But enough about other people (and their dogs). What about you? Do you acknowledge yourself — the good things that happen, the good things you do? Or do you just move on to the next task, like most of us do? Consider, for a minute, what would happen if, instead of blowing off the good stuff, you blew it up? What if we all did? I’m serious.

I would like you to look over the past few months of your work and your life and try to remember the “good girl” moments. You know, like when the dinner you dreaded preparing turned out smashingly well, or when you pulled that crazy idea out of thin air and it actually worked, or when you bargained with the painter to do the living-room ceiling for 20 percent off, or when you repotted that scraggly-looking ivy and it took off like a rocket. And today, tomorrow, and the next day, when you achieve even the smallest “win,” say, if only under your breath, “Good girl! Yes, you are.”

Don’t forget: It works on others, too. The best way to improve someone’s performance at work or behavior at home is to catch him doing something good. Last weekend I foolishly said to my husband, Jim, “Hey, I thought you were going to fix that fence.” Not surprisingly, he shot back something not too nice. Well, yesterday he fixed it of his own accord. And rather than saying nothing and going on to the next task on my list, like I usually do, I said, “Good boy to fix the fence!” and gave him a big, fat kiss. He would have wagged his tail if he could have.