Helping children grow up in a positive environment can be a daunting task as the world seems to prefer negativity over positive reinforcement. Media inundates the public with talk about murder, violence and other crimes. It’s hard to stay positive with so much destructive behaviour in the world.
But, all is not lost. Parents can teach children how to easily access the most confident and positive parts of themselves. This will also help them to excel in school and throughout life.
Thoughts Have Power
Humans are usually the product of their environment. If you grow up in a family that is negative, abusive or destructive, then there might be a chance you will also be negative, abusive or destructive. If you grow up in a family that is supportive, positive or respectful, then those traits may be passed on to your own family.
In Remez Sasson’s article, The Power of Negative Thinking, he states, “If you believe you are going to fail, you will unconsciously sabotage every opportunity to succeed.” Consistently thinking negative thoughts sends out negative energy into the world, thus creating more negativity, catastrophes and disappointments.
Think Positive Thoughts
John Kehoe and Nancy Fischer, authors of Mind Power for Children, confirm that thoughts are energy. “Our thoughts can be compared to sparks from a fire. Though they contain the essence and potential power of the flame, they manifest as a flash and then dissipate quickly.” This means that the energy that one single thought creates only lasts a few seconds, then dissolves. However, Kehoe and Fischer say that if this thought is repeated, then it becomes more powerful and the energy force of that thought is magnified. So, the more the thought is repeated, the more power it is given, and, as Kehoe and Fischer indicate, “Our experiences in life, and the thoughts we think, are directly related to one another.”
Louise L. Hay, inspirational teacher and author of many self help books, is a testament to how positive influences work starting at a young age. She was brought up in an abusive home and eventually was involved in an abusive relationship. Now she is in her 80s, full of life and extremely successful, all because she persevered and didn’t listen to her nagging doubts. In her book, I Can Do It, she points out how we are brought into this world not knowing about self doubt, criticism and insecurity. As babies, we have no idea what comparison is or what limitations are.
She says, “…somewhere during your childhood, your well-meaning parents passed on their own insecure feelings and taught you feelings of inadequacy and fear. At that point, you began to deny your own magnificence.”
Infants know nothing about fear, failure or heartache. Children should be given the opportunity to go forward in life as if there is nothing stopping them.
Strong Intention
Gary Zukav, author of Seat of the Soul, says that our own thoughts target intent; intent is what our thoughts strive for. Simply put, Gary says, “What you intend is what you become.”
To ensure that your child is getting a chance at the best opportunities out there, take a look at what insecurities your child has. Does he or she feel worthy or deserving enough? Do they respect themselves? Evaluate this and make sure they are getting a good start on believing in themselves and achieving what they set their minds on.
Children and Affirmations
John Kehoe and Nancy Fischer say that the power of positive reinforcement can start at a young age, even when children do not have a large vocabulary. They state that just verbalizing affirmations to your child or children will not only build their word power but empower them as well. As your child grows older they can utilize these affirmations themselves because they would have been taught how to do it at an early age. They will be able to visualize what they want and have the confidence to go for it.
“By encouraging the mind to picture positive expectations through the use of affirmations, we eventually record over the negative thought tapes with new positive thoughts.” Eventually, our children will have learned a new skill: how to change destructive thought processes to constructive thought processes.
With that being said, are children receiving the best possible chance to succeed? Now is the time to start giving your child the affirmations she or he needs to go through life with plenty of confidence, self love, and unfaltering certainty that they can make it.
