Uncommon Parenting: One thought away from finding peace and calm
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You are only one thought away from finding the peace and the calm that will help you deal with the situation productively.
You drive your daughter across town to her dance lesson. When you get there, she discovers she does not have her shoes. She begins to cry.
You are only one thought away from finding the peace and the calm that will help you deal with the situation productively.
At the middle school parent/teacher conferences, you receive some unexpected news. Several teachers inform you that your son has not been turning in his homework on a regular basis. Two teachers let you know he has been exhibiting a negative and self-defeating attitude in class. On your drive home you feel your emotional temperature rising as you get closer and closer to your destination.
You are only one thought away from finding the peace and the calm that will help you deal with the situation productively.
That’s right. It only takes one thought to get centered, one thought to return you to peace, one thought to turn fear and anger into love. The next time you are caught up in negative emotion, full of judgmental thoughts, or feel the desire to attack, use one of the following thoughts to help you return to calm, contentment and peace.
1. This too shall pass.
2. These children are much more than their behavior.
3. I can treat disrespect respectfully.
4. This is not about me, but rather about them.
5. I am connected to the same originating spirit as are each of my children.
6. I remember that perception is a choice.
7. I am responsible for what I see.
8. There is a way to turn this into a learning experience.
9. This gives me the perfect data I need to design the next parental teaching.
10. This is age-appropriate behavior for 6 year olds (10 year olds or teenagers) so I won’t take it personally.
11. Sometimes children have to go south before seeing the value of going north.
12. Mistakes, theirs or mine, are opportunities for growth.
13. This is the perfect opportunity for me to teach about cause and effect by holding my children accountable for their behaviors/choices.
14. They are simply showing me the best way they know how what they need to learn next.
15. I don’t need the approval of others to be happy.
16. I can figure out what love would do now?
17. I am not responsible for the choices they make.
18. I can choose to be relaxed now.
19. I can let go of judging and simply watch this from a place of silent witness.
20. I can rise above this.
21. How can I be of service here?
22. The ability to be calm is within me.
23. No matter what happened, I can stay calm and centered.
24. Regardless of how many times I fall down, I can get back up.
25. I can bend in the wind without being broken.
26. Sometimes they have to take a step back before they get ready to move forward.
27. As one door closes, another opens.
28. I trust that they know what is best for them.
29. Every problem has a solution.
30. God will guide me.
31. Everything I need is present in this moment.
32. I can trust my inner-knowing here.
Feeling stressed out, beleaguered or simply frustrated with a child or spouse? If so, remember you can choose to think like no one else so your children can grow up to be like on one else. You are always only one thought away from finding the peace and the calm that will help you deal with the parenting situation productively.
Chick Moorman and Thomas Haller are co-authors of "The Ten Commitments: Parenting with Purpose," inspiring parents and teachers to become the best they can be. They blog at Uncommon-Parenting.com. Chick Moorman can be reached at ipp57@aol.com.