Thankfulness = More Happiness

In The Spirit of Thanksgiving

Societal pressures often have us focusing on what we don’t have… Whether it be social media, advertisements, catching up around the watering hole, keeping up with the Joneses, etc.

Focusing on what we don’t have naturally causes us to feel down and out. As looking outwardly has caused us to realize where we may be coming up short, we often become more susceptible to looking externally for solutions. We often turn to consumer behavior to fill the void.

Did you know one of the best ways to combat this?

“Regularly inventorying your thankfulness/gratitude can lead to more happiness and confidence”!

Want to give it a try? 😄

Go ahead! Grab a piece of paper/open a doc and write down one/all of the following:

✔️ 5 things you’re grateful for

✔️ 5 accomplishments that you’re proud of

✔️ 5 people/things you’re happy to have in your life

✔️ 5 things you love about yourself

✔️ 5 things you’d want others to know about your life

Now, read the list back to yourself. 😄

Feeling better already? While this is only a small exercise, “positive psychology tells us that when we focus on what we have—as opposed to what we don’t—we often feel much better about ourselves and our lot in life.”

If this was helpful for your mental health, please encourage your child to do the same. More than anyone, our children NEED to hear this!

Recently, plenty of parents have expressed concerns that their students are struggling with:

📝 Socializing

📝 Academic burnout

📝 Overall apathy/lethargy

📝 Trying new things

📝 Connecting with others

At the core of many of these struggles is low self-esteem.

Sadly, many of our twice-exceptional, neurodiverse, and gifted students have been conditioned to focus on the areas in which they struggle.

Their gaze is often cast to the spaces in which they require the most support. In other words, their struggles, shortcomings, or deficits are brought up as primary “fix-it” areas.

As the Japanese proverb states, “the nail that sticks out gets hammered down”. Too often our students are only seen through this deficit-based lens where people—who are often well-intended—try to fix them by focusing on what’s not working well…

Naturally, this leads to a cycle of feeling like they are less than perfect… The reality is THEY ARE PERFECT JUST THE WAY THEY ARE!

One great way to support these children and help to improve their self-esteem is to empower them to reflect on what they do well. It’s important to do this and do it as often as possible! The goal is to make it a regular, healthy habit.

While this is a great exercise, it’s merely the first step in a long road to personal healing. Although the road may be extensive, the best way to help your child is simply by supporting them in taking their first step.

NOTE- There are no simple solutions to these complex challenges. There is no silver bullet. This kind of support takes time.

Another great way to support kiddos who have some of the aforementioned struggles is by steeping them in supportive environments comprised of like-minded peers and passionate, loving mentors.

Ready for GREAT news?

If you’re looking for this kind of support, your timing couldn’t be better!

Your child will find unparalleled support in Young Scholars Academy’s virtual village. We are arguably the greatest support network out there for neurodivergent and differently-wired children!

We’re just days away from our Winter Open House where you will be able to:

✔️ Connect with other families just like your own

✔️ Connect with mentors who know your child because they are your kiddo all grown up

✔️ Discover transformative enrichment community and courses

Excited, yet? 😄 Click here get the info for this truly life-changing event!

Happy Thanksgiving!

PS- I can’t wait to hear from you in 2 months when you tell me how happy your child is and how much your life has transformed, just like thousands of other families have!