How is entitlement gained?
Entitlement is the idea that you have the right to something without having to work for it. Entitlement can be passed down through family, career, or just an arrogance that certain people can potentially have. Just like empowerment, entitlement is something that cannot be taught or learned. It is subjective to each of us, however most of us won’t feel entitlement in our lifetimes as the majority of people will have to work in order to achieve something. Whilst it might sound attractive the idea of gaining something without putting in the work to achieve it isn’t always the best.
Research has shown that people who believe they are entitled often end up having some form of depression. This is due to the nature in which they lead their lives. The constant mindset of being given something, whether that thing is actually attainable or not doesn’t matter, if they are unsuccessful in gaining whatever it is that they want, then are constantly left with a feeling of disappointment and dissatisfaction.
On the other hand however, there are instances where entitlement can be a positive. The constant belief of entitlement isn’t recommended, however a small rush can be beneficial. Again, research has shown that the occasional rush of entitlement can sometimes help creatively and can lead to unusual, out-of-the-box solutions for problems. Sometimes, an out-of-the-box solution is all that is needed, and it’s a trait that a lot of companies and organisations will look for in employees.
There’s no doubt that the word ‘entitlement’ has negative associations. The idea behind entitlement is that others should do work for you, or you should be given privileges that others shouldn’t. By having this mindset, you leave no room for self-betterment and growth. And when this fails, it can leave you feeling annoyed, bitter and depressed.
What’s better for me?
Unfortunately, you will be the only person to know the answer to that question. You are the only person who knows how hard you want something, and how much you’re willing to do to achieve it. As stated at the start of this podcast, both empowerment and entitlement are subjective terms with no measurable factors besides that of personal worth, which varies from person to person.
The main question you have to ask yourself is ‘Do I want to work for my success?’. Empowerment and entitlement both answer that question but the answers are on different ends of the spectrum. Do you want to work for your success, and be proud of where you’ve come from and what you’ve achieved? Or do you want to get your success given to you, and not understand what it takes to struggle and make it after failure?