Some learners end up feeling completely demoralized when they cannot sense their progress in learning, particularly in terms of raising their scores on mock exams. For me, a time when I felt profoundly demoralized and ultimately gave up on a pursuit was when an art school teacher directly retouched my artwork to correct the shading, contrast, and perspective. Even though he was imparting important lessons, I was deeply shocked. I felt as though he had deliberately wounded my pride. Because I took immense pride in my artwork, I did not want anyone to redraw it; instead, I wanted him to explain verbally how I should have fixed the piece myself. Reflecting on this experience, I now wonder if excessive pride serves as a catalyst for demoralization, especially regarding one’s genuine aspirations.
