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Dick Vermeil Self-esteem drives performance. Very few outperform how they feel about themselves. Confidence and self-esteem are different. Build the person - improve the player. R.A.P. Recognition. Appreciation. Praise. Praise must be earned. Critique must teach. Create an environment where people grow. Nobody is immune to tough days.

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Jordan Peterson on why self-esteem is a myth and what actually builds real confidence. Most people spend years trying to feel better about themselves. They repeat affirmations. They journal their wins. They work on their "self-esteem." Peterson says that's the wrong target entirely. "Self-esteem… doesn't even exist by the way. It's just a pathological concept altogether." What you actually want is confidence. And not just any confidence, confidence grounded in competence. Otherwise, he says, it's just narcissism. So how do you build it? Not by changing what you say about yourself. Not by adjusting your self-talk or telling yourself you're capable. Those are surface-level fixes. The real mechanism is simpler and more demanding. "You watch yourself exceed your limits and then you think, 'Oh, look at that. There's something in me that can exceed my limits. That's your true self.'" Confidence is earned from the inside out through repeated experience of actually doing hard things. Dr Jordan B Peterson draws an interesting parallel. If you watch a friend making small, consistent improvements over time, you don't feel contempt, you feel admiration. Even if part of you is jealous, the healthy response is recognition: that's admirable.

Jordan Peterson on why self-esteem is a myth and what actually builds real confidence. Most people spend years trying to feel better about themselves. They repeat affirmations. They journal their wins. They work on their "self-esteem." Peterson says that's the wrong target entirely. "Self-esteem… doesn't even exist by the way. It's just a pathological concept altogether." What you actually want is confidence. And not just any confidence, confidence grounded in competence. Otherwise, he says, it's just narcissism. So how do you build it? Not by changing what you say about yourself. Not by adjusting your self-talk or telling yourself you're capable. Those are surface-level fixes. The real mechanism is simpler and more demanding. "You watch yourself exceed your limits and then you think, 'Oh, look at that. There's something in me that can exceed my limits. That's your true self.'" Confidence is earned from the inside out through repeated experience of actually doing hard things. Dr Jordan B Peterson draws an interesting parallel. If you watch a friend making small, consistent improvements over time, you don't feel contempt, you feel admiration. Even if part of you is jealous, the healthy response is recognition: that's admirable.

Kevin Tanaka

60,235 views • 3 months ago

The so-called self-esteem movement of the 1980s and 1990s largely backfired. It aimed to cultivate healthy confidence in children but often ended up encouraging narcissism instead. Rather than teaching kids to associate self-worth with effort and achievement, it showered them with indiscriminate praise—regardless of behavior or outcome. The result was less a boost in genuine self-esteem and more a rise in grandiose self-regard. Psychologist Roy Baumeister was one of the early critics of this movement. Today, his concerns are widely accepted, but several decades ago, there was a prevailing belief that high self-esteem caused success. Researchers noticed that accomplished students often reported feeling good about themselves, and from this correlation, many drew a faulty conclusion: If we can make children feel good about themselves, they’ll become more successful. But as we now understand, correlation doesn’t imply causation. When praise is tied to real effort or achievement—“You worked hard, and you did well”—children come to associate pride with meaningful accomplishments. But when praise is handed out indiscriminately, children may begin to feel good about themselves without doing anything to earn it. Over time, this fosters entitlement and an expectation of constant validation, rather than resilience or motivation. In short, the self-esteem movement didn’t just fail to deliver on its promises—it may have helped contribute to a rise in narcissism in young people.

