Excitement is the Key to Achievement

Enthusiasm in children heightens when they look forward to exciting things. The anticipation of visiting grandpa’s for a boat ride, a trip to the zoo, or to a Miley Cyrus concert energizes and elevates their excitement.

It’s easy to tell when children get excited. They talk faster and louder, bounce around with giddiness and wear a smile from ear to ear. These moments provide the opportunity for wise parents to expand their level of achievement.

Kids change a lot in a ten year period. The things impacting them the most are the experiences they have; the books they read; the people they meet; and the choices they make. Each experience is internalized and becomes a measure of their growth. How they feel about what they’ve done becomes the yardstick for self-improvement.

Parents spend a lot of time correcting children and suggesting improvements. We push them toward better choices because we want them to do better in life than we did. A steady diet of, “Don’t do that, do this,” becomes a turnoff. Sometimes the best option is to limit involvement and just let them figure things out on their own. They’ll learn more as their confidence level grows. We eventually come to grips with “letting go” of the bicycle, so they can take that first “solo” ride.

Focusing on a child’s weaknesses makes it harder for them to focus on a fresh, healthier perspective. When they understand their potential and realize possibilities, excitement and enthusiasm follows. Parents creating “mini success experiences” and providing encouragement with, “You can do this,” give children an edge.

Parenting is similar to that of being an improvising artist. As children get older, the rule book changes and adjustments have to be made. What works today might not work tomorrow. It’s important to remain flexible, adapt to change and reinvent strategies to deal with shifting relationships. They day could come when junior says, “This sucks, I’m doing it differently.” If and when that happens, it’s time for reassessment.

If we can look back on past choices and say, “We’d do it all again,” then we are obviously content with what we’ve done. Children have this same potential.

Persuasion is a skill all effective parents need. Convincing children to make wise decisions and understand that consequences of poor choices are major factors in pursuing a successful life. The difference between a child who excels, and one who doesn’t, is the way they think. Excitement and enthusiasm give a fresh perspective and a “jumpstart” on achievement.