Today’s giving: Spent a few, happy hours of my day off playing Monopoly with the kids. Also a DI meeting this afternoon.
Praise is a motivator. Whenever someone gives us praise or appreciation, especially if its from someone we want to please, or if its unexpected, it motivates us to do better.
Consider some (admittedly) over-simplified positive & negative feedback loops. They should look familiar. Then look at the role praise plays.
| Positive Feedback Loop | Negative Feedback Loop |
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There’s something motivating about hearing praise, especially unexpected praise. Here’s an article by Dr. Robert Brooks which talks in more depth about a “praise deficit”. It’s worth a few minutes.
People aren’t always going to praise you when you want it. But when you give your time, you will often get thanked and be appreciated. That praise is a motivator not only to give more, but in other parts of your life.
I would never recommend giving your time just to seek out praise. But it certainly helps us want to give more.
Give Our Time 