The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-01-13

one OF the most Important 1OEkS
In the road of evolution came when
some organisms-afterwards clans,
oysters, crabs, and lobsters--began
putting their skeletons on the out
side, while others risked the great
experiment Of putting their skele-
tons within and their nerves with
out.
So began creature, one Of
whose essential characteristics was
exposed sensibility. Concerning
this basic quality OF all emotional
life-sensitivenes - 1t Is obvious
that we must do somthing with
1t one way or another. We cannot
dull 1t without becoming stupid,
or Glide without dehumanizing
ourselves. All drugging Of 1t by
drink or opiates Is a transient pal
liative. To despise It Is absurd,
for 1t is mans glory. Without SEN
sitivity there Is no creativity.
Some of It's most typical abuses
are seen in representative people
-touchy. irascible. peevich, petu-
liant. They create hell out Of the
same quality - sensitiveness-that
well used makes happiness pos
sible. Let o man discover what
he Is characteristically touchy
about and he will gain valuable
insight into his personal problem.
Some are representative about
the superiority or preferment Of
another. jealousy torments them.
Able to get on well enough with
interiors and equals, they are pain
fully upset by those who edge
ahead Of them in the race.
The paradox in the situation Is
that all Of Us ought to be sensitive
to excellence. The psychologically
healthy person, effectively interest
ed in whatever he is giving his
life to. Is glad when q musician,
teacher, administrator papers who
is better than himself. Thereby the
world Is enriched, and If he can
admire and so share in the exc
cellence, he Is enriched.
To be sure. particularly In the
realm of sexual competition, the
emotional battle involved In jeal-
ousy Is very difficult. Nevertheless,
however deeply we may be hurt
by the success Of another who
marries the person we wanted TO
marry, jealousy only bedevils an
already tormenting problem. It Is
self-inflicted torture added to the
already accomplished loss Of the
loved one. Envy Is always NOR
bid form Of sensitiveness, and the
way out Is not so much emotional
inhibition as emotional redirection.
Here, too, good will Is the only
ultimate therapy.
Many people exhibit their hy-
persensitiveness not so much in
jealousy as in extreme LONELINESS
to criticism. Their amour propre
squirms under adverse judgment.
Sensitiveness to the opinion Of
others, without which social life
could not go on at all, has in
them been perverted into dis
ease. Naturally, anyone suffering
from an underlying sense Of infer
iority cannot bear to have that sore
area touched by criticism. The
extreme egotist is doomed to lap
UP fiattery. and get hopping mad
at fault-flnding. Obviously the ha-
bitual rationaliZer will resent the
opinion of one who sees his mistake
but not his alibi. And anyone in
whom Jealous, vindictive, choleric
emotions have gained dominance
has so messed up his personal re-
lationships that he will always have
. chip on his shoulder.
Such abnormal persons take APP
probation for granted and regard
criticism as an impertinence. The
nodmal person comes much nearer
taking criticism for granted and
regarding appreciation as velvet.
Ralph Waldo Emerson at Mid
dlebury. College once made a speech
that q minister sitting on the plat
form deeply disliked. Not having
been asked to speak, the minister
could not argue against Emerson,
butin delivering the closing prayer he
he prayed. "e heseech prayer he
prayed. I'VE beseech Thee, o Lord.
to deliver US from ever hearing
any more such transcendental nor-
sense as we have Just listened to
from this sacred desk"
When Emerson was asked after.
wards what he thought about It,
he remarked, ''T'he minister seems
Q very conscientious plain-spogen
gentleman" Such healthy-minded-
ness as Emerson's In the face OF
criticism Is Q necessary factor In
q well-integrated personality.
Mere suppression Of hypersensi-
tiveness to criticism, however, even
were It possible. Is not the way out.
Ability to welcome criticism and
learn Prom It Is fundamental IN visa
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