Taking in Acknowledgment – My Issue

In my mind, I've been fussing with "Taking in" Acknowledgment. I thought about Receiving Acknowledgment, Taking Acknowledgment and various other versions. I finally settled on 'Taking IN Acknowledgment' to indicate letting the acknowledgment actually 'in' to the body. "Letting" in acknowledgment is more passive, 'taking' in acknowledgment seemed more active.

Anyway, the issue has long been with me. The fear is that if I really 'take in' acknowledgment, my head will get so inflated, that I will lose the very essence of that for which I am being acknowledged. I have seen many pumped up egos, and they serve as warnings for how I don't want to be in My Life – self important, disconnected, using other people, not giving others their due credit, a prima donna. I see that as the action of a spiritual vampire, sucking the esteem out of others in order to exaggerate my own importance. The image is scary enough for me to make sure I keep a tight reign on that part. Because, in truth, that part exists in me. There are times I want accolades for what I've done. I want to make sure others recognize my contributions. And that is usually when I am unsure of myself, and cover that over with "look how good I did!" Other times when I internally demand recognition is when I am resentful of having done something I didn't really want to do – a sort of "you owe me praise."

The secret for me to hold that part in check is to allow myself to feel proud, not ego-proud, but heart-proud – basically, when I acknowledge myself for a job well done. When I don't bother to recognize myself is when I crave recognition from others.

Do YOU acknowledge yourself? When was the last time?