What is Recognition?

What is re-cognition? Why do we crave it and turn away from it when received?

Recognition is re- knowing, a definition I heard Jean Houston share in a discussion about embracing conscious evolution. She described how recognition makes us face what we already know, and I was enlightened to understand why I lived my youth craving recognition but always running away from it when received.

Cognition is the process of knowing, perception. Recognition is to re-enter what we already know. When it's something I'm afraid of facing, I search for the answer in others but when they give me what I ask for, I'm in a position where I must face what I already know and have been avoiding. Recognition isn't only about being known to others, I find that it's about needing to know ourselves and sometimes we require the assistance of another to face what is.