Gain/pain
Do we learn more from pain or gain? I think many of us are more socialized to pain as teacher. The more appreciative coaching I do, the more it’s clear that most people simply don’t reflect as deeply on their successes and achievements as their shortcomings and failings. That being the case, the only meaningful learning comes from pain rather than gain.
As for which can be a better teacher, pain or gain, I say … whatever works for you.
June 28th, 2005 12:25
I came across a passage recently in a work by Jane Roberts which sums up my own view of the pain/gain question: “Suffering is not good for the soul, unless it teaches you how to stop suffering.”
June 28th, 2005 13:12
We are hardwired to pay attention to pain and retain the memory longer; It’s a survival mechanism- so yes, pain teaches. That said, several studies show that motivation and learning are better kept alive by positive reinforcement and encouragement (gain), even the self given kind, than punishments. But of course when one adds culture, environment and experience (nurture), individual response to stimuli (nature) and other things to the mix, like all human responses- nothing is a given.
June 28th, 2005 17:07
I like the Roberts quote, reminding that conscious suffering can reveal its roots, giving us an option to approach things otherwise.