Do We Praise Ourselves?

Oh, the art of self-praise. It’s a solo standing ovation, a pat on the back so loud you’d think the room’s clapping. We’ve all met them those folks who can’t resist telling you how brilliant, how essential they are. “I crushed it,” they say, chest puffed like a peacock on parade. But do we should we praise ourselves? Let’s unpack this little circus act and see what’s behind the curtain.

The Self-Crowned Kings and Queens

Dave from accounting, leaning over the coffee machine, casually dropping, “Yeah, I basically saved the quarter with that spreadsheet.” Or Lisa, who’s got her Instagram bio screaming “Visionary” because she once had a half-decent idea. These are the self-crowned royalty of everyday life, handing themselves medals no one else saw the race for. It’s not confidence it’s a one-person hype squad, and the rest of us are just the audience they forgot to invite.

Why do they do it? Maybe it’s insecurity dressed up as swagger. Psychologists call it self-enhancement when you’re so desperate to feel good, you start polishing your own trophy. Studies, like those from the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, say it’s common when people feel shaky praise yourself before someone else doesn’t. But here’s the kicker: it’s a neon sign screaming, “I need this more than you think I do.” Sad, really, when you peel back the bravado.

The Mirror That Lies

Then there’s the delusion angle. Self-praise often comes with a mirror that only shows the good angles forget the flaws, the flops, the times they tripped over their own ego. “I’m a genius at this,” they crow, ignoring the team that carried the load or the luck that broke their fall. It’s a fairy tale where they’re the hero, the dragon, and the cheering crowd all at once. Meanwhile, the rest of us are over here, sipping tea, knowing the real story’s got more plot holes than a bad movie.

X is a goldmine for this scroll through and you’ll see the self-congratulation parade. “Hustled hard today,” posts the guy who napped through lunch. “Changing the game,” says the one whose big move was a TikTok dance. It’s laughable until you realize they believe it. That’s when it stops being funny and starts being a bit pathetic.

The Ridiculous Reality

Let’s be real: self-praise is a clown show with no tickets sold. If you’re good, people notice you don’t need to blast the trumpet yourself. Ever watch someone truly great? They don’t strut around yelling, “Behold my greatness!” They just do the thing, and the praise lands naturally. Self-praisers, though? They’re like that kid who demands a gold star for tying their shoes except they’re 35 and still tripping.

And the irony? They think it works. They think we’re all nodding along, dazzled by their glow. Nope. We’re smirking, rolling our eyes, whispering, “Mate, calm down you’re not the second coming of Einstein.” It’s a social tax we pay listening to their victory lap while quietly betting they’ll crash before the finish line.

Maybe Drop the Mic

So, do we praise ourselves? Some do, loudly, and it’s a cringe-fest. If you’re tempted, here’s a tip: let your work talk. If it’s worth a damn, someone else will say it. And if they don’t? Maybe it’s not the world that’s blind maybe it’s you. Self-praise is a cheap high feels good for a second, then leaves you looking like the guy who brought his own confetti to the party. Toss the crown, ditch the mirror, and save the applause for someone else to give. Trust me, it’s less embarrassing that way.