Lately I have encountered some confusion around self-love, arrogance, conceit and unrealistic self images. Self-love bears no relation to the latter three. Self-love is a measure of health itself, and the other three are the psyche bent out of shape.
The Buddha had something to say about the kind of loving kindness that is self-love: "You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection." And Jesus reminded us, "Love your neighbour as yourself". Tacit in that reminder is that we do love and respect ourselves. As long as we are breathing we are 'works in progress', so I invite you to check your progress in self-love and self-respect with this quick quiz for parents and teachers alike. Your mouse won't interact with this quiz I'm sorry (that is a bit beyond my technical ability at this time). Click here if you want to print off a hard copy.
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As a parent, there will be times when you are very challenged by your children - they won’t listen, they won’t do what you ask, they fight when you have asked them not to, they won’t stay in bed when you put them there, they melt down when you are out and other people are looking at you.... That is the nature of parenting. And you have two ways of viewing your child in situations like this: you can view your child as a problem - that’s what most people do - or you can fit specially ground pure crystal lenses and view this child as your teacher. The child who challenges you can teach you more than any other teacher you have ever had or will ever have, and without a student loan. So how does a ‘problem’ suddenly turn into a teacher? Your perspective. The child who drives you to despair: this child is the one who takes you to the very edge of your knowing, every day. He shows you when you have used up all the skills that got you to this point. She prods you into getting the upgrade, installing the next module of communication and partnership skills. Children are Life’s way of educating parents in the things that really matter, things like getting along with each other harmoniously, things like living together and staying friends. Children ‘grow us up’. Fit your new lenses and stand beside your child’s bed when he or she is asleep - all children look like angels when they are asleep. And there, silently from your heart, acknowledge your child not as a problem, but as your greatest teacher. In a way, nothing changes. But in a way, everything changes. The next time your child’s behaviour challenges you, instead of viewing the child as the problem, you just notice: “Here we go. Here’s my next lot of learning, courtesy of my greatest teacher” . |
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