Ryan was a ten-year-old boy. He was a very intelligent and smart for his age. In school, he always stood first in studies, extremely good in extra-curricular activities.
His parents gave him all sorts of facilities and were really happy with the way he was progressing.
There was one problem with Ryan. His behaviour.
He was self-centered and stubborn. He did only those things that excited him. He always put himself first without giving any thought to situations. He was never flexible with his parents, never tried to understand their point of view.
Ryan was impatient too. When he would ask for something, he would expect it to be available then and there.
His parents tried a lot by explaining him that no matter how much good he is in everything he does, but till the time his behaviour is not good, he cannot be considered a good child.
But it was all in vain. Ryan was still the same.
Then came the vacation time. Ryan’s mother thought of making a planner for his vacations, so as to make a daily schedule for him.
After listing all the activities for Ryan, she mentioned an unexpected word in the last row, and it said “Behaviour”.
When Ryan asked what was that for, his mother explained, “Ryan, I have planned to give you one gift of your choice at the end of your holidays. But there is one condition.”
Ryan asked, “And what’s that mom?”
His mother replied, “I will put a tick/ cross mark at the end of each day for your behaviour. If your behaviour will be as expected, the entire day, I will put a tick mark, else a cross. And if at the end of your vacation, you get more than 80% tick marks, I will give you what you want.”
Ryan got excited and started thinking of what gift he would want to have after a month i.e. at the end of his holidays.
Instead of focusing on his behaviour, he was just thinking of the gift he would ask for.
A week went by, but due to his impatience and self-centeredness, he didn’t get even one tick mark.
He then got worried. He started to think, how he can get that tick mark.
He became conscious of his behaviour. Whenever his mother would ask him to wait, he would. When his father asked to adjust, he adjusted.
Things started to become better, and Ryan started getting tick marks.
He was feeling happy, and his parents too were happy to see Ryan’s changing behaviour, even if it was just to get that tick mark.
Their technique was sort of working in their favour.
By the end of the month, Ryan’s parents were very happy, and so was Ryan. Ryan habits had changed. He had become more patient, more flexible and listened to his parents and tried to understand their situations. Getting a tick mark in the chart had no more remained Ryan’s motive. His habits had changed, and for good.
At the end of the vacation, everyone got what they wanted.
A wonderful motivational story