Pronunciation: VELT-shmairts

Meaning:

1.  mental depression or apathy caused by comparison of the actual state of the world with an ideal state

2.  a mood of sentimental sadness  

Example sentence: "Unemployed and risking home foreclosure, I began to sink into a state of Weltschmerz."

Caution: When you use unfamiliar foreign words, preface your comments by saying something like this: "You asked me how I'm doing, and I will tell you I am feeling what the Germans call 'Weltschmerz.' That means I am feeling sad about the situation in the world, kind of a mild depression."

--Status:  Many don't want to be in a "one down" position (e.g., men hesitating to ask for directions when they're lost)

As Winston Churchill said: "I like to learn, but I don't like to be taught."

--NIH Syndrome: "Not Invented Here." In many groups, corporations, churches, universities, and more, people come to believe that "Because we didn't think of this idea, it can't be very good." Example: The U.S. auto industry from 1950 to 1980, during which the executives at the top rejected the idea of small, high quality autos like cars Japan was making.) Why? Because they thought they knew better.

e.g., Fred Smith, founder of FEDEX, encountered much resistance to his idea, including a C- grade for his plan in a business course.

"Don't worry about people stealing your ideas. If your ideas are any good, you'll have to ram them down people's throats." --Howard Aiken

'New ideas pass through three periods:

--Arthur C. Clarke

--Tribal or Cultural Resistance or Ideology.

 Once basic beliefs and values are instilled, humans resist ideas that deviate from what they believe.  "If God had wanted man to fly, He would have given us wings." 

 "Everything new endangers something old." 

 --Admiral Hyman Rickover 

--Scams, Shams, and Deceits:  Infomercials, identity theft, con artists, they are everywhere.  Who can we believe? 

 Mark Twain once bought a "genuine Mexican plug" from an auctioneer whose brother was the owner. Then he discovered the horse was un-rideable.  It bucked every time.  Later he wrote:

 "I gave no sign; but I made up my mind that if the auctioneer's brother's funeral took place while I was in the (Nevada) Territory I would postpone all other recreations and attend it." --From Roughing It

 They Resist Because of Something  About You

You are not a prophet in own town or family.  To them, you're just "Good Old Uncle Thomas."  (Edison).  This is a teaching of Jesus, who had to leave his home town in order for his ideas to be heard. 

Complexity:  The way you present your idea is too complicated.  Many prefer simple ideas like bumper sticker slogans.  You may have to draw them a picture or actually demonstrate what you mean.