Three Points for Personal Progress
- By kaylajwmarnach
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- 24 Oct, 2017
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WE ARE A WORK IN PROGRESS. And what a relief it is to know that, isn’t it? I mean, when I finally gave myself permission to let go of that perfectionistic attitude that I had to be all, do all, know all, there was a sigh of relief in my soul.
Each day holds so many opportunities and when I can appreciate the prospect of learning something new, whether it’s about myself, my child, my husband, or my friend (not having that thought, “Gee, why didn’t I know that already?”), then I am open to grow and learn—progressing toward a better, wiser me.
So here are three points that help me progress and not stay in the “mess” of perfectionism:
- JUST BREATHE:
Too often I find myself anxious and uptight when things aren’t going “my way.” When I stop, relax my shoulders and take a deep breath, my body automatically relaxes, and I’m better able to address the situation. Check out some additional explanations on the importance of deep breathing.
- LAUGHTER LIFTS THE SPIRITS: Frustration is poison to progressing. I sometimes got so serious, so wound up in completing a task that anything that threw me off would frustrate me. Learning to lighten up gave me a different perspective and I found patience I didn’t know I had. That in turn allowed me to continue and finally complete what needed to be done. By being able to “laugh it off,” whether it’s when your child accidentally spills on a just cleaned floor, or you fail for the sixth time to remember your password, it really is a progression toward developing patience and perseverance. And that’s a good thing. Here are some other benefits of laughter.
- FAILURE IS A FRIEND: If I don’t push myself and fail, then I’m not living up to my potential. I’m settling for a safe and mediocre life. As C.S. Lewis said, “Failures are finger posts on the road to achievement.” Over the years, many individuals have offered advice on the subject of failure.
My goal is to always be “a work in progress.” Currently I’m progressing toward growing patience with myself, additional social media skills (who knew I’d be a blogger?), and knowledge in how the brain works. And I know these goals will change as I progress.
What about you? What are you progressing toward?
Because abuse has no boundaries, nothing is more important than protecting our children. As many as 93% of the victims under the age of 18 know the abuser. Because there is no “typical” abuser, it can happen to any child in any circumstance at any time. It happens to children of the elite and well-educated, as well as the latch-key kids of struggling parents. It can happen at daycare, a friend’s home, or even under our own roof. It occurs in the exclusive neighborhoods, as well as in middle-class areas, and poverty districts. If you think it doesn’t happen in your area, then you are leaving your child vulnerable to become the next victim.
Yet, even when we do what we believe is right, our child can still be abused either mentally, physically , or emotionally. Sometimes we fail, not because we didn’t try, but because we didn’t know any better, are uninformed, or choose to avoid the topic because it’s not easy to talk about. We don’t know how to make the discussion of body boundaries a part of our daily conversation or how to take advantage of teachable moments.
That naivety and avoidance must stop…today.
As parents and caregivers, it is our responsibility—one we must never shirk—to educate ourselves on how to communicate with our children about body boundaries and what to do if abuse is threatened or occurs. When abuse is discovered, we must not shut down in shame, fear, or anger. We can’t go back and undo the event, so we must learn and move forward with greater awareness and armed with tools to prevent reoccurrence. We must be willing to provide whatever our child requires to equip them to understand, accept, and learn they are not to blame for what happened.
Today is the day to make a difference in your child’s life or a child in your care. By your commitment to protect, educate, and empower each child, you are providing a priceless treasure.
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