My son received an award today in his morning assembly for being a ‘westie’. A westie is a term of endearment used within their school for going above and beyond to be helpful or kind or just generally being a good person. It was the first time I’d been to his school assembly and I was very proud to see him receive it and he was also very proud to have received it. It brought back some interesting memories in regards to me receiving awards or acknowledgements or public praise, especially within the school environment. Personally I’ve never enjoyed receiving awards and have always felt quite awkward for some reason to the receipt of praise or acknowledgement in a public arena. I don’t know if this is from anxiety towards being on display in settings with a large audience or maybe struggling to accept awards thinking I’m not worthy of it.

I’ve received awards over the years from academics, personal and team related sporting achievements, community contribution and various others, but have always struggled to accept them without feeling almost a bit ashamed to have received the award. In New Zealand humility is an important trait and is praised throughout. I very much endorse that being humble, especially in situations of achievement is important, but for some reason this has almost crossed a threshold and society has created this ideology of protecting the unplaced or average performers by making it more normal for people to underplay their own achievements.

As I have grown older I am learning more and more around the process being the route to happiness and it’s the finding of enjoyment in the day to day growth that is a fundamental source of fulfillment. Focusing to much on the final achievement and/or award can create a potential cliff, whereby achieving the said objective can bring on a sense of feeling lost, because the investment has bear fruits and there is no longer any need for the process, drive or devotion. However, failing to accept your award or achievement and not embracing it for what it is can also create a underwhelming feeling that could lead to a feeling of potential failure, failure in not allowing yourself the true acknowledgment within.

It is a debatable topic and very personal to each and every one of us, however, you should always allow yourself the feeling of achievement when the said objective is achieved, the pursuit of the award is fulfilled, the daily process has bared the fruits of your labour. Being humble in the face of success is important, it shows good sportsmanship like conduct, true class and a solid foundation of all virtues, but you still deserve to embrace the win and allow yourself the feeling of true achievement without any preconceived feelings of preventing others from feeling bad for your success.

Whatever your feelings toward the subject are, work hard, play hard, devote yourself to the said objective and don’t stop until you achieve it. When you succeed always reflect and appreciate the moments for what they are because once they’re gone, they’re gone and all they become are memories in time. Within the various emotions and milestones of achievement are a huge range of important emotions to unravel and understand and I believe they all play a vital role in the search for happiness.

Stay true in the dark and humble in the spotlight, but enjoy the fruits of your labour.

Thanks,

Dean