Idealism - Build Your Forever Family

Idealism is having a vision of something you want to become a reality - whether building your perfect forever family or creating your dream life now.

Effort & action

It will require you to put in the effort and take action towards your goal for it to become a reality.

We all have a vision of some idealistic future, whether personal, family-orientated, community or global.

Often, our vision aligns with our 'purpose,' which can be short—or long-term.

You're reading this because you have a vision and generally speculating it's either because you are a parent who wants to teach your child about values and help them develop ethical foundations. Or, you are interested in personal development and self-awareness - or both.

My vision

I'm going to share my vision of idealism with you.

Humans are attracted to something because we want to move away from it or towards it.

My vision is on every level: personal, family, community and global.

What I want to move away from is the amount of children being bullied, self-harming, committing suicide, suffering from anxiety, lacking confidence, resilience and having negative thoughts about themselves and others.

I want to move towards children who, preferably by the time they start school and definitely by high school, are self-aware and confident in themselves and their abilities.

Self-talk

I want them to know that happy people don't bully or put others down.

Happy people support others because they are self-aware, know their strengths and weaknesses, and are content with themselves.

They know they are constantly growing and developing in numerous ways, including everyone else.

Mostly, I want them to know about these character traits, realise they have every single one of them within them, and understand that some are their superpowers while others may need a bit more work.

When people recognise these character traits in themselves and others, they realise they are choosing to be kind, responsible, and helpful, and when they are not.

They reflect on their behaviour and know what they did or didn't do without being told.

Significantly, they recognise when others treat them disrespectfully and can name what they want from a relationship—honesty, trust, consideration, fairness, unity—and when they are lacking.

If your child can name these character traits, speak to you about what qualities they love about their friends, and recognise what qualities are missing.

You want your child to be comfortable in their skin and have the courage and confidence to say no to the drug dealer down the street, the 'friend' who is offering drugs and alcohol or their classmate who is pressuring them sexually.

Powerful words

Your words must be more powerful, convincing, and impactful than others who would do your child a disservice.

Ensure you make the most of these weekly character traits of the week. Whatever the week's trait is, you can incorporate it into the words you use that week with your child so they become familiar with it.

Children are quick learners when you tell them something about themselves, and what you say is authentic.

Make it an atomic habit. By the way, that's a great book - Atomic Habits by James Clear. It's an influential and effective atomic habit.