Human Nature Analysis

Overall, I agree with the message of the Human Being, Human Nature reading. I believe that at our core, we want to do good. We want to help others, find success and be the best version of ourselves that we can be; we seek to “do the right thing, the best we can”. This is much easier said than done, however, since we are constantly changing and on any given day are more likely to choose our needs over those of others or take the easy option instead of the better one. We are far more complex than any one piece of ourselves or past event; each of us is an intricate web of innate traits, environmental factors, and states of being. Despite our best efforts, we often fall short of the person we want to be, but that doesn’t mean we give up the attempt.
I agree that someone who does not feel that they are worthy of the praise that they receive is unable to internalize that prize and use it to bolster their self-esteem. Conversely, someone who is used to being inundated with praise and compliments may find himself or herself unable to maintain a high level of self-esteem without them. Both of these states can adversely affect an individual if they are unable to adjust the way they see themselves and the people around them. People, especially students, need to be praised for their hard work and successes, however the praise must be genuine. This means if a student works hard but is constantly told that they can and should do better, they will find it difficult to accept true a compliment when it comes along. On the other hand, doling out praise and trophies and metals for simply showing up is not beneficial either. In this scenario, an individual can sometimes gain a false sense of self-worth that will come crashing down when they are faced with the “real world.” They don’t have a true sense of what they are excel at and are not equipped to deal with adversity when they are inevitably faced with it. I believe the best way to cultivate a positive sense of self-esteem, self-worth and well-being is through allowing students be feel and be successful. Being successful does not always mean succeeding in achieving the ultimate goal but can refer to working hard and not giving up when things get difficult. Students can succeed at failing. This, to me, is one of the biggest lessons that we can instill as teachers, the idea that failure is not something to fear and shy away from but an opportunity. Change and growth happens during times of discomfort and the fruits of that discomfort are then used to build something