Everyone Loves a Winner

For many, actor Jack Nicholson is a living legend. He’s the only living actor with 12 Academy Award nominations. He has won the award 3 times (for Best Actor in About Schmidt and As Good as It Gets, and for Best Supporting Actor in Terms of Endearment). Only the deceased Walter Brennan and Ingrid Bergman have won as many awards. Only the deceased Katherine Hepburn has eclipsed him with 4 wins.

Nicholson’s success is all the more amazing because he was abandoned by his father in childhood, and was raised by his grandmother—who he believed was his own mother. People love Jack Nicholson for his grin and his wily disposition, but mainly they love him because he is a winner who overcame incredible odds.

About the Academy Awards, Nicholson has said, “I’d love to win but now that I’ve had several good performances that people at large have liked, it becomes harder to excite them.” And so, if he wants to win again, Jack Nicholson (or his agent) has to search high and low for that next great role; and when he lands it, he has to reach down within himself to create a performance that will surpass all others who likewise are trying to achieve greatness. Jack Nicholson can do it. Not this year, but he might again. He’s that good. It’s what winners do.

They leave their personal struggles at the door, prepare their bodies to endure the long hours, they work hard on perfecting a character’s speech and mannerisms, they show up early on the set, and they do take after take until they get the shot just right. And it’s why we honor them with awards.

Everyone Wants Approval

We are hard-wired by God for relationships. Since God is love and we are made in His image, we desire and need love too. Many of us strive to earn love, especially from those closest to us. Others seem to have a knack for being “lovable” and find no difficulty in getting the love they want.

According to Gary Chapman, the author of The Five Love Languages, love is shown through words of affirmation, quality time, receiving gifts, acts of service, and physical touch.

On accepting her best actress Oscar in 1985 for her performance in Places in the Heart, Sally Field said, “This means so much more to me this time, I don’t know why. I think the first time [for Norma Rae] I hardly felt it because it was all too new. But I want to say ‘thank you’ to you. I haven’t had an orthodox career. And I’ve wanted more than anything to have your respect. The first time I didn’t feel it. But this time I feel it. And I can’t deny the fact that you like me... right now... you like me. Thank you.”

In one moment, Sally Field felt loved because she was given a gift (an Oscar and probably lots of free stuff directly afterwards), affirmation from her peers (their votes and applause), and she also probably received lots of hugs (physical touch) and engagements (quality time) by those who wanted to meet her or work with her.

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