A word of Happiness…
Ananya threw a ball far in the park and signalling Coco to run behind it and get it back to her.
She was training her dog fetch for the first time and Coco struggled to understand what Ananya was telling him to do. 30 minutes of running, panting efforts by Ananya, Coco was unable to fetch. They came back home, tired, exhausted and Ananya was little sad and disappointed.
Next day, Tamanna, Ananya’s daughter, tried the same thing, she tossed a ball at a shorter distance this time, Coco was now encouraged to go after it. Tamanna ran with him for shorter distance and waited for Coco to return and given Coco, peanut butter cookies, his favorite food. She repeated it and every time increasing the verbal encouragement little more, and there he was, running behind the ball and getting it back to her like a rocket. Amazing, isn’t it?
What made it so interesting that he could do it happily on day 2?
Kindling Joy!!!!!!
“You are doing great, keep doing it”.. simple words, yet intensely powerful. How many times have you said this to someone? Or received it yourself?
Do you recall the scene from Munnabhai MBBS when Sanju baba gives ‘Jadu ki jhappy’ to Maqsood Uncle in the hospital? The miraculous effect it creates and brings a smile to everybody’s face, doesn’t it?
Imagine a kid who just started walking or singing or dancing and now imagine, kid’s parents clapping for him, do you see an innocent smile on his face?
Seen any dog who just started catching a ball in mouth and owner patting him? how many hearts it can melt?
Why do you think, India wins cricket match? (Of course, their effort, practice and hard work are crucial), but the energy booster they receive with the audience cheering doe wonders.
How many times have we appreciated our moms for cooking fab food for us and seen the heartfelt loving smile on her face?
Even in workplace, just a simple “thank you” could reflect more productivity in employees. This creates the organizational culture more positive and constructive.
Why do we need it?
Appreciation: it’s a wonderful thing. It is a normal human psychology, if you are appreciated, you feel motivated. It increases self-trust and you feel inspired. You bring more innovative ideas if you work and efforts are acknowledged and appreciated. Our mindset changes to do whatever we are doing, happily.
Negative feelings are toxic, and gratitude has the strength to remove this toxicity and bring positivity. Positivity is contagious. This has better psychological and physical effects as well, Rewards that we receive reduce stress, creates better wellness, enhances confidence, and brings feel-good factor. You smile more often.
Do we really need it?
Some people are self-inspired & self-motivated. Some people ask for more criticism instead of appreciation. And some people move on without caring about recognition. But there is also the group of people incapable of having neat and well directed thoughts, where our appreciation or communication can help. Having said that, appreciation should not be too manipulative either. We should not start molding as per the feedback or appreciation. Keeping the balance between the two is our responsibility and one learns to keep balance in this by experience.
One can also think, why to appreciate someone for doing the things that they are supposed to be? I say, why not? It is just an acknowledgement and gratitude to bring in best out of them.
Conclusion
Warren Buffet says, it is always good to communicate and to appreciate, otherwise, it is as good as winking at a girl in the dark 😉. Acknowledge, you never know whom you are inspiring. People will start doing their work “By choice”, if feel appreciated, instead of “by chance”. It does not cost anything but means so much. Be it in any service, it is a small investment to bring in the best of others. That is all we crave, that is all we want!