ONE OF THE BEAUTIFUL LESSONS!

As many extremely important lessons for teens as there are, here’s another great, daily question to build into your greatest teenager ever: each day, every day, value what he or she has done – then, ask them to set a new, improved goal.

Could be homework [classes], sports, their room, family cooperation [boy, that’s a glorious one, isn’t it?] - whatever your/ his/ her focus could or should be. 

(1) First, acknowledge and compliment what they did recently; 

(2) ask them, if they had it to do over, how they would do it differently or better. [as needed, help them, gently]

Often, you will hear – “nothing, it was fine.”  But remember – like a long-ago Italian stonemason, you’re building a great cathedral – your teen… And chipping away the rough edges takes time and patience. Inserting that question into their thinking may take time, but approached positively, supportively and regularly, it WILL happen. [believe me, I’ve been there – I was the stone].

Change is possible if not required!!  Enhance it!!

BTW, this question is a cousin to “what will you do today that you’ll be proud of?”

THE ANSWER to ALLLL YOUR TEEN’S ISSUES:

By engaging him or her toward THEIR dream goal, EVERYTHING else falls into place:

Experience with MANY teenagers has SHOWN that, when they’re pursuing THEIR dream goal:

·        Motivation increases

·        Focus improves

·        Discipline strengthens

·        Homework becomes more personally important.

The list could go on – but you get the idea.

So the challenge becomes – how to get them to identify and set their DREAM GOAL?

Despite your possible doubt, it is A FACT that all human beings [including your teen] are inherently motivated.

Are there confounding factors? Yes. Could be things like hormonal or body chemistry changes or shifts, emotional swings due to interpersonal or dating issues – which may seem small, small, small to you or me – but to them, their world hinges on it… And of course, the usual – past habits of minimal motivation, doing too much for them, giving them too much, etc.  But even those can be overcome by the steps below.

I fully expect that many readers will say – “yeah, that may be for those other teens – but mine is different.”  BUNK.  Open your eyes and your mind.

Basic issue: an underachiever is someone achieving below their potential.  THEY HAVE POTENTIAL – you simply may not have figured out how to tap it yet.

To get them dreaming, we have several tools we can share with you – just message me.

Lou Holtz - very famous football coach, says, “If you’re bored with life [it’s because] – you don’t get up every morning with a burning desire to do things – you don’t have enough goals.”

Bottom line?  NO GOAL, NO GLORY!

LAST THOUGHT: recognize, even assume – that their dream goal may change.  THAT’S OK.  In fact, it’s the process that’s most important and valuable.

Here’s the Problem!!!

If you read content here that ‘sounds good’ – and you DO NOTHING with it, it’s USELESS. 

I’ve been in the “success” field for 30 years. Know why so many people make so much money in it?  BECAUSE PEOPLE DON’T USE IT – so they keep coming back for more – WHICH THEY DON’T USE!!!

The simplest solution is – SIMPLY – do something different, no matter how small, every day. Got that? No matter how small!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ONCE YOU GET IN THE HABIT OF THAT one micro-step each day – and compliment yourself for it – you will build momentum AND your own positive expectancy!!

Want to add to it, make it more powerful?  TRACK IT – with a small chart, on the refrigerator. You don’t have to tell anyone what it is – just a mark – each day. YOU WILL GROW!

NOW, imagine doing the same or similar with your teenager!  And watch him/her grow!!  It’s GUARANTEED!  [you are HERE because you’re trying to better parent your teen, aren’t you?]

You’ve probably heard all the old expressions:

·        “If you do what you’ve always done, you’ll get what you’ve always gotten.”

·        “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results!”

·        “We’re all either green and growing or ripe and rotting – there’s NO PLATEAU.”

Do something very small – today, tomorrow - and beyond – and if you’d like, PM me for support or to brag!!