Just finished watching the Super Bowl (Packers win..ahhhh!!!!!) and running a 10k race today (6.2 miles, for anyone using the U.S. system). 55 mins. Eh. Nothing special.......gotta remember to not wear a sweatshirt and sweatpants.
I'm a little upset about the Packers winning, not least of which because they beat the Bears (twice!) to get there, it's the PACKERS!!! and I wouldn't have picked them to win the game. But the main reason, I think is the lack of success in my own life, coupled with the lack of success in the sports teams I am most passionate about. Ever since 1998, the last time one of my Fab Five teams won a championship (Bulls, Bears, Cubs, Illini, Chargers) nary a one of those teams has won, the closest being in 2005 the Illini got o so close to a national championship (coincidentally, also the last time I felt like I was truly successful among my peers, in high school). Sports is obviously just sports, and I don't take it too seriously, but at some point I want to win something, I want to be the best at something, whether it's vicariously through a sports team or preferably, through something that I do on my own. So far it hasn't happened.
One thing that would qualify as a success is if I won Streak For Cash one of these months (Yes, I'm back playing again). I think January was a trial month; now I'm in tune and ready to go, with a 17-4 record in February so far, basically only 3 streakbreakers or else I'd have a 17-game streak (sigh, why did I pick the Puxstawney Phil Groundhog Day prop? or the Lakers over the Spurs, STOP picking NBA games!).
Anyway, on to the title theme of this article: Positive Reinforcement. I believe that Positive Reinforcement is one of the most powerful forces, if not THE most powerful, force in motivating people. We all need it from time to time, whether we realize it or no. I see it everywhere, from my peers to casino dealers to the kids at my summer camp. My peers are motivated to do better if they get good grades: they are rewarded, so they want to keep getting rewarded. Casino dealers become much more friendly if you tip them. Kids try harder and want to keep trying if you tell them you're doing a good job. I wash the dishes for my family more if my mom tells me I'm really helping out the family. The key is someone RECOGNIZING it, perceiving that what you're doing is actually making a difference, or is having some effect, and not just some insignificant event. We need positive reinforcement to remind us that we are alive; to realize our full potential in our lives. It's so important: When I grow up, I want to be a positive reinforcer for others. O if only that job paid.
Chicago Bulls, please provide some positive reinforcement this spring in the playoffs. Please.
Finally, I want to leave people who are in a bit of turmoil or are lacking success in their lives (like myself) and need a bit of inspiration, from an excellent non-fiction (for once!) book I'm reading called "Just Like Us: The True Story of Four Mexican Girls Coming of Age in America," by Helen Thorpe, told to a young Latina American student who had difficulties affording college due to her illegal immigrant status:
"You are going to succeed, and it is going to feel so much better for you than it does for other people, because you are goin to have to struggle more." VERY, VERY inspiring, even though I haven't had to struggle as much, relatively......but struggle I have. And yes, if I do succeed, it will be VERY VERY sweet.
Fantasize on,
Robert Yan
No comments:
Post a Comment