The balancing act
We all have that challenge choosing between doing the things we want to do and doing the things we need to do. As parents and as individuals, we need to encourage achieving personal goals and participate in a healthy balance of what we want to do.
To the parents
Exploration is important for your child. From a toddler age through to early adulthood, exploration is key. We need to be supporting our youth in trying different things, learning to master fun skills, meet new people, and engage in the world around them. They may get some bumps and bruises along the way, but scars make for the best lessons, I always say. You want a child to taste different things and get a sense of what they like, and just as importantly: what they DON’T like.
With the right amount of freedom and support, you’ll get to sit back and watch your children find motivation in the things that are authentically important to them. They will find motivation in seeking victory or avoiding losses. They will find motivation in identifying their own sense of accomplishment and skill level. They will gain confidence to apply to different areas. They will find motivation in their ability to learn. Their ability to fall and get back up. Their ability to try. Their ability to compete. Their ability to thrive against all odds. You cannot take this away from their development because you’d be depriving them of some of life’s most rewarding experiences…the experience of understanding and believing in yourself. The experience of confidence and competence.
To the rest of the world
Take a lesson from the kids in the paragraph above. I bet you’re a big kid yourself…who says you can’t have the same experiences now that you’re all grown up? Go try that instrument you’ve always wanted to learn. Or go on that trip you’ve wanted to take. Go practice photography. Have you ever seen YouTube tutorials? There are plenty of things to learn and try. You just have to choose the ones that resonate with you and chip away at them little by little…as little as 30 minutes a week. Do this for a few months and see if it transpires over to the workflow in the obligations of your life. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself with more drive and efficiency. You may surprise yourself with just how self-motivating you can actually be!