PRAISE

Praise can be like a magic elixir. It lifts the spirit, makes one feel good, relaxes muscles, brings a smile, releases tension, banishes doubts, provides courage and energy. It builds and elevates, improves body chemistry. It costs little, its dividend is great.

Whether we praise or criticize, can become a habit of our own personality, our approach to dealing with other people. It is easy to find fault, to point out what is wrong, how to do it better, how some one else does it. But it may be that the thing to praise was the effort made, the fact of trying to do something that required time and practice to learn.

Criticism does all of the things opposite to praise. It puts down, discourages, saps energy, causes doubt, adversely affects body chemistry. It is destructive and demoralizing. It, like praise, can become an unconscious habit without realizing it. Too much criticism can lead to depression, discourage effort and promote failure.

We all need success. How can a new born baby experience success, even though he seems to be totally helpless? He can feel  accomplishment if his cry brings someone to pick him up, cuddle and talk to him. It gives him a sense of security, of not being totally unable to have any control over what happens to him. Answering his cry is like praise. It is encouragement. It promotes his health and growth.

Leaders are people who praise and commend.  It causes people to look up to them, listen to their ideas and to follow them.

If you want your child easy to raise, get the habit of going easy on his faults and praising the good things he does. It will pay big dividends for both of you. It will help make him easy to raise.