The so-called self-esteem movement of the 1980s and 1990s largely backfired. It aimed to cultivate healthy confidence in children but often ended up encouraging narcissism instead. Rather than teaching kids to associate self-worth with effort and achievement, it showered them with indiscriminate praise—regardless of behavior or outcome. The result was less a boost in genuine self-esteem and more a rise in grandiose self-regard. Psychologist Roy Baumeister was one of the early critics of this movement. Today, his concerns are widely accepted, but several decades ago, there was a prevailing belief that high self-esteem caused success. Researchers noticed that accomplished students often reported feeling good about themselves, and from this correlation, many drew a faulty conclusion: If we can make children feel good about themselves, they’ll become more successful. But as we now understand, correlation doesn’t imply causation. When praise is tied to real effort or achievement—“You worked hard, and you did well”—children come to associate pride with meaningful accomplishments. But when praise is handed out indiscriminately, children may begin to feel good about themselves without doing anything to earn it. Over time, this fosters entitlement and an expectation of constant validation, rather than resilience or motivation. In short, the self-esteem movement didn’t just fail to deliver on its promises—it may have helped contribute to a rise in narcissism in young people.

Rob Henderson

138,329 views • 1 year ago

Hours of backslapping and self-praise from Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Independents. Still not listening. But the cracks are starting to show in this arrogant government. They’ve lost two TDs. Let’s keep the pressure up. This is not over. The people must be heard.

Hours of backslapping and self-praise from Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Independents. Still not listening. But the cracks are starting to show in this arrogant government. They’ve lost two TDs. Let’s keep the pressure up. This is not over. The people must be heard.

Mary Lou McDonald

43,281 views • 3 months ago

Low self-esteem: Yorubas are tribalistic The presenter now asked him, Why did you say Yorubas? Low self-esteem goes: I can't really say, I just notice is the way they carry themselves, They are full of confidence, they have too much steeze and composure, They raise their head high and shoulder high. It's making us uncomfortable that we don't have King and Queen's Aura like them so that's why we're hating on them They will blame Yorubas for their misfortunes in life and Yorubas and Yoruba land have made their people more millionaires than any region in the country, Yorubas made them millionaires more than their own land and yet they are hating just because they want to overtake Yorubas but they couldn't do it..

Low self-esteem: Yorubas are tribalistic The presenter now asked him, Why did you say Yorubas? Low self-esteem goes: I can't really say, I just notice is the way they carry themselves, They are full of confidence, they have too much steeze and composure, They raise their head high and shoulder high. It's making us uncomfortable that we don't have King and Queen's Aura like them so that's why we're hating on them They will blame Yorubas for their misfortunes in life and Yorubas and Yoruba land have made their people more millionaires than any region in the country, Yorubas made them millionaires more than their own land and yet they are hating just because they want to overtake Yorubas but they couldn't do it..

Nononsense

27,726 views • 7 months ago

Tyler, the Creator on how he feels about Timothée Chalamet’s confidence: “I hope he continues to feel that way about himself. I think people are intimidated when other people feel so good and confident about themselves, because they don’t know what that feeling is like. So that’s why they be like, ‘You better be humble,’—because they want you to feel how they might feel when they look in the mirror. And it’s like, ‘No, baby, some people actually love and like themselves and what they do.’”

Tyler, the Creator on how he feels about Timothée Chalamet’s confidence: “I hope he continues to feel that way about himself. I think people are intimidated when other people feel so good and confident about themselves, because they don’t know what that feeling is like. So that’s why they be like, ‘You better be humble,’—because they want you to feel how they might feel when they look in the mirror. And it’s like, ‘No, baby, some people actually love and like themselves and what they do.’”

Timothée Nation

1,431,133 views • 7 months ago

These are 2 completely different experiences for a child When a child gets their parents undivided attention, they feel loved and important They see their parent's smiles, learn to communicate & build strong emotional bonds When a child's parents are focused on a screen, a child feels isolated and less important Their communication skills suffer, their self esteem is lower & their emotional bond to parents is weaker The good news is parents get to choose the experiences they give their child.

These are 2 completely different experiences for a child When a child gets their parents undivided attention, they feel loved and important They see their parent's smiles, learn to communicate & build strong emotional bonds When a child's parents are focused on a screen, a child feels isolated and less important Their communication skills suffer, their self esteem is lower & their emotional bond to parents is weaker The good news is parents get to choose the experiences they give their child.

