When teachers and parents first learn about the Discipline Without Stress approach, they are eager to give it a try. But as with any change in life, they soon think that changing their teaching, parenting, or discipline style is too difficult.
In reality, change of any type is not difficult; it just feels difficult because it is different from what we are accustomed to doing. If you’re accustomed to imposing punishments, using rewards, or lecturing children, suddenly switching to the three disciplines of positivity, guided choices, and reflection is very different, and as such, it feels difficult.
Here’s proof that change is different rather than difficult. Fold your arms. Now fold them in the opposite manner. Feel funny?
That’s because you are not accustomed to it. We do things because it “feels right,” regardless of how unsatisfactory or unsuccessful it is. Anything new will feel a little funny or awkward. You need to practice it a minimum of seven times before the brain makes new neural connections so it “feels right.”
Fold your arms in the manner in which you are not accustomed seven times in the next 24 hours. You will see how much more comfortable it then feels.
When we realize that anything new—and that includes a new approach toward discipline—feels awkward or funny at first, it becomes less difficult.
