We treasure dogs for their unconditional love and loyalty, but it sure is easier to build a cooperative relationship with our canine companions through the judicious use of food.
How have you improved a relationship through the use of positive reinforcement?
I have a problem-solving temperament. So my own mind tends to focus on what can be made better. However, in coaching clients, I try to remember to compliment them on what they are doing well and point out the qualities of their personalities that will help them accomplish their goals.
Although I am not connected in any way with friends or others in a professional way, I too, as Margaret says, count on my opportunities to enforce strengths I see in friends and associates. I especially encourage younger people with my observations about their accomplishments or strengths of character and hope that they believe in my truthfulness. Perhaps this is because I am in the oldest of the census figures (over 85) so I’ve lived through some of the same complexities as they seem to be enduring.
I think it’s great that you do this for young people. And I hope that it helps them to see that older people have a lot of experiential knowledge and wisdom to offer. I don’t believe in putting older people on pedestals no matter how they behave, as is done in some countries. However, I believe our own culture has gone too far in the other direction.