Raising Healthy Families

182,679 views • 3 months ago

Lane Kiffin with an outside the box philosophy on culture building, the concept of environment as a strategy, and how people don't "buy-in" more than they 'belong': 🔓 The fastest way to change behavior isn’t motivation, it’s environment. Leadership is about creating the conditions where people feel safe, valued, and inspired. When the environment is right, performance doesn't need to be forced; it’s unlocked. 🌅 People don’t commit to a job, they commit to a feeling. If your environment makes them feel like they belong, they’ll want to show up. If it makes them feel managed, they’ll only show up when they have to. 🎨 The trajectory of a team is set long before the results show up. It’s shaped in the culture you tolerate, the standards you reinforce, and the environment you DESIGN every single day. The environment you create doesn’t just influence behavior, it determines identity. Once people see themselves differently, they develop different habits to align with that belief and push them toward their goals. 🎯

Lane Kiffin with an outside the box philosophy on culture building, the concept of environment as a strategy, and how people don't "buy-in" more than they 'belong': 🔓 The fastest way to change behavior isn’t motivation, it’s environment. Leadership is about creating the conditions where people feel safe, valued, and inspired. When the environment is right, performance doesn't need to be forced; it’s unlocked. 🌅 People don’t commit to a job, they commit to a feeling. If your environment makes them feel like they belong, they’ll want to show up. If it makes them feel managed, they’ll only show up when they have to. 🎨 The trajectory of a team is set long before the results show up. It’s shaped in the culture you tolerate, the standards you reinforce, and the environment you DESIGN every single day. The environment you create doesn’t just influence behavior, it determines identity. Once people see themselves differently, they develop different habits to align with that belief and push them toward their goals. 🎯

Josh Chambers

190,370 views • 3 months ago

Love this from Arizona Coach Tommy Lloyd on building a program where people feel seen, the little things are honored, and everyone understands their role is essential to success: 🫥 People don’t always burn out from work per se, they burn out from feeling invisible. Appreciation is oxygen. When you consistently praise the unseen effort, you multiply ownership. 🎉 When the small things get celebrated, people in the group stop waiting for validation and start taking pride in EVERYTHING. Critical failure is more often an accumulation of small jobs not being done well, than big tasks falling short. 😤 Agency is directly related to BELIEF. When people feel trusted, they act differently... When they act differently, they grow... And when they grow, they realize something powerful: This work matters… and so do I. When you can create this feeling of APPRECIATION in your building, it becomes a cultural SUPERPOWER. 🦸

Love this from Arizona Coach Tommy Lloyd on building a program where people feel seen, the little things are honored, and everyone understands their role is essential to success: 🫥 People don’t always burn out from work per se, they burn out from feeling invisible. Appreciation is oxygen. When you consistently praise the unseen effort, you multiply ownership. 🎉 When the small things get celebrated, people in the group stop waiting for validation and start taking pride in EVERYTHING. Critical failure is more often an accumulation of small jobs not being done well, than big tasks falling short. 😤 Agency is directly related to BELIEF. When people feel trusted, they act differently... When they act differently, they grow... And when they grow, they realize something powerful: This work matters… and so do I. When you can create this feeling of APPRECIATION in your building, it becomes a cultural SUPERPOWER. 🦸

Josh Chambers

40,292 views • 3 months ago

Gregg Popovich shares his final message and it has nothing to do with wins and losses. "The wins and losses are all crap. The highs and lows are all crap. It's illusory. It doesn't really exist." "What exists is seeing these guys and their kids. Those relationships with your assistant coaches - everybody else you're with - your colleagues, your friends." "'Cause that's what you take with you as you move along." The best leaders and coaches invest in people. "All those wins or losses - they fade away. They fade away." "But those relationships stick with you forever. And that's where the self-esteem and the self-satisfaction comes." A must-listen message for all coaches, players, parents, and teach out there. Great leadership isn't one style. It's knowing your people well enough to give them what they need. Invest in the relationships. Care about people, hold them to their potential, and lead in your style. (🎥NBA )

