Photo by Bernal Saborio, used under Creative Commons licence.

It feels very, very good to succeed. That’s why people who’ve had that good feeling want to have it again and will then go and work for it.

The feeling of success, of being capable, is the first thing that happens. Then a positive spirals of achievement get started. Life goes on getting better.

But if people only hear criticism, and a list of their faults and mistakes, that inner positivity never has the chance to get started. Yet it’s that which will create the strength and confidence to face the changes and uncertainties that everyone will face in life.

It takes discipline to succeed    

At Panther Taekwondo Black Belt Academy, we believe that repetition is very valuable.  Sometimes a new lesson or understanding takes time, and it’s over time that beneficial values sink into the subconscious mind where they remain as a strength to draw on for the future. It takes discipline to succeed – you have to try and try, and then you might have to try again.  So we emphasise certain lessons and skills, and keep emphasising them. If we persist in telling you, you’ll have the persistence to keep trying.

But then – when you do – high five! Back slap! Big, BIG well done! Feel good – feel great, because you deserve to.  That’s the time for praise, and for feeling really good about yourself.  Don’t stint with your praise, or imagine that a child or young person will get spoiled or lazy if they hear that they are terrific. As a result of it, they’ll try even harder next time. We want people to have those feelings.

I’ve been fortunate enough to meet many inspirational children and young people and play a part in their stories of growth, journeying to maturity and achievement. And that’s a blessed thing. I am very, very fortunate. So I feel good about that too.