Parent tip of the week #97: How to be happier and stronger

Not all books are worth reading, and I certainly could not agree with everything in "The Coddling of the American Mind".  But I did like very much the advice the author gives for lessons we might teach our children about how to be happy and successful as adults.  


The author includes 3 ideas to be "happier, healthier, stronger, and more likely to succeed in pursuing your own goals."

• Seek out challenges, instead of avoiding that which may make you anxious or being overly cautious.
• Free yourself from cognitive distortions, rather than always trusting your initial feelings, imagine what the opposite of your gut reaction might look like
• Take a generous view of other people, and look for nuance, don't assume the worst about people, avoiding stereotypes, especially with those who may think differently than you .  Avoid an us-vs-them mindset.

Our jobs as teachers will be much easier if parents partner with us in encouraging these principles.