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An Opportunity vs a Barrier
July 30, 2021
How do you see new challenges?
Have you ever noticed that some people see a new situation from a positive angle and others will see the same situation from a negative one? Have you thought about which approach you would prefer to be around? Which approach are you more likely to want to collaborate or team with? Which approach is more likely to move a situation forward well?
It’s interesting how much of an impact how you (or others) see/approach a situation has on your ability to move forward. On one hand, someone who sees everything as positive while seemingly ignoring and walking right on by a spouting, leaking faucet (or a big problem) is not helpful. On the other hand, someone who is overly analytical and critical in situations is also not helpful. The overly analytical person will catch the leaks and get them fixed but they will probably miss the good things going on in the moment that the positive person caught and recognized.
We need a balance of both perspectives
Can I suggest that we can look at these weak links (leaky faucets) with the positive angle of the optimist? Look at the half glass of water with a half-full perspective. What would it be like if we were realistic, looking to be aware of the places that ‘need to improve’ and see the opportunity as opposed to the barrier?
In the heart of COVID...we had the temptation to let our mindset go either way; see the barrier or see the opportunity. I would suggest, that in the midst of a lot of tough things, we could choose a half-full perspective. While we lost group sports, we gained wide gameplay with our neighbours. We may have lost in-class time, yet we gained further understanding of our families by working alongside them and seeing their work worlds. We lost food in restaurants and gained fun experiences in the kitchen. We missed in-person connections while gaining connections with a wider community.
Perhaps our moments are worth looking at with both of these perspectives; both seeking solutions to address barriers while remaining aware and grateful for the opportunities in everyday moments.
I would suggest that you teach your children to see from both perspectives. Help them practice and be thankful for these opportunities in the midst of hard times. With this mindset shift, they will see the beauty and opportunities in change instead of the obstacles and barriers.
Welcome to Episode 1 of Their Best Parent!
I invite you to pause and reflect on a few key tips for prioritizing what matters most in your child’s academic success, so that we, as parents, can be our child’s best support.
How can you, as a parent encourage a growth mindset in your child? How do you approach challenges? Do you encourage effort or only focus on results?
If you're like me, you could use a bit of inspiration. I find students motivate me; because they have that hard-to-manufacture quality called hope. If you need inspiration, this one's for you!
Self-care is the fuel you may be missing! Have you stopped to think... "what does self-care look like for me? How do I ensure I show up at my best?." We need to put on our own mask first before helping others. Do you prioritize your own self-care? If not, this episode would be helpful for you.
Motivation is the energy we all operate out of. Motivation is one of if not the most important thing to focus on in your child's learning journey. How do we fuel motivation? How can we motivate our kids when they don't like school or feel discouraged? Read this blog post for more.
Do you think that boundaries can in fact promote freedom? It's an interesting idea and is worth considering. How do we, as parents, provide boundaries that help and not inhibit their growth.
Do you catch your child when they are winning? Do you praise their victories? Or are you more likely to notice when they fail? As parents, our role is imperative. Catch your child winning and remind them of what they are good at. This will help them when they do fail. Check out this blog post for more on this.
Learning to partner with your child for their academic results. Your child needs your support and needs to feel some autonomy with their learning. Check out this blog post for more :)
Sometimes, as parents, we are just trying to get through the day to day. We forget to realize that our inattentive nature is hindering our child's learning. This is something that we can't ignore. This is an opportunity, not a criticism. Try for a week and see the impact in your child. I promise it will be fruitful.