Will going easy on yourself make you lazy?
· Source: Breines & Chen, Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 2012
Being hard on yourself can feel like the only thing that keeps you trying. So psychologists tested it. People failed a test, and then some were nudged to be kind to themselves about it. Others were nudged to think well of themselves instead, and a third group got neither. Then everyone got a chance to study for a hard test that came next, and the researchers timed it. The kind group studied longer. Not less effort. And a pep talk about how great you are didn't do the same. In other experiments, kindness also went with more motivation to fix a weak spot. So tonight, say your mistake the way you'd say a friend's, and name one next step.