Gregg Popovich shares his final message and it has nothing to do with wins and losses. "The wins and losses are all crap. The highs and lows are all crap. It's illusory. It doesn't really exist." "What exists is seeing these guys and their kids. Those relationships with your assistant coaches - everybody else you're with - your colleagues, your friends." "'Cause that's what you take with you as you move along." The best leaders and coaches invest in people. "All those wins or losses - they fade away. They fade away." "But those relationships stick with you forever. And that's where the self-esteem and the self-satisfaction comes." A must-listen message for all coaches, players, parents, and teach out there. Great leadership isn't one style. It's knowing your people well enough to give them what they need. Invest in the relationships. Care about people, hold them to their potential, and lead in your style. (🎥NBA )

Coach AJ 🎯 Mental Fitness

180,568 views • 1 month ago

A question I kept returning to was how soon robots will be ubiquitous in our daily lives. Sergey uses self-driving as an analogy, but explains why robotics may not follow the same path because the cost of mistakes is very different. Self-driving took over a decade and is still in its nascency, in part because even rare mistakes are unacceptable. Robots may deploy earlier, and improve faster, because some mistakes are tolerable. Breaking a dish is different from causing an accident.

A question I kept returning to was how soon robots will be ubiquitous in our daily lives. Sergey uses self-driving as an analogy, but explains why robotics may not follow the same path because the cost of mistakes is very different. Self-driving took over a decade and is still in its nascency, in part because even rare mistakes are unacceptable. Robots may deploy earlier, and improve faster, because some mistakes are tolerable. Breaking a dish is different from causing an accident.

Patrick OShaughnessy

57,780 views • 4 months ago

"We are not a threat to the United States. On the contrary, they are our strategic partner. Trump is a person chosen by the people. We must respect the choice of the American people. I was also chosen by the people. And I believe that’s how it should be." — Zelensky said in an interview with The Guardian.

"We are not a threat to the United States. On the contrary, they are our strategic partner. Trump is a person chosen by the people. We must respect the choice of the American people. I was also chosen by the people. And I believe that’s how it should be." — Zelensky said in an interview with The Guardian.

WarTranslated

42,122 views • 9 months ago

🟥 Wow ... the modern USA. THIS is how you destroy a country, and its self-esteem/morale. 🤷🏻‍♂️ When you are such an ATROCIOUS President that your Olympic athletes, after working so hard for so many years to achieve their dream of competing at the Games, now feel embarrassed to be associated with their government ... and therefore feel the need to use the platform to distance themselves from your vileness - instead of talking about their dreams and athletic aspirations. What a shame. This is one of the many reasons Canadian voters should never seriously entertain the idea of the toxic Pierre Poilievre, and his caustic caucus, coming anywhere NEAR the Prime Minister’s Office. 🙅🏻‍♂️

🟥 Wow ... the modern USA. THIS is how you destroy a country, and its self-esteem/morale. 🤷🏻‍♂️ When you are such an ATROCIOUS President that your Olympic athletes, after working so hard for so many years to achieve their dream of competing at the Games, now feel embarrassed to be associated with their government ... and therefore feel the need to use the platform to distance themselves from your vileness - instead of talking about their dreams and athletic aspirations. What a shame. This is one of the many reasons Canadian voters should never seriously entertain the idea of the toxic Pierre Poilievre, and his caustic caucus, coming anywhere NEAR the Prime Minister’s Office. 🙅🏻‍♂️

