Thought Tweet #821 Life's too short to beat the laughter out of me!

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

Psychologists claim people, in general, laugh less as they age. As toddlers we laugh regularly. After that, we laugh less and less. It's like life beats the laughter out of us. 

Recently I read a book by a well-established and reputable self-help organization. It taught that self-confidence is an external manifestation of one's self-esteem.

I don't agree.

Or, more accurately, I don't find that sort of education helpful.

Self-confidence is a state of mind that defines how a person thinks and feels about his or her ability to successfully handle a given situation¹ [or, at least, survive it]. Presence of self-confidence is a Good Habit². Lack of it is a Bad Habit³.

Self-esteem is a state of mind that defines a person's regard for self.  It too can be composed of Good Habits or Bad Habits.

Self-esteem doesn't generate self-confidence. If anything, the opposite is more likely to be true. Regardless, it seems to me the important thing to do is concentrate on building self-confidence. To the extent a person succeeds at building self-confidence, that person's self-esteem will increase. The path to building self-confidence is paved with Courage.

Footnotes:

1. A situation is a snapshot of an instant in business life…the people, the ‘props’, and the immediate environment.
2. A Good Habit is a thing we think or do that takes us towards our goals.
3. A Bad Habit is a thing we think or do that takes us away from our goals.

Thought Tweet #818 Does wealth breed generosity or does generosity breed wealth?

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

It depends on how you define 'wealth'.