>> Why We Have This Emotion
Admiration highlights others’ traits and strategies. It promotes learning, mentorship seeking, and prosocial imitation. It strengthens social bonds and motivates us to improve ourselves without rivalry.
◎ What to do in the moment
Good Ideas
- Adopt one of their principles
- Seek lessons, not just inspiration
- Limit your exposure for a bit
- Balance trade-offs and strengths
- Diversify your role models
- Focus on evidence over vibes
- Share what you've learned
Bad Ideas
- Slide into unhealthy idolization
- Compare yourself to them
- Diminish your own self-worth
- Blame your circumstances
- Obsess over someone
- Put people on a pedestal
- Accept what they say blindly