What negative reinforcement looks and feels like
When you are working on yourself or a project, how do you treat each accomplishment? Do you use the response, “It’s about time” or “Great work, keep it up”? Each one is a possible reaction to what you’ve finished. The first is what we often tell ourselves or even others. It stems from our frustration of not having a task taken care of in a timely manner. The second is positive and affirmative, providing an emotional boost.
The temptation to react negatively to a long-delayed project is strong. But think about how that will make you or others feel about completing more tasks. The “about time” response will make you less excited about ticking off the next item. Negative reinforcement subconsciously sabotages your future efforts. Sure, acknowledge that it took longer than you’d hoped. That happens to everyone. Celebrate that small victory. Cheering yourself on will keep you excited. You’ll move faster and accomplish more with positive reinforcement.
Listen to the audio version:
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: RSS