry when they have to work. Productivity will fall off, and has, in our country, if we do not raise the next generation to invite criticism to be able to improve themselves.

Criticism is our friend, but our culture considers it rude and unkind. A child feeling good about himself has taken priority over actually doing well at something and standing back to enjoy the accomplishment.

Failure teaches, discipline teaches and criticism teaches, when we remove these elements we set a child up for life long failure and continual disappointment.  

Phony praise is not a blessings but a curse.  Honest evaluation brings true accomplishment that the children can build on for future success.  To doom a child to mediocrity is not only unkind but a sin.  Teaching excellence builds a person of character and resolve to do what is best and gratifying.  There can be no better feeling than knowing that we worked hard, learned new things and can stand back and look at our creation with confidence and pleasure.  

Learning is a wonderful thing, but it is not without hardship and sweat.  Let's go for the greater good and feelings of accomplishment rather than the temporary feelings of flattery.