Give
them the freedom to pursue their passion
“Listen to the desires of your children.
Encourage them and then give them the autonomy to make their own decisions” –
Denis Waitley.
Merriam-Webster defines Passion as a
strong feeling of enthusiasm or excitement for something or about doing
something. We often hear statements like-
·
"I
want my child to become a doctor, a doctor makes much more".
·
"I
want my child to get a government job. It's recession proof".
·
“I
don’t want my child to become a dancer/singer/actor since only one in lakhs
achieves success”.
Please, please don’t allow your beliefs,
ideas or fear act as a stumbling block in their journey. “Everyone has a right
to think, act, like and work differently which includes children. They have the
right to discover and explore their talent and ardor. Your life purpose may
differ from your kids, accept it and appreciate them. Neither you are wrong nor
are they, both just are different individuals with dissimilar likings. Here are
a few proven strategies to support your children to discover and chase their
fervor:-
·
Identify
their area of interest and short/long term goals.
·
Allow
them to be creative and think outside the box. I know they will make
mistakes/fail but it’s your responsibility as a parent to ensure that they
learn from them.
·
Nurture
their dreams and curiosity (even silly ones).
·
Provide
them the required resources (to the best of your ability) to horn their skills
and competencies. To sharpen up their skills/ competencies seek help from an
expert in that area.
·
Dig
deeper to encourage creative ideas. Tutor them, train them and hearten their
curiosity even if you don’t understand them.
·
Help
them explore several career choices and select the most appropriate one. Let
them discover various horizons which are expandable and flexible in their
desired area of interest. For e.g.:- if he/she is interested in sports, he/she
can not only become a great sportsperson but also become commentators, sports
journalist, sports psychotherapist, coach, or even sportswear/ clothing/
accessory designer. Honor their
confidence, self-esteem, and risk-taking ability.
·
Commit
to their belief. Show trust and faith in them.
Stop being
bossy. Every child deserves an opportunity where he/she can learn, grow,
explore, develop and succeed. Where they can try different things, unlearn,
relearn and mature as a well-rounded balanced person.
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