Be proud of the person, not the performance.
Losing, failing, struggling—these are part of life. Without them we don’t learn, build grit, and grow further.
So we do our friends and family a disservice when we praise only wins, gains, and positive outcomes. Instead, praise the person, passion, and perseverance. The long game is about enduring the ups, downs, and disappointments that build us into better people. The outcomes have a way of taking care of themselves. And—for the determined—the outcomes get better with time.
“I’m proud of you for staying true to yourself and not giving up.”
VS
“I’m proud of you for winning by a large margin.”
We all need to learn to be proud of the process. Perseverance through pain helps us reach our real potential.