Which is the greater evil, being ambitious for oneself or being ambitious for one’s mate or child(ren)? Is there a difference?
Or is ambition a virtue?
The Space Between My Peers
a conversation about life and style
ambition
noun
A strong desire to achieve something: ambitiousness, aspiration, emulation. See desire
What one intends to do or achieve: aim, design, end, goal, intent, intention, mark, meaning, object, objective, point, purpose, target, view, why. Idioms: end in view, why and wherefore. See planned, purpose
I think one can only be truly ambitious for oneself, and I don’t know that it is a virtue or an evil. To answer your question, though, I think it might be worse to attempt to be ambitious for your mate or child(ren), because it is really their place to decide what they want for themselves, what their ambition is.
I consider myself to be ambitious. I have goals that I want to see to fruition (world peace, healthy kids, happy marriage). I have career aspirations that mesh with my values (launching the non-profit organization, The Women’s Health Project).
I think in many cases it is good to have a plan (i.e. ambition). But I also believe in adapting the plan over time, as necessary.
I think it’s entirely possible to be vicariously ambitious. As beth said, it’s probably worse (children in pageants comes to mind) but I don’t necessarily think it’s different from ambition for oneself. Both types further some personal desire, whether monetary success or world peace.
I thik it is wise to be only ambitious in the sense of being zealous or hot on fire for God. To be zealous for your husband or kids outside of what God reuires would not be good, it would be like worshipping them.