Positive phrases, such as “If you can dream it, you can do it,” can be detrimental to children and decrease their ability to meet their long-term goals. According to a recent article on MindShift, a website co-founded by NPR which covers current research on education and learning, "while inspiring words might provide a moment of motivation, it turns out they can have an adverse effect on achieving those goals."

Dr. Gabriele Oettingen, of New York University, reports ...