to Jasper: "Hey, what a great drawing you made! You're such a good artist!"
We are all aware of the importance of praising our children. Like all of us, children like to know that the people around them approve of and support what they do. This helps build a child's self-identity, confidence, and a feeling of well-being. But here's the rub: it's how you praise children that subtly urges a child towards happiness, and it relates to the practice of yoga.
If you praise the achievement, and tell your child he is smart/strong/whatever "positive" label, he learns to love the praise, the achievement, and the label. But try this one on:
to Jasper: "Hey what a beautiful drawing this is. You must have really worked hard on it."
Praise the effort, and the child learns to love the effort. What you achieve is not important; it only matters that you're trying. This will lead to a happier child, and one who is more likely to try greater challenges.
In my yoga practice, I often wish that I could take out my brain during my practice in order to be less distracted by thoughts of "yep, I've got this one," and "cool, that's the first time I did that." Because I'd love to learn to love that I'm just here, on the mat. I'd like to love a more regular practice - the discipline of just starting. To love the effort of getting there dependably. Because, let's face it, it's really hard to get to the mat some days.
I can also see how this distinction will help my teaching. Praise the effort of just getting to class. Praise the effort of moving your hands towards your toes. Does it really matter if your pose is perfect? Nah. Just try. And see how all your hard work has paid off.