likely to succeed . Is the basketball player more likely to make the game winning free throw if he ’ s uptight or relaxed ? Is the pre-law student more likely to ace the LSAT if she ’ s nervous or confident ? Fear never releases ultimate , abundant fruitfulness .
A lot of parents , teachers , coaches , managers and preachers try to motivate people by withholding their blessing . They ’ re concerned that the affirmation will go to folks ’ heads and they ’ ll quit trying so hard . They ’ re wrong . Blessed people work harder than those searching for blessing because they are motivated by a deeply embedded identity .
Our son , Bennett , recently graduated near the top of his class at Duke Law school partly because he has a good , God-given brain but , mostly , because he ’ s applied that brain in a very disciplined academic lifestyle . I never once badgered him about studying . Earnestly wanting to understand the source of his relentless motivation to study , I once asked him why he worked so diligently at his schoolwork . “ It ’ s simple ,” he responded . “ Somehow , I got the idea that I was an “ A ” student , so I just do whatever is needed to make an “ A .”
As I reflected on Bennett ’ s insight , I thought not only of how often we blessed him by affirming his God-given intelligence , but I remembered another simple moment of blessing that contributed to his academic success .
How to Bless
Blessing is profound and powerful , but quite simple . With a little practice , blessing others can become second nature . I remember a round of golf I played with Bennett when he was about twelve . He started the round with a bad hole — a double bogey . Golf can be maddening , but young Bennett fought off the frustration , threw
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