Live what you want to teach the children and young people around you. That goes for your own self-care and all communications including listening and use of language, messages, and behavior in general. The truth is that kids, whether yours or others, (if they know you and relate to you)- will in some fashion look up to you as an authority figure and an adult. Even older teens and young adults need people to look up to, to learn from (whether positive or negative) to reinforce and exhibit how to “be” in the world. You teach with words, and mostly by example. You, as their elder have a responsibility to convey core values, such as honesty, mutual respect, personal pride, and personal accountability as examples of the best set for those younger people around you. But all in all, your role as someone older, wiser and more mature is to accept and support, lead by example well and not disregard, exploit or manipulate the smaller, emerging young people who need leadership and guidance. Be aware of what messages you send, because someone is listening or watching, maybe many impressionable minds, are paying attention to you. Live in a way that makes you proud of yourself. When you do that, you know you are teaching the younger generation to do the same. Ultimately, as a parent, therapist and child advocate, I want all children and young adults to have a healthy sense of self, have healthy, strong and positive role models around them. The victor is that they, in turn will feel and behave in ways that make them feel proud, too! We are here now and our children are the future. Let’s become aware of how we model and teach the next generation to live with awareness and purpose.
Each individual can help raise personal and community consciousness by taking personal responsibility to help offset societal trends, for the good of our youth. The world is moving faster, changing, moving away from personal human interaction and more toward technologically-based communications. There are trending examples of less age-appropriate boundaries promoted in the media that exist every day. Under-age drinking and 21+ drinking is on the rise. Sexting and social media parties are exploding, along with more permissive parenting. As a feminist, I am concerned. Overly revealing mature fashions and high heel trends sexualize girls and young women more than ever before. Cultural trends, pop culture icons give permission to young girls to act, dress and party like ladies of the night when out on the town or at a middle or high school dance. Daytime television looks like soft porn during regular television viewing times when young children are often home. Children and young adults are phasing faster into more adult replicas within a less socially conscious world framework. Look around you and see if you agree.
Ironically, at the same time there is a spiritual revolution- many call it a Spiritual Awakening happening. Alternative ways of being, coping, living and navigating a purposeful life are emerging. If you notice, there are greater numbers of people and groups embracing the healing arts as well as spiritual resources, discussions and practices expanding in our society. We need to heal our world and ourselves as a culture. It matters how we act, talk and set an example to our younger generations coming up. The key times in people’s lives start at birth, rooted to their family of origin and continue from there. Whether you teach the younger generation intentionally or unintentionally, be aware of the following to see how far your impact can travel in the development of a child or young adult. Psychologically, the early, formative years shape either secure or insecure attachments, personality, speech and self-esteem. Learning styles and risking independent thoughts, beliefs and actions emerge in adolescence and continue into and beyond the teen age years. Because of that, especially kids and young adults who are missing adult guidance and support are particularly vulnerable to the examples set around them.
So, set your timers folks! Ready or not, a child or young adult will need you, look up to you and expect you to steer them right. Part of being a healthy, strong, and positive influence is about what you say and do and the other part is how you empower the young person to do right for them self. Live Inspired!® Nina~ Like me on Facebook, Follow me on Twitter. Thank you! www.LiveInspiredwithNina.com