Sadly, COVID-19 is still with us and with following all the proper protocols according to where you live hopefully you’ve managed to stay healthy as well as all of your family.

At a time when it seems like hope is slowly vanishing or there is no hope it’s important to remember that as humans we are an amazing species. If we look at all the things that we have accomplished to date it should give you hope that we will be able to figure out a way to get our lives back to a more normal way of living.

The Pandemic is not a good thing but, how can we make the best of this situation we find ourselves in? If 2020 has taught us anything, it’s that nothing is a sure thing and that life is constantly changing. In these trying times, not only do we as adults need to be able to handle the ups and downs of 2020.  We need to model how to do this so our kids can learn this all important skill. In this particular year, fear has been brought to the forefront. With the fear of the pandemic, rioting, and political unrest around the World fear is causing high levels of anxiety.

Choices

Even though things can be taken away from you at a moments notice, there is one thing that can never be taken away from you. That is your option to choose how you wish to respond. You get to choose – how you want to feel and how you want to deal with each situation as it arises.

Is there a way that I can change my way of thinking to make mine and my families life  happy right now? This question of is vital importance to you and your families mental well being.

At the moment, we are surrounded by a lot of noise and fear.  It is within our human spirit to overcome anything – we only need to organize our thoughts for today. By keeping our thinking on the present moment rather than fantasizing what might or might not happen some time in the future we have the ability to stop terrorizing ourselves.

Gratitude

A way to keep our thinking in the present moment is by practicing gratitude.

One thing I’m going to ask you is – today sit down with your family and make a list of everything you have to be grateful for. This needs to include the fact that you’re alive.

When making a gratitude list it’s important to think about more than just material things. Children that understand, there is so much more to be grateful for than just material things will be less likely to compare themselves to others who seem to have more. Material things can of course be included.

What does being grateful look like?

But, be sure to be grateful for things such as; eg. your health, the people in your life, your pet, having each other, the kindness someone showed you, and the list goes on.

Well actually, I’m going to ask you to do two things. The second thing is – post this list somewhere where you can all see it, read it over with your kids, and add to it daily.

I find for myself whenever I step away from being grateful on a daily basis my mind starts slipping into a lot of “what if” thinking. I can have myself whipped up into a major state of anxiety before I realize it. By dwelling on what might happen in the future I start feeling very defeated.

Practicing gratitude needs to become a habit.  As with any habit it takes time to be comfortable with it and to remember to do it.

So, set a time when you will review your family gratitude list and add to it.

Gratitude as part of sitting down for supper is a wonderful time for bonding as a family. Or,  as part of the bedtime routine for your children will send them off to sleep with good thoughts.

Just think, teaching your children this habit now will give them a valuable life skill. This is just one skill for overcoming fear and anxiety but it is a very powerful one.    

Please leave me a comment below. If you have an idea that you would like me to explore further regarding children’s self-esteem and confidence please let me know in the comments.