Is it Praise or Encouragement

In this new wave of parenting we're told not to praise our kids saying good job or yay  good for you when they do something right. Really, it's something that we all do. I can't help but do what I know it was my parents did. This is a new era, perhaps he wouldn't feel lied to like the rest of the nineties kids like me do. But was I really lied to? I have a good job, I have a house, I'm not drowning in student debt , I have a child and I'm married.
Back to raising said child. What else am I supposed to say, nothing? Even if I am telling him that he's doing a good job, doesn't that at least reinforce he's doing what he's supposed to do. Or would he just figure that out on his own? Sure I could read the umpteen blogs on the matter but really, I don't care what other people think or what the "experts" say. Why wouldn't doing what works for me apply on this matter? Maybe I want him to grow up believing he can be anything so maybe he can be more fearless than I was, which really, when came to change, I wasn't very fearless. He's growing up in a whole new world. While I ended up being overwhelmed with the options maybe he'll be more directed in what he wants to do.