Guest post by John A. Heatherly, author of Survival Template.
The best way to manage an overwhelming emergency or crisis is to break it up into manageable parts.
This method of organized dissection improves rational thinking, stress management and emotional response.
Recently I was asked for my thoughts on the management of a complex scenario that can be extremely overwhelming: raising children in an increasingly chaotic world. The question left
image by valentinapowers
me feeling doubtful as I considered some of the painful possibilities that could unfold in the life of my little boy and those of his generation.
This emotional issue deserves to be dissected into manageable parts, and the following is my attempt to do so. Of course, each of these pieces is complex in its own right, but the process makes sense, and certainly is less overpowering than considering the problem as a vast unknown. These manageable segments are somewhat in order of priority but also simultaneous and interchangeable.
1) Love and respect the children’s mother. Many times I have heard the great Lou Holtz say that this habit effectively and powerfully instills security in a child’s mind.
2) Encourage a child to develop a personal Faith – not something borrowed, academic, or dogmatic, but a positive and practical belief system that will shape his or her reality.
image by Tony Tran
3) Choose to personally approach daily scenarios with a positive attitude and a broad, realistic perspective. My little boy emulates my responses to almost everything, and I need to constantly analyze my own reactions. This is especially true when choosing to show kindness rather than frustration in small, daily interactions.
4) Demonstrate personal responsibility for outcomes, without constantly blaming other people/organizations or relying on other people/organizations. A parent’s demonstration of happy self-reliance teaches a child that self-reliance is possible and achievable.
5) Write down goals and objectives and teach children to do so. It just works!
6) Perpetually focus on the fine things in life: family, friends, music, art, and Mother Nature are a few examples.
7) Seek out friends who share a positive outlook and positive goals. This is tricky when considering a child’s education, as schools and peer-groups often present negativity.
These seven manageable tasks are certainly not conclusive, and I welcome suggested additions to the list. Truthfully, my children and your children could create solutions to our world’s chaotic problems if raised in an environment that includes successful role models. I pray that I can daily live up to the challenge.
Read more about John’s proven system of applying a survival template to goal setting and read his new book, The Medicine Symbol, here.
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