Is there a difference between these two things? I hadn't thought about it. What is the difference between “accomplishment” and “achievement?"
In the Chicago Tribune, John Warner wrote in his review of the book, All That Happiness Is by Adam Gopnik, the following:
“Gopnik draws a distinction between ‘accomplishment’ and ‘achievement,’ where accomplishment is rooted in an internal sense of having done something interesting and worthwhile, while achievement is rooted in external reward, having fulfilled the imperatives of the demands coming from an outside source.
“Because I spent many years teaching writing, and remain significantly involved in education in regards to how we teach writing, I couldn’t help but think about how much of the experience of school has become focused on achievement over accomplishment, and the obvious detriment this has when it comes to our pursuit of happiness. Students must relentlessly achieve without the accompanying satisfaction of accomplishment. It’s not mysterious why students are more and more disengaged from school.”
What has been your experience?
Have you been pushed in school, and maybe at home, toward "achievement?" Have you gotten the message from others that you need to strive toward straight A's and high test scores? Do you evaluate yourself by seeing your name on a select list, or being presented with a medal or certificate of achievement? If achievement is an external reward, it may feel momentarily satisfying, but does it feel fulfilling? The moment passes. There's always the next award to go after.
Try to think of situations in which you've accomplished something. Accomplishment usually comes in the form of effort toward a goal. Perhaps in a sport you have trained and practiced toward a peak performance. Maybe in music or theater you have rehearsed and performed toward a level on which you are proud of your accomplishment. The satisfaction in that can last much longer.
As you move into college and toward adulthood, the medals and other forms of acknowledging achievement are few and far between. To live a fulfilling life, it's more important to seek out work that is interesting and worthwhile so that when you devote your efforts to it, you feel a deep sense of accomplishment. That's when you truly feel good about yourself.
Comments