Searching for Relevance

I was once told that the second strongest human emotion is the craving to be recognized/appreciated/seen as important.  Since hearing that statement many years ago, I have noted numerous times that it seemed to drive behavior.

One of the first places to note it was watching a child seek the approval of a parent.  "Daddy look at me!"  It is also sometimes a factor between spouses -- we don't want to be taken for granted but recognized for our contributions -- for the things that we do well.  Too often criticism for failures is more common than recognition of the positives.

I also believe that craving for recognition is what drives many to create on social media.  Arguably, this post might be an example.  I tell myself that I am writing to relieve a compulsion that I feel deep inside me to write my thoughts.  It helps me to organize them, and it is one way that I choose to exercise my mind.

The craving for recognition sometimes leads to competition between individuals that might lead to negative impact on a relationship.  This can happen between siblings or between spouses.  There is nothing wrong with a competitive nature, but it must be balanced.  An individual should find the things that they enjoy and simply do them to the best of their ability rather than being jealous of the recognition others might receive by pursuing the things that give them pleasure or satisfaction.  Instead, jealousies drive wedges.

I don't really know what prompted this post other than it is something that has been rolling around in my mind.  Now, to find a picture to include -- I like the one below which is of three peahens sitting on a fence at Bent's Old Fort National Monument in Colorado.  They were in the shadows, and the photo creates a kind of silhouette that made me think of three individuals sitting and gossiping.  I guess that's a bit like the search for relevance -- gossip tends to put down others in an attempt to make us look better.  It's not healthy for relationships either.