Blogs

Don’t just appreciate people for what they do

Don’t just appreciate people for what they do

Matt Norman

Our boys have been working hard at school. After seeing their recent report cards, we wanted to affirm and appreciate them for their good work. We understand basic psychology well enough to know that appreciating their behavior will likely result in more of that behavior. But we've also come to realize that placing our appreciative emphasis only on their behavior will likely result in the development of only that, their behavior. And they will grow into human doings more than human beings.What's more central to our long-term success in personal relationships and at work: behavior or character?

Sure, everyone needs periodic feedback on their behavior, both appreciative and corrective. But think about what might happen if we showed more gratitude for who people are instead of just what they do.

Adios, Guantanamo
Barack Obama

Adios, Guantanamo

Betsy McCaughey

President Obama is heading to Cuba in two weeks, eager to unveil more travel and trade concessions to the country's Communist regime. But is he too eager to befriend Fidel and Raul Castro, no matter the price? Members of Congress fear the president will cave to Cuba's demand to hand over the U.S. Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay. Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Ed Royce, introduced a bill on Thursday to bar such a giveaway.

Of course, Royce's bill is likely to face a presidential veto. As a practical matter, the surest way to prevent the president from surrendering Guantanamo is to keep its military detention facility loaded with prisoners. The president can't relinquish it until it's empty.

Read More