Fun Tom 🇨🇦 💂

498,013 views • 6 months ago

We all want secure attachment. And the best part of our attachment patterns is we can shift them. Through self awareness, practice, and healthy communication. People with secure attachment have 3 core traits: 1. The ability to not take things personally: this gives them space to understand people close to them aren’t attacking them. It also makes it so they can get to self reflection. 2. The ability to self reflect: this is actually more rare than people realize. Those with secure attachment can self reflect. They can ask “is there truth here?” “Is this valid?” If it is, they face it and begin to integrate. Integration is why people with secure attachment patterns tend to grow and evolve more than those with insecure patterns. 3. The ability to be accountable for their impact: if they self reflect and see that someone has a point, they can be accountable. Instead of deflecting or being defensive they can say “I see where you’re coming from” and “I’m sorry and want to do better.” They create a space to have conversations which is why people in their lives feel safe and heard. All of us can practice these traits. It’s about hearing things in new ways and responding in new ways. You’ll see how differently people engage with us when we’re not trying to defend our self image or deny their reality.

We all want secure attachment. And the best part of our attachment patterns is we can shift them. Through self awareness, practice, and healthy communication. People with secure attachment have 3 core traits: 1. The ability to not take things personally: this gives them space to understand people close to them aren’t attacking them. It also makes it so they can get to self reflection. 2. The ability to self reflect: this is actually more rare than people realize. Those with secure attachment can self reflect. They can ask “is there truth here?” “Is this valid?” If it is, they face it and begin to integrate. Integration is why people with secure attachment patterns tend to grow and evolve more than those with insecure patterns. 3. The ability to be accountable for their impact: if they self reflect and see that someone has a point, they can be accountable. Instead of deflecting or being defensive they can say “I see where you’re coming from” and “I’m sorry and want to do better.” They create a space to have conversations which is why people in their lives feel safe and heard. All of us can practice these traits. It’s about hearing things in new ways and responding in new ways. You’ll see how differently people engage with us when we’re not trying to defend our self image or deny their reality.

Dr. Nicole LePera

809,439 views • 2 years ago

Mark Daigneault shares the coaching philosophy that drives the Oklahoma City Thunder. "Every player is different. And every player is a person first. I've always relied on the instincts of connecting with the person first " Then he shared what professional basketball taught him: "All of these players have a reason to admire them and not just respect them. That's a baseline for any player." "If a player's made it this far, there's a reason to admire them." It means caring about the person. "Expressing that admiration, accepting them for who they are, and then trying to help them be the best they can be. Chase down the vision they have for who they are as a player." "But also plug that into the larger structure of a team in an environment that elevates everybody." The best coaches don't just manage players. They see the person behind the jersey and the team. "It starts with every person. Every person's different - connecting to that and tapping into that." Great coaches care about the person and their future The heart of coaching is a relationships business not a sports business (🎥 OKC Thunder)

Mark Daigneault shares the coaching philosophy that drives the Oklahoma City Thunder. "Every player is different. And every player is a person first. I've always relied on the instincts of connecting with the person first " Then he shared what professional basketball taught him: "All of these players have a reason to admire them and not just respect them. That's a baseline for any player." "If a player's made it this far, there's a reason to admire them." It means caring about the person. "Expressing that admiration, accepting them for who they are, and then trying to help them be the best they can be. Chase down the vision they have for who they are as a player." "But also plug that into the larger structure of a team in an environment that elevates everybody." The best coaches don't just manage players. They see the person behind the jersey and the team. "It starts with every person. Every person's different - connecting to that and tapping into that." Great coaches care about the person and their future The heart of coaching is a relationships business not a sports business (🎥 OKC Thunder)

Coach AJ 🎯 Mental Fitness

60,212 views • 2 months ago

Q : Some comforting words for ARMY in relation to your song “To Me, Today” 🐹 Where I live, there’s a saying: "If tomorrow's me is to be comfortable, today's me must endure hardship.” It's a sentiment that you sacrifice today's self to make tomorrow's self better. But then, tomorrow's self will ultimately become today's self again because tomorrow will bring yet another tomorrow. That's why, since today's me has surely worked hard too, I hope we won't just give the good things only to tomorrow's self, but also give today's hardworking self a little praise and a nice treat. Because you guys are always working hard and living good lives today too, you know. #RUNSEOKJIN_epTOUR_JAPAN #Jin #방탄소년단진 #진

