” Correction does much, but encouragement does more.”
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Have you ever tried to do your best only to be told that your best was not good enough?
How did that make you feel?
Growing up I always wanted to please my father. The little girl in me wanted to make him proud. The only thing she wanted at the time, was to be validated by the only man in her life that mattered. But to be honest, no matter what I did it seemed like it was never good enough. If I did anything right, I never heard about it and it is a shame that at 35, the only memories that sticks out in my mind are all the things he told me that I did wrong.
As parents we sometimes forget that our children are humans with feelings. We talk to them any how and expect to get the best out of them. It hurts me to my core when I hear adults calling children stupid, worthless or good for nothing.
Can you imagine going to work today and hearing your boss yelling out to you in front of your co-workers that you are nothing but a good for nothing piece of crap. I am sure you would not take too kindly to those words and because you don’t want to go to jail, you might start looking for another job right away.
Discipline is necessary,but so too is encouragement.
Make a commitment today to find something good to say to your child or significant other. Applaud their successes and seek ways to help them in the areas there are struggling with. We tend to assume that people know how to do better, but sometimes that is not the case and they need to taught how.
Be gentle and be patient.
If you have to correct a behavior, find the right time to do so. Giving the right message at the wrong time can be detrimental and ineffective. Remember, it is not always what you say that matters but how you say it.
Positive Affirmation: Today I will offer someone an encouraging word. I will seek to celebrate the good in others and myself.
