A couple of our children are very artistic. They are quick to criticize and condemn themselves for making mistakes in their paintings and drawings. We refuse to let them use negative language like, “I’m so stupid.” Every time they say it, they knock a little chip out of their gift. Even so, it has taken several years for Justine to understand that repairing a mistake in her art often results in an opportunity for it to be better than she originally planned.
Don’t continue to let negative thoughts take up space in your mind. Our limitations are self-imposed and can be overcome. Life presents many challenges. At times, these obstacles are more difficult for children to overcome than for adults. Most obstacles are small, but sometimes they are so big that they can stop a child from trying. After enough time, and continuous negative reinforcement, our children start to believe that their challenges are insurmountable.
Fill your mind with positive and encouraging thoughts. Our results are a direct result of our thinking. Everything is controlled by our mind. If we want to change our life, we have to change our thinking. We’ve got to change what is going on inside our own mind and take responsibility for it. If you fill your mind with thoughts that contribute to positive behavior, your actions are proactive and therefore achieve successful results. Do your current results equal your potential? Keep in mind that your life is merely a reflection of your thoughts.
As parents, we need to reinforce the positives in their lives. What do you think the outcome would be if you only told your children, “Believe in yourself,” “Believe in your abilities,” and “Believe that whatever the obstacle, you have the strength to overcome it”? All parents need to do is to teach their children to believe in themselves, and they will find a way to succeed. When our kids say, “I can’t,” we say “Oh, there is always a solution; how do you think you can solve this problem?” In response, our kids give us a solution that they see, and we then say, “I can see three more solutions,” and then we give them our solutions. So now the problem that once seemed impossible has four solutions. Teaching your children to think this way expands their minds and gives them reasoning skills necessary for later in life. Our children are just as intelligent as we are. They only lack the life experience.
A strong belief in our abilities gives us the strength and the positive attitude that helps us find solutions to any obstacle and succeed at anything we put our minds to. If we believe in our abilities and ourselves, nothing can stop us. Believe that you will emerge successful. Believe that you are a winner. Believe that you deserve success. Are you beginning to see how important all of this is? Share your thoughts below.
