By Calin McGonagle Studies have proven that when you get credit for your work, it gives your brain good feelings and can actually help you get more done. Some companies even use praise to boost productivity, and experts say the keeping a positive view can decrease your stress levels. Research also shows that praise can make you more motivated, as well as improve your overall performance and increase your brain’s ability to remember new skills and repeat them. Even though all this is true, we still like to focus in on the negative rather than boosting up the positive - our difficulty with accepting compliments is largely due to the fact that it is associated with bragging, which is not a good thing. Sometimes our greatest strengths are of such second nature to us that we don’t even realize that they’re useful. Still, it’s difficult to accept a compliment without making things awkward. So if you want to comfortably accept a compliment, make sure that you make your answer short, but still let them know that you appreciate it. Saying things like “Thanks, I’m glad you said that,” or “I appreciate that you noticed that,” can go a long way. While accepting compliments from others is a start, accepting compliments from yourself can be even more motivating. When people get credit for work that’s meaningful to them, even if it’s from themselves, it can often be incredibly mood-boosting. Dr. Amabile, who has studied “the impact of daily events on one’s productivity and inner work-life,” says that even in the absence of recognition, people often felt better when they made progress in work that meant something. Dr. Chris Cascio, who is an assistant professor at the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, did a riveting experiment. He found that when participants in his experiment were probed to think about things they cared about, and then were shown messages that encouraged exercise habits, the areas in their brain responsible for reward lit up. Those same people often then went on to improve their exercise routines, freshly motivated. So, how can you compliment and help yourself? Well, you can celebrate even the small things by writing down things you complete throughout the day, or journaling about your day and your feelings throughout the day every night. Even if these tiny wins barely touch the bigger picture or goal, it can improve many aspects like your mood and motivation, as well as give your brain very good feelings. Keep a record of things you’re proud of and of meaningful compliments or letters you’ve gotten to help give your brain good feelings. Another option is to try to set aside time every week to talk about what you’ve accomplished with someone you trust. Talking to a trusted friend, co-worker, classmate, or family member can help you become more comfortable in talking about your accomplishments, which may come in handy in more serious situations like a job interview. To conclude, compliments do a lot of good things for our brains, and can help us be not only more motivated, but also more productive, while also boosting our mood. Compliment yourself or a friend today!
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Ms. Carrigan's Psych ClassWe have been reading articles about psychological studies to inform the way we live our lives. Please explore, and we hope you learn a bit about the psychology in your life! Categories
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