 |
| One of a dozen gouges in the wall from moving furniture up/down the stairs |
Here's an example: I've been needing to repair the gouges in a wall for about a year. There's really very little positive feedback for me in this job. No one in my household will gush over how great the repair looks. I could easily find a dozen other jobs that would have more tangible rewards.
 |
| Patch and Paint quick-dry spackling -- this brand is 3M Patch plus Primer. This stuff is ready to paint in 30 minutes, needs no primer. I use a straight-edged putty knife to apply and smooth the edges. |
I'll have to hunt down all of the tools and supplies that I need, which could prove problematic because our tools and home repair supplies are not well-organized. And I could (and did) cause some sort of injury to myself in the process (I punctured my finger when digging through tools in the garage).
 |
| When the gouge has rippled the paint, as in the left photo, I use an X-Acto knife to trim away the ripple. The final image shows the same gouge after spackling. |
So, can you see why I'd think there is far more negative feedback in the completion of this job? To counter all of this presumed negative feedback, I needed to build in some positive feedback that may only exist in my mind; but that could be enough in itself.
Okay, so positive feedback on this job:
- I would gain more experience with minor household repairs, which would boost my confidence for future repairs
- I may even get good enough at this kind of repair that I could instruct or inspire someone else to do it
- I would notice how nice the repaired wall looks, even if no one else does
- a house in good repair is always easier to sell than one needing lots of work
- I would finish a job that I start, do what I tell myself I'll do, and become more accountable in my own mind, leading to improved self-esteem
 |
| the various gouges all ready for paint |
So, I talked myself into taking care of this job. I think I tipped the scales in favor of more positive feedback compared to negative, even with a punctured finger. I'll hunt down the paint in the next days or so. I'm feeling pretty good about myself for getting this done. That's a win!
