Words can take a twist when some are not coming from the heart or child is waiting to be recognized.
So I waited for others to recognize my efforts.
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An Actor waits for the reviews to come out,
in hopes that their efforts are seen.
At school, children, wait in hopes
that they will receive a certificate
for their accomplishments.
We go back to college to get the paper,
to prove we did it.
Taken 2/4 06
At times our efforts are shadows
until another human sees it.
With children,
I desire for them to see their own efforts
and be proud of themselves, now!
I desire them to grow up believing they deserve.
Taken 2 4 06
In this program I created and was blessed to be able to use it in one of the Elementary Schools.
And it was a hugh success.
One of the things I did was to give out awards daily.
Not the awards I would have to notice in them.
The ones they know they deserve.
Only I asked them what award did they deserve that day, because I felt it has to start with them.
They are the only ones who know who hard they work at something.
At first, they came to me to see their worth; I wanted them to feel their own worth.
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When I would asked a child, “what award, have you earned?”
I noticed their first reaction is: “None” or “I don’t know”.
This is when I had an opportunity
to start knowing about the child.
I knew what I seen,
I desired to know what they felt.
They usally looked confused.
Why was I asking them?
Next thing I noticed is their eyes and shoulders lowered.
I took this as an excellent opportunity
to bring forth their values about themselves.
I explain to them, “You need to start receiving awards.”
I then explained,
“Only you know which awards you have been working on.”
Children are so very honest.
I could read off a list of awards
and I could see in their faces,
they were searching for a comfortable award;
one that they believe was true.
When they finally picked one out, they are left thinking about what additional awards could receive. They were now in charge of their accomplishments.
Only they know, what this award means to them.
Everyday the children would come in
and tell me they deserve more awards.
I would tell them, “I am so proud of you”.
They would stand taller
and you could see they were proud of themselves.
They were now in control of their own accomplishments.
They had a new standard,
instead of waiting to be acknowledge,
it allowed them to recognize their own efforts.
To be proud of each and every endeavor they put forth. We must become skilled at to giving ourselves a pat on the back. At times, we forget to be proud of ourselves. Just like the child, we need to identify the smallest simplicities we take for granted.
When we learn to give ourselves
the recognition for our own efforts,
we will not have the need for others to recognize it. We will believe in ourselves,
when we believe in ourselves,
others will believe in us.
We cannot expect others to see in us,
what we do not recognize in ourselves.
It is our responsibility
to become aware of our own achievements.
Say it aloud, at home and at work.
“I am proud of myself for getting that done.”
Let others hear you say it.
It will cause them to start noticing their efforts too. Particularly children,
teach them to share their awards
with you as you share with them.
They love to share what they did well.
I asked a class of adults this question on a survey once. They all said that it was the hardest question they ever had to answer.
How about you, is it easy?
Can you find five awards to give yourself daily?
Try it for a week.
Do it without repeating an award more than once.
I know you will feel different at the end of the week.
