I have been a teacher and personal development coach for over 28 years. During this time, I’ve had my brain picked countless times on the question of parenting and I am often asked what advice to give our daughters. So, what do I think?
Pressures are part and parcel of life; there has always been, and always will be, pressure in varying forms for every generation. I suppose the main difference that our young daughters face today is finding themselves expecting to succeed in many more ways than one – not only at school, at having the perfect home and family life, a vibrant social life, but also in striving for the best career.
In today’s age, more is available to our daughters and so the prospect of achieving all your ambitions can be daunting. I want to share some of the advice I live by and encourage those I coach and mentor, including my own daughters, to utilise as a way of managing pressure and harnessing success.
‘There are two kinds of people: those who think they can and those who think they can’t, and they’re both right’ – Henry Ford
Know what you want for yourself, work hard for it, and trust that you can achieve it. It is usually the lessons learnt outside of the classroom or boardroom that define who we are and what we want out of life. I have always encouraged my children, and those I teach, to expand their horizons; travel, take on a challenge, support a charity. Develop socially and understand that success doesn’t have to be just about academics and making money.
‘Show me your friends, and I’ll show you your future’ – John Kuebler
Maintain a strong support system of friends and family. It is important to surround yourself with the right people, because they can have a big influence on the choices we make. If a child is acting out, look at who they socialise with. Being surrounded by honest, hardworking, ambitious people with positive attitudes will encourage a similar mentality when it comes to tackling your own pressures in order to develop and grow.
‘You can never be over educated or overdressed’ – Oscar Wilde
First impressions count – so give yourself a head start by looking your best. The way you present yourself gives others an insight into the kind of person you want to be. If you dress for success, your mind follows suit, helping you to feel good about yourself and allowing your most valuable qualities to shine through with confidence.
‘Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.’ – The Golden Rule
Having a good set of moral principles to fall back on when you feel overwhelmed can help guide you. I believe in the simple premise that what goes around comes around and so it is important to be good to those around us. This is a universal approach that can be applied to all walks of life like the golden rule above.
I am passionate about helping our younger generation to realise their potential and not be discouraged by the pressures they face. Anything is possible if you set your mind to it!