Ann He

“I see your point. You could be making the child dependent on the positive feedback he or she might not get. Whereas the feedback for ‘doing the right thing’ comes from within, the child can award it to him or herself.”
― Joan Didion, Notes to John

“I could receive appreciation joyfully, in the awareness that God has given everyone the power to enrich the lives of others. If I am aware that it is this power of God working through me that gives me the power to enrich life for others, then I may avoid both the ego trap and the false humility.”
― Marshall B. Rosenberg, Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life: Life-Changing Tools for Healthy Relationships

“That’s a strategy – setting everything else aside and going to work – that’s worked very well for you. It’s still the best way to allay anxiety known to man. Work. Better than drugs, better even than alcohol. But she doesn’t have the faith in her work that you have in yours. When she does, she’ll be for all intents and purposes cured.”
― Joan Didion, Notes to John

“I’m saying you can’t let yourself not be. You can’t let yourself make mistakes, be human. Having to be right is like the Midas touch. You think it would be wonderful if everything you touched turned to gold, then you find you’ve turned to gold yourself, stopped being human.”
― Joan Didion, Notes to John