Everything is Possible

During the month of October, we are highlighting the Passion First mindset. The Passion First mindset teaches us that we are all unique expressions of human existence.  It's vital to find out what our individual strengths and talents are so that we might connect them with our goals and visions for the future.  In the Passion First mindset, we work with students to understand their unique gifts, their skills and strengths, how to share them with the world to maximum extent possible.  Not only will they explore their interests, they will begin to identify their core values and what they stand for.  The next step is helping them learn how to make their dreams into reality, tapping into both the courage and perseverance needed to overcome any challenges they encounter in pursuit of the lives they desire.  

The 4 Critical Components of Everything is Possible:

1. Focus on Strengths- What are your strengths? What are the things you’re really good at (math, sports, music, etc.)? Whatever these things are, put some focus on them this week. It is important to play to your strengths in life, and to spend time doing the things you're best at in order to create the most value for yourself.  When we do the things we are good at and pour ourselves into what we are passionate about, it brings positivity to our lives and people take notice! Cultivate your strengths~ and you'll discover your PASSION!!
   
   We all have things that we do well,  When we do what we're good at, we perform better and get better results, which benefits both us and those around us.  It is critical to play to our strengths and spend time doing what we're best at in order to create the most value.  It is also important to know that our strengths are much more than what we do well, as they also include the situations in which we thrive and the people with whom we're at our best.  Understanding all of these strengths will multiply our successes. 
   
   
2. Explore Your Interests-  We all have thing we enjoy doing.  When we like doing something, we do more of it, even in our free time!  When we do things that energize and engage us, our focus is greater, we perform better, and improve faster.  Doing these things more often, with a greater degree of focus, allows us to become great at them.  And when we're great at anything, the world notices, and value to others increases, and more wonderful things flow naturally into our lives.  When we do things we love, it SHOWS!!!  We feel good, and others can feel our energy.  As we reflect on College & Career Week, when are reminded that when we dive deeper and Explore Our Interests, strengths, and passions, we may just be uncovering the path that very well leads to our future dream career...if you are so lucky!!  
   
   
   
3. Take a Stand- It is very important to play to our strengths and interests whenever possible.  It is equally important that what we choose to do is important to us.  It must matter deeply, because there will inevitably be challenges, and this will allow us to persevere.  We all have to do things we aren't necessarily good at or enjoy, which is why we must understand our core values.  We will always be strongest when we act from our values; this is when we wield our greatest power to overcome obstacles and challenges.  What we stand for or matters most to us, can be the guiding compass for us to discover our best path to success. 
   Advisement Lesson led by the Lanier Counselors
    
   
4. Be Authentic- Great dreams must start within!  To something EXTRAORDINARY, a dream must leverage our strengths & interests, it must align with who we are & our core values), AND it must matter deeply to us.  When all of this is in place, we perform at our best and are our most determined selves.  The fulfillment of all great dreams involves a combination of performance & persistence!  Help your child gain greater clarity on a positive future by helping them leverage their authentic selves and tap into their inner strengths and interests.  Encourage your child to connect their authentic talents, passions, values, and desires with goals that will have the most significant and meaningful impact on their life.
   Advisement Lesson led by Lanier Counselors

4 Do's and Don'ts

• DO recognize your child's strengths and passions.  Children (of course) like to be complimented on what they do well.  Often, they concentrate on their weaknesses and miss opportunities to fell proud of their accompishments.  It is best to focus on the things they can do well.  Some children are more athletically-inclined, some are detail-oriented, some a great communicators, some are highly artistic, some are musically-inclined.  Recognizing these strengths in your child and praising them helps encourage them to continue and allow their passions to blossom.
• DO create a Family Motto ~ Spend time with your child discussing core values.  Children need to know what they stand for and what's important to them.  Some families establish family mottos dealing with respect for others and giving back to the community.  For example, "What you can conceive and believe, you can achieve!" or "Be a victor, not a victim."  Having conversations about what is important helps your child discover who they are. 
• DON'T berate a child for dreams or passions that you do not agree with or find interesting. Each person has his or her own set of unique characteristics and skils. It's important to recognize that there are no better or worse passions. The interests of others should not be categorized as "good" or "bad" dreams or desires. Being respectful of whatever dreams a child has is important for them to be happy and enjoy their unique gifts and talents.
• DON'T discourage them with talk about how their passions won't result in financial gain or success.  The job market shifts and changes.  In fact, it has been suggested that 65% of today's students will be employed in jobs that don't even exist yet.  Children should not be discouraged  when it comes to their talents and interests based on current trends in the job market.  Actors and actresses, musicians, and artists are often discouraged from these fields, yet there are endless success stories of those who were determined to follow their hearts and pursue their passions and dreams.

 Discussion 

• Discuss the importance of granting yourself the gift of a little personal time just for you. Everybody is busy, but rushing through this process can defeat the purpose. After all, it’s that crazy busy rush through life that keeps us from getting in touch with who we really are and what we really want. Just this once, set aside a little time to forget about your to-do list and allow yourself to be mindful and in the moment. You could even put on some music that you find pleasant and soothing, something that filters out distractions, quiets your mind, and makes you feel peaceful.
  
  
• Even though you may already know, ask your child "What are your hobbies and interests"?  Having them take some time to evaluate their extracurricular activities and understand what potential value their personal hobbies and interests might have is time well spent.  As they begin to think about career paths they may be interested in, this exercise can have a significant impact on shaping these next few years and allowing them to focus on those things they are passionate about.
  
• Ask your child what challenges they face at school or with their friends. Talk about how to overcome obstacles. What strategies do they have in their toolbox to resolve or overcome these challenges.