Phony Self-Esteem Trap – The American Idol Syndrome

Real self-esteem comes from doing the right thing or pride in accomplishing something. Those are the types of self-esteem that parents should encourage.

I hate the fact that we as a society are into phony self-esteem. That’s what happens when adults tell kids (or each other) that they are good at something even when they aren’t. They calling it “building self-esteem,” but they are really robbing the child or other person of the truth and the ability to properly judge one’s talent.

Watch those initial episodes of American Idol every season. You know the ones, those in which they showcase all the people that sound like a screeching howler monkeys when they perform for the judges. That’s the proof. Some well-meaning person told those people they could sing when they were children. They didn’t want to damage their self-esteem by telling them to take another hobby or to actually pursue something at which they could excel.

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