A GLOBAL VIEW: THE FUTURE OF OUR WORLD
LIES IN THE CHARACTER OF OUR YOUTH
We are at an all-time high of political and sociological division. If you think that we must get tougher, I disagree. If you think that more anger and retribution will somehow control this frenzy of hate, again I disagree. We must stop the anger and attacks that we either hold in our hearts or verbally or physically spew, because it’s killing us.
No one has absolute truth or knowledge and only when we become humble to this thought will we be able to look at our differences through the eyes of compassion and compromise.
BETTER LEADERS BEGINS AT HOME
If we want better leaders then we must begin at home, by raising self-confident, socially aware, compassionate children. When children develop good self-esteem and ethical characters, they can withstand the ups and downs of life. They take responsibility for their actions, their self-esteem comes from within, and they find no need to blame others or the world for their problems and have no need to attack.
We know that children are like sponges, especially from the age of birth to about seven. It is during this extremely critical period that we have the grave responsibility of influencing and shaping the lives of our children AND the world. No matter the age of your children, parent’s behavior Does that give you pause? I hope so. We must understand that our spoken words and daily actions are continually modeling behaviors for our children.
Do not underestimate your child’s power of understanding nor their power of perceiving even the most subtle actions.
Here’s an example: A couple was engaged in a loud argument, out of earshot (or so they thought) of their six-year-old daughter. Later, the daughter asked her father “were you and mommy fighting?” “Oh no, replied the father, we were just discussing something important.” Now think about that for a moment. What messages do you think that little girl downloaded as a belief? First and most importantly, she is being taught to deny what her intuition was telling her, that yes, her parents were arguing. In the future she could well discount her perception of other situations. Second, she would have the impression that important things in life may require shouting.
A healthier way of handling this would be to admit, “yes, we were arguing.” The father could have gone on to explain that sometimes adults disagree, apologize to his daughter if she felt upset and then assure her that mom and dad are fine.
Of course, if it were a more serious argument, parents could have a more in depth and age- appropriate conversation. My point is when we deny what a child clearly observes, we are setting the stage to doubt their own judgments.
- What You Do Matters: Be mindful of your actions. Practice being proactive as opposed to reactive.
- Admit Your Mistakes: Children are more inclined to respect parents who are willing to admit when they have made an error in judgment.
- Teaching by Showing: Demonstrating tolerance and to honor and respect others, regardless of race or religion is one of the most important virtues you can pass on to your children.
- Expressing Love and affection: You cannot tell your child too often how much you love them. Children need plenty of physical affection from their parents throughout childhood and adolescence.
- Have Two-Way Conversations: Talk with your child not at them. Be genuine in your questions and really listen to their point of view. Give appropriate praise often. Do not overreact if your child says something that surprises or even shocks you. Instead, use gentle inquiry to go deeper into the conversation.
Raising conscious citizens of the world is a shared responsibility that requires intentional effort and commitment. By fostering empathy, cultural awareness, environmental stewardship, critical thinking, and social responsibility, parents can equip their children with the values and skills needed to make a positive impact on the world. Together, we can nurture a generation that is not only aware of global challenges but also actively engaged in creating a better future for all!
Live Miraculously,
Michele
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