How one views a situation has a significant effect on how one understands the situation. Our viewpoints are determined by our experiences and our thinking. This explains how different people can view the same discipline problem differently. We see through different lenses.
I attempted to explain this in the opening paragraph of my education book. Here is the opening paragraph:
“Life is a conversation. Interestingly, the most influential person we talk with all day is ourself, and what we tell ourself has a direct bearing on our behavior, our performance, and our influence on others. In fact, a good case can be made that our self-talk creates our reality.” After writing this, I became more acutely aware of my own-self talk and that my decisions are based on how I talk to myself.
This is very important when talking to a young person about discipline. Since my self-talk is determined by what I think, when I think in positive terms my brain prompts a chemical reaction that fosters good feelings.The same is true for anyone dealing with discipline problems for the simple reason that people do good when they feel good. People do not do good when they think in bad or in negative terms.
I am now constantly aware of how many things start with my own self-talk, rather than from outside sources.
If you want to influence people to be more responsible and reduce behavior problems, have a positive mindset for yourself, not a negative one when dealing with others—especially if you want to eliminate repeat discipline problems.
