Praise > Punishment

Growing up, I treated myself like sh*t.I used to think the only way to get better... was to be punished.

Football taught me that.Mess up a play? Run laps.Miss an assignment? Get screamed at.So I brought that mindset everywhere —To my work. To my marriage.And especially in the way I talked to myself.Then... I got a puppy.In training him, I realized fast —Punishment does NOT work.It didn't make him better.It just made him confused — and shut down.The only thing that did work was calling out the good.

It got me thinking...How true is this in our relationships, too?

We spend so much time pointing out what’s wrong —The dishes left in the sink.The text they didn’t respond to.That thing we definitely would’ve done differently.

But none of that leads to growth...It leads to resentment.

Not only do we not get the result we want — but they feel attacked.

Praise is so much better.

It builds trust. It inspires change. And it actually works.So this week, my challenge for you is this:Catch one person doing something right — and say it out loud.Could be your partner, your teammate, or just… you :)

— Mike