Feedback Thoughts

Growth Mindset

Source: Laura Gibbs

1. 5 Steps for Taking Feedback Like a Champ

-- I enjoyed reading this article because it made me realize that feedback is helpful and not meant to be hurtful. Even though I have always tried to take feedback "like a champ", sometimes it does get me discouraged, and I just want to give up. I received the most feedback when I was in sports, and I always felt like a terrible player, but when I felt discouraged it made me want to be a better player in order to prove them wrong. I knew I had the potential, I just needed to find it. 

2. Why Rejection Hurts So Much and What To Do About It

--This article really hit home for me. I take rejections way to personal, and have always been really hard on myself after being rejected. Friends and family constantly tell me that it's not me, I should've be so hard on myself, blah blah blah, and yet I still am. Reading about reviving your self worth is something that I really want to try. I know I am a good person and I have a lot to offer to friends, family, significant others, work, etc. I think writing it out as they mentioned and physically seeing it in front of me, is something that might help me realize that I don't need to be so hard on myself. I just need to realize that I do have a lot to offer, and move on to something bigger and better for me. 

3. Try Feedforward Instead of Feedback

--Being a trainer at work, I have to give lots of feedback to everyone that is lucky enough to train with me. Sometimes it is hard telling people what they are doing wrong, what they are doing right, and what they can do to make things better. At work, training is pretty difficult and thorough, it always amazes my trainees how much they are going to have to know and do when they are going through training and once they get out of training. So, feedback from my fellow trainers and myself are pretty important in their success. I've never liked giving feedback to others, just because I don't want to hurt their feelings, or discourage them, but being a trainer has made that easier for me. I definitely want to incorporate the feedforward into my training and see if that gets a better response from my trainees.

4. The Difference Between Praise That Promotes Narcissism vs. Healthy Self Esteem
--This was a very interesting read in that most people don't realize the importance of wording is with younger children. I remember times that I have said certain phrases mentioned in the article to my younger cousins, and my friend's children. It's just something most parents do to make their child happy and feel important, but instead it might be hurting them in the long run. Once I have children of my own, I definitely need to watch what I say, and try not to word it in a way to promote narcissism. 

Week 2 Storytelling: The Dog and His Bone

A dog and his bone

Source: Moral Stories

There once was a dog named Spot. One day, Spot was traveling through the neighboring town when he stumbled upon a butcher. The butcher noticed Spot gazing at the leftover bones he had in the corner.

After a few minutes, the butcher cleaned himself off and introduced himself to Spot. “Hello there! You’re a cutie, aren’t you?” as he reached him hand out to pet Spot. Spot wagged his tail in excitement. “Maybe if I seem excited, this sucker will give me one of those delicious looking treats,” Spot thought to himself.

A short time later, the butcher walks back into his shop and picks the biggest, most delicious bone he could find in his stacks. When he found the right one, he brought it back to Spot. Curious if Spot could do any tricks he begins trying different cues. “Can you speak?” he questioned. Spot slightly tilts his head to the side, unsure what the butcher is saying. “Hmm, let’s try something easier. How ‘bout shake? Can you shake?” Spot tilts his head to the other side. “I’m not sure what else a pup like you might know. Is that all you want?” as he raised the meaty bone up to Spot’s eye level. Spot’s eyes immediately went to the bone, and he couldn’t take his gaze off of it. His tail went wild, his ears perked up, and he had the biggest grin on his face. Spot barked hoping this was enough for the butcher to hand over that delectable thing in his hands. “Gimme, gimme, gimme, gimme,” he thought.

Finally, the butcher handed it over.

Spot ever so gently took the bone from the butcher’s grasp, and almost immediately ran off. He didn’t want to give the butcher a chance to change his mind. He must get home, so he can hide is new found delicacy.

About half-way home, Spot noticed a strange figure out of the corner of his eye. He turned around, and the figure was gone. He continued on. A few moments later, the figure returned. He froze mid-step. He lowered his head and started to snarl. His fangs became visible, his ears perked up, he lowered his body to an attack stance. “No one is going to take this bone from me,” Spot thought. Again, he quickly turned around, trying to catch the dark figure in the act. “Catch him, before he catches me,” was Spot’s logic.

Again, he lost the figure, so he continued on. “There’s the Sleepy River. That means, I’m almost home!” Spot sped up so he can get home slightly faster.

He finally reached the river, and was sure slow his pace as he crossed the bridge. The bridge was really old and creaky, which made Spot uneasy every time he walked over it. As he trotted across, Spot noticed the figure again. This time he could make out more features than before.

His image the Dog did not know,

Again, Spot gnarled at the figure in attempt to protect his treasure.

Or his bone's, in the pond's painted show:

That’s when he realized the figure already had a bone of its own.

"T'other dog," so he thought,
"Has got more than he ought,"

That bone looks even bigger than the one he already had. “I must have that one instead,” Spot was determined. He took a moment to come up with a game plan. “I’ll walk a little further, and when he least expects it, I’ll make my move,” he decided.

He’s now halfway across the bridge, “Now!”

So he snapped and his dinner saw go!

He lost the delectable bone the butcher had given him. The strange figure became indistinguishable in the chaos. Spot jumped into the Sleepy River, trying to save him prized possession, but it was a lost hope. He was unable to find it again. Spot crawled out of the river, shook the water off his golden fur, and sulked all the way home.

Author's Note: The original story was short, sweet and to the point. I just expanded on the back story, explained how the dog got his bone, and a little insight on how he lost his bone in the end. I included the original fable in my story to allow the reader to relate the two different stories to each other. 

Reading Notes B - Aesop's Fables (Jacob's) Part 6 - The Dog and The Shadow

The Dog and The Shadow Fable

Source: Aesop's Fables: Dogs and Cats

I will write about how the dog finds the bone on his travels through town, and how he is being followed by another strange black dog. He is eventually brave enough to confront the dog, but in his attempts he loses his prize possession. 

Aesop's Fables by Joseph Jacobs; The Dog and The Shadow