Sometime ago, I heard a preacher fella state that God gives everyone potential talents and a spiritual mission to run life's race. He went on to say that most folks don't complete the race because they become sidetracked watching others' run 'the race.' It's like my Grandpa E.V. would tell Mammy when she was about to get drawn into a 'gossip-moment,' E.V. would say, "Now Mary, you need to tend to your own knittin!" I think we often lose confidence and focus in our own potential when we focus too much on others.
Recently, I read a study that suggests parents have it wrong by telling young children that they are smart when the child does poorly academically and likewise adults do the kid a disservice telling him that he is talented when he falls short of sport successes. Several years ago, parents bought into the idea that 'praise' in and of itself, would somehow 'make it so' and said praise would effect positive outcomes; bull-butter!!! It appears, according to this study, that unwarranted praise causes the brain to shut down effort because the kid thinks he is OKAY going about business as usual. The fact is...if we keep doing what we are doing we WILL most likely get the same results. I personally have been preaching against this self-esteem gobbledygook message (through bogus youth awards) for years!
Mark these words: I will not live to see it, but one day there will be study findings suggesting that fat kids need to be in rigorous daily physical education classes and an occasional parental spanking on the misbehaving child's butt will facilitate early childhood accountability development before the kid goes to the school house.
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