Whenever I interview parents who are interested in becoming clients or students of mine, I always ask them some background questions to learn what they are looking for, what is missing, and where they have come from. It always surprises me that parents fail to make the connection that kids model behavior. If your child is showing an unwanted behavior, it is either because:

1) the parents allow the behavior or
2) the parents demonstrate the behavior

Once you understand the simplicity of this process, it begins to make sense when I give the parents homework. If you want me to help you with your child, I have to help YOU first. YOU are the source of the challenge! If you don’t fix the source of the issue, it will continue to be an issue and you will have to work ten times are hard to help your child. It’s like taking aspirin for a heart attack - it can help, but by no means is it the cure.

This takes us to today’s homework. There are eight transformation truths that Brendon Burchard writes about in his book “Life’s Golden Ticket”. Read them, think about them, and make sure you are using them. Then, you can repeat the process with your child.

Transformation Truth #1:
Either you are truly moving forward or you aren’t

We were all born to move forward: to crawl, to walk, to run, to grow, to push ourselves diligently toward our destinies and dreams. Unfortunately, many of us have let our fears and the need for safety weigh us down. We’ve stopped taking the leaps and bounds and chances needed to get us closer to the life we desire. Tragically, too many of us have settled into jobs that lead nowhere, relationships that sink our spirits, and habits that hold us back. To prevent that or become more focused, ask yourself these simple questions on a regular basis: Have I been charging ahead in life, standing still, or falling behind? Am I truly moving forward toward my dreams, or am I simply conning myself into believing that I’m just “waiting for the right time to make my move”? What do I need to do today to boldly start moving forward?

Transformation Truth #2:
Either you’re doing work you truly enjoy or you aren’t.

Most of us know that our life’s purpose is more than just a paycheck, and that a life of meaning is not limited to a life of means. Yet many of us suffer the self-imposed misery of doing unfulfilling work simply to make ends meet. Is what you are doing something that you whole-heartedly enjoy? Do you get happily lost in your work on a regular basis and feel like you’re truly growing, contributing, and making a difference? If you cannot answer with a resounding “Yes!” to these questions, then you already know it’s time for a change. It’s time to face that and take action.

To be continued tomorrow…