How long does praise last anyway? This is a question last week from The Daily Stoic. Below is my (edited) response:
It lasts only in the moment, whether that is a few seconds or a lifetime. A lifetime is only a moment in the linear march of time. Praise is not what immortalizes us. It is the love we give to our spouses, our families, our grandchildren, and those around us.
What need then do we have of praise? It is only a human need for affirmation. That affirmation is short-lived when it comes from our fellow human beings.
Having some contempt for praise helps keep us grounded. In the moment, we enjoy the praise. It feels good. It is not something to avoid, but it is something to hold in check because seeking praise can become merely about itself.
When we engage in certain actions or make decisions that will earn us praise, why are we doing it? Is it to curry favor? If so, that favor will only last until the next decision or action that may not garner praise. Over time, our reputation suffers because people rightly figure out that we are making decisions and acting based on what people will like.
That is why developing our guiding principles and values is important and putting those at the heart of our decisions and actions.