Well done!(or not)
Just a minute....I need a smile here!
When you read the title for today’s post, I’ll bet you thought I meant ‘well done meat’. Right? Not to disappoint you, but that isn’t what I meant.
Today’s “well done” isn’t about meat, or any food at all. (bummer, because I was getting hungry!) Nope. It’s about hearing those often elusive words from our boss, our family, our coach, or really anyone. Oh to hear those words does something to us. Inside. It makes us want to try harder, do better. And when we DO hear those two simple words, our spirits get lifted farther than we even thought possible.
It can be any of the two words that say the same. Such as “Well done”, or “Great job”, or “Nailed it”, or “Nice work”. They all have the same effect in the human brain. They produce within us a brain chemical- Dopamine. According to the website, www.webmd.com: “Dopamine plays a big role in your reward system. When you do something that feels good, your brain releases a rush of dopamine. You naturally seek more of that good feeling by repeating the behavior that made you feel good. This could be anything from eating delicious food to binge-watching your favorite show.” Or in our case, hearing those wonderful words of encouragement, “Well done.”
Have you ever had these words said to you? If not, let me be the first(and most likely NOT the last) to tell you “Well done!” You see, even though I might not be your bestie, I can still say with confidence that you have done SOMETHING well. It might be sports, or art, or fixing things, or maybe it’s cooking for the family. Or maybe it’s how you use your extensive patience with small children, or the Senior citizens in your community or family. Perhaps it’s your skills with animals. No matter what the job, or skill, or attitude, I KNOW you’ve done something well. So for 100% certain I can say to you, WELL DONE!
And to add just a little extra, remember how good that feels? THEN PASS IT ON!
Tell someone, honestly, those wonderfully uplifting words. And pass on the smiles. Once you do, it will be another great reason for me to tell you, WELL DONE. And that my friend, is a great reason to SMILE.