encouragement

​Encouragement is radical, revolutionary, simple and true and a main tool in Positive Discipline.

It says you are good, amazing, awesome just for being you.

Under this umbrella of your goodness, you are going to mess up, make mistakes, and get upset with your children.

You are human, and your imperfections are part of your humanity.

Do you find it challenging to embrace your imperfections?

The first step is to stop beating yourself up for learning and growing as a human.

Your mistakes are how you learn, and grow.

This is as true for grown-ups, as it is for children.

In the old way of raising and educating children (that is definitely still a part of our educational system and parenting practices), the message is this:

If you behave well, you are a good girl/boy. And if you misbehave, you are bad.

Encouragement says that's hogwash.

People are going to mess up.

I's part of being human and learning and evolving as individuals, and collectively as a people.

You are a good person, who also messes up.

Isn't that liberating?

Making people feel bad or think they're bad people for their mistakes,
at the very least creates people with insecurities.
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Worst case scenario, we create bad people. For real. This is serious business putting people down for their mistakes.

So what exactly is encouragement?

Encouragement is:  

• A tool of Positive Intent, like Do Statements.
• A replacement to both punishment and rewards.
• A belief in your inherent goodness and the goodness of your children
• A fundamental outlook on life, attitude, and a way of being that is positive
• Recognition, respect, acceptance, and conveying of faith in people for who they are
• Positive feedback on people’s efforts and improvements, not their outcomes
• Separating the behavior from the person, or the problem from the person
• To be used instead of punishments & rewards for both positive & negative behavior
• Connecting inner motivation (intrinsic) to mastery and self-esteem

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Encouragement is big work!

The first step to using Encouragement with your children
is to change your inner voice to Encouragement.

How do you talk to yourself when you make a mistake or have a reason to celebrate?

How can you change your inner voice to an Encouraging one?

Are you Encouraging to you?

Believe in you and your goodness, and everything else will be a-okay.

Ready for more Encouragement? 

Learn about the two types of Encouragement: Noticing and Empowering.






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