Q : Some comforting words for ARMY in relation to your song “To Me, Today” 🐹 Where I live, there’s a saying: "If tomorrow's me is to be comfortable, today's me must endure hardship.” It's a sentiment that you sacrifice today's self to make tomorrow's self better. But then, tomorrow's self will ultimately become today's self again because tomorrow will bring yet another tomorrow. That's why, since today's me has surely worked hard too, I hope we won't just give the good things only to tomorrow's self, but also give today's hardworking self a little praise and a nice treat. Because you guys are always working hard and living good lives today too, you know. #RUNSEOKJIN_epTOUR_JAPAN #Jin #방탄소년단진 #진

FOR BTS JIN (김석진번역팀)

102,860 views • 6 months ago

You see some men calling Sydney Sweeney “mid” or saying “She’s just a 6.” what’s really going on is an attempt to lower the self-esteem of women who look like her. It’s a way to increase their own chances of dating women like that—by making those women feel less desirable, the men hope to level the playing field. That’s one strategy. On the other side, you have women calling the ad racist. But again, the motive seems similar: it’s an effort to reduce the social status of women like Sweeney in order to boost their own relative appeal. If you’re seeking a romantic partner and you're surrounded by highly attractive rivals, you essentially have three choices: improve yourself, tear others down, or do nothing and accept your lower odds. You can try to become more desirable, or you can try to make your competitors seem less desirable—either to others or to themselves. One tactic is to undermine a person’s confidence and lower their self-esteem, in the hope that they’ll become more open to dating you.

You see some men calling Sydney Sweeney “mid” or saying “She’s just a 6.” what’s really going on is an attempt to lower the self-esteem of women who look like her. It’s a way to increase their own chances of dating women like that—by making those women feel less desirable, the men hope to level the playing field. That’s one strategy. On the other side, you have women calling the ad racist. But again, the motive seems similar: it’s an effort to reduce the social status of women like Sweeney in order to boost their own relative appeal. If you’re seeking a romantic partner and you're surrounded by highly attractive rivals, you essentially have three choices: improve yourself, tear others down, or do nothing and accept your lower odds. You can try to become more desirable, or you can try to make your competitors seem less desirable—either to others or to themselves. One tactic is to undermine a person’s confidence and lower their self-esteem, in the hope that they’ll become more open to dating you.

Rob Henderson

41,187 views • 1 year ago

Earlier today on BBC News (UK): Recognition of the State of Palestine is not a gift, favour or reward. It is an inalienable right of the Palestinian people and it is long overdue. Countries, including the US and UK, who argue that this must only happen as a result of negotiations are not only being disingenuous, as they know all too well that Israel rejects the very idea of a Palestinian state, they are obstructing the internationally sanctioned right of self-determination of all peoples.

Earlier today on BBC News (UK): Recognition of the State of Palestine is not a gift, favour or reward. It is an inalienable right of the Palestinian people and it is long overdue. Countries, including the US and UK, who argue that this must only happen as a result of negotiations are not only being disingenuous, as they know all too well that Israel rejects the very idea of a Palestinian state, they are obstructing the internationally sanctioned right of self-determination of all peoples.

