Thoughts & Reflections
Consider jotting down a few notes, perhaps in a journal or notebook.
Last week, we discussed the little voice in our heads and the opportunity our children have to develop a consistent voice of kindness and respect.
Here are some thoughts and questions to consider. If any of the ideas seem too far out there, just tuck the ideas away for later. Raising your awareness around the messaging you give to yourself and the messaging children give to themselves, is a positive step to take.
- In an open and nonjudgmental way, have a chat with your child about the little voice we all have in our head.
- Share your own internal voice as you help steer the little voice towards the positive.
- The little voice can help your child identify needs. Encourage your child to name and then share those needs and feelings that arise. Speaking gives kids a little extra time to process and gain clarity.
- After your child has had strong feelings, consider discussing the messaging your child was getting during those feelings. Feelings are meant to be felt, so welcome that discussion with lots of grace and active listening.
- How does positive self-talk and negative self-talk feel in your child's body? Help raise the awareness on how messaging interacts with us physically. Even what the little voice leaves unsaid can show up in children's bodies.
- Have your child think of the last time he/she made a mistake. What did the little voice say? Would the little voice say that to a friend in that same situation? The little voice is probably far harsher than it would be to a friend.
- When your child gets used to identifying the little voice, your child can start to sprinkle in the question, Why? Keep asking why to gain clarity and shift perspective.
- Consider talking to the negative little voice like a friend that's trying to protect us. Reassure the little voice that we've got this and thank it for looking out for us.
- Fear is at the root of many of our voices, so seeing the fear and listening or taking it by the hand and continuing on with our plans anyway, can be transformative.
- When kids are afraid of things going wrong, they might try describing the worst case scenario. What would it look like if it all fell apart? Then, have kids walk through everything that would need to happen for the worst case scenario to become real. Voicing fear can help dispel it or it can lead to positive actions that could alleviate it.
- Help your child identify and name personal values because they help to ground us in what's important. Values are our promise to ourselves and the people around us in how we want to show up.
Feel free to review last week's recording on developing a voice of optimism.
https://www.boldschoolers.com/blog/how-to-develop-a-voice-of-optimism
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