24 June
2011
Written by Brian Martin
As a grown adult, I was terrified of the computer, especially typing. I had always had wonderful secretaries to do my typing. I resisted, but I knew I would learn by doing, and today I am not too bad a typist. I also use voice recognition and do voice emails - things I was fearful to do.
Challenge yourself with new things, it may not be very comfortable and you make a lot of mistakes, but it is worth it. Today’s kids 'just do it'; it is part of their life from a young age. From the 3000 teenagers to whom we have given free scholarships, the research we did shows the three things they wanted for their lives were:
1) A Dream/Vision for their lives. They could see a bright image of their future. We can view the world as an amazing place, where life is an adventure, or it can be a fearful place and we want to find a hole to crawl into and hide. Teach a child to be a positive thinker, they can do anything and be anything they want if they want to do it badly enough. Many adults reflect their fears into children. If you are a mother or father, you are like gods to these children and you seem five times bigger than they are. They are dependent on you for most things. Be conscious of what behaviors you are demonstrating to them. Encourage them to be curious, and dream about what they want to be. Even if they change their mind about what they want to be every week!
2) They want more confidence. If you spend time with them on the things I have mentioned previously, they will build their confidence.
3) They want to improve their communication with Mum and Dad, family, friends and peers.
It is interesting that all these three things are related. If they have a DREAM, they know where they are going, they know what they want. That gives them CONFIDENCE because they can trust themselves. This confidence increases their COMMUNICATION because they are clear about what they want, and where they are going and can talk about it.
You do not have to be a mother or father to do this. There are many children who would be so grateful to have someone take an interest in them. Change a life, and give a child and yourself a valuable gift.
Please decide a child or children you will give a gift to. Now, what are the gifts you commit to giving? Don’t forget love. It’s the most powerful emotion on the planet in my experience.