Husam Zomlot

192,964 views • 2 years ago

One of the strongest warning signs I look for when evaluating a potential cult leader is the narcissist's need for constant praise, admiration, and validation. In my work studying undue influence and cult dynamics, I’ve seen how cult leader tactics often create an environment in which the leader must always be seen as right, powerful, and above criticism. Trump’s public behavior regarding praise and loyalty aligns with broader patterns found in high-control groups and cults of personality. Understanding these patterns isn’t about blindly following a label; it’s about learning how influence works, how manipulation happens, and how we can protect ourselves from undue influence. Video credit: CNN Fox News @raisedinpennsylvania Tovia Media reema.news

One of the strongest warning signs I look for when evaluating a potential cult leader is the narcissist's need for constant praise, admiration, and validation. In my work studying undue influence and cult dynamics, I’ve seen how cult leader tactics often create an environment in which the leader must always be seen as right, powerful, and above criticism. Trump’s public behavior regarding praise and loyalty aligns with broader patterns found in high-control groups and cults of personality. Understanding these patterns isn’t about blindly following a label; it’s about learning how influence works, how manipulation happens, and how we can protect ourselves from undue influence. Video credit: CNN Fox News @raisedinpennsylvania Tovia Media reema.news

Steven Hassan, PhD

23,750 views • 13 days ago

This is a really special interview for me. My guest Axel Honneth is one of my first teachers who made me fall in love with philosophy. In college, my biggest struggle was dealing with my own craving for external validation. I found myself racking up achievements I didn't need, to pursue careers I didn't want, all in order to impress people I didn't particularly like. When I realized this, I decided that I needed to be free from external validation altogether if I wanted to build a healthy self-esteem. So I deleted all of my social media. I moved to Nepal to practice in a Tibetan monastery: I was genuinely considering renouncing the world. Encountering Axel’s work saved me from this other extreme and made me realize I was operating under a false dichotomy. The way to build a healthy self-esteem is not by rejecting validation altogether, it is by gaining the right kind of external validation. The right question is not: “how do I stop caring what others think of me?” The right question is: “how, from whom, and when should I care?” That is what you will learn in this interview: how to stop living for others, and discover a life truly your own. But what moved me even more than Axel's ideas is who he is as a person. As one of the most important philosophers, he spent hours every month taking me 1-on-1 carefully through his works. His generosity showed me what a philosophical life was all about. This interview is special then because it gave me the opportunity almost a decade later to revisit the works that started my journey into philosophy. Timestamps: 2:52 All Struggles Are Struggles of Recognition 7:39 Not All Jobs Get Social Esteem 15:29 From Occupy Wall Street to Woke Capital 24:28 The ‘Self’ is a Product of Love 53:23 You Can Demand Rights, Not Esteem 1:20:39 Freedom Requires Recognition 1:35:55 The Overlegalization of America

This is a really special interview for me. My guest Axel Honneth is one of my first teachers who made me fall in love with philosophy. In college, my biggest struggle was dealing with my own craving for external validation. I found myself racking up achievements I didn't need, to pursue careers I didn't want, all in order to impress people I didn't particularly like. When I realized this, I decided that I needed to be free from external validation altogether if I wanted to build a healthy self-esteem. So I deleted all of my social media. I moved to Nepal to practice in a Tibetan monastery: I was genuinely considering renouncing the world. Encountering Axel’s work saved me from this other extreme and made me realize I was operating under a false dichotomy. The way to build a healthy self-esteem is not by rejecting validation altogether, it is by gaining the right kind of external validation. The right question is not: “how do I stop caring what others think of me?” The right question is: “how, from whom, and when should I care?” That is what you will learn in this interview: how to stop living for others, and discover a life truly your own. But what moved me even more than Axel's ideas is who he is as a person. As one of the most important philosophers, he spent hours every month taking me 1-on-1 carefully through his works. His generosity showed me what a philosophical life was all about. This interview is special then because it gave me the opportunity almost a decade later to revisit the works that started my journey into philosophy. Timestamps: 2:52 All Struggles Are Struggles of Recognition 7:39 Not All Jobs Get Social Esteem 15:29 From Occupy Wall Street to Woke Capital 24:28 The ‘Self’ is a Product of Love 53:23 You Can Demand Rights, Not Esteem 1:20:39 Freedom Requires Recognition 1:35:55 The Overlegalization of America

Johnathan Bi

10,847 views • 6 months ago