Help Your Child Battle Peer Pressure... with Gratitude!
Dr. Stacey Scott

At some point in our lives we have found ourselves in situations where we have been subjected to peer pressure, children most of all.

As I set out to promote the benefits of gratitude, especially in dealing with peer pressure, foremost in my mind was the desire to promote a strong identity of "self" in my children and all children. I want them to believe that no matter what challenges or negative situations occur they can rise above them and move to a position where they are grateful for the experience and the lesson learned.

Unfortunately, peer pressure can have lasting, negative effects on susceptible children. The good news is that teaching children the simple value of gratitude has a positive impact on their character and powerful impact on their future. When children are grateful and have a strong sense of self and family, they don't succumb easily to peer pressure. They know who they are and they are grateful for who they are. They know what they believe in and are willing to stand up for those beliefs. They are more accepting of others and less judgmental in their thoughts. They feel good about themselves and don't seek or need external acceptance or approval. They know they have it internally. They are not needy or looking for external praise, they know they are awesome. And it's not that children don't appreciate external praise, they don't need it! A strong belief and identity of self holds amazing power in our lives, especially our children's lives.

My wish is for all children to be true to themselves, to be grateful, confident, caring, kind and compassionate. We need to educate children to positively contribute to our world, our planet and our universe. However, children also need to understand that being independent and self-reliant doesn't mean it's all about "me". On the contrary, it's about teaching them that the value of gratitude makes a much more complete and well-rounded individual, empowered with the right kind of tools to face all of life's situations, especially peer pressure. Begin by teaching your child the value of gratitude!

Gratitude
Dr. Stacey Scott

Gratitude is many things.

Did you know that to celebrate is to experience gratitude? In fact, celebration is intensified gratitude.

Did you know that there is a spiritual quality to gratitude? A quality that recognizes we are all connected to each other in a mysterious, miraculous and almost magical way.

Did you also know that gratitude is much more than the simple act of saying thank you? In fact there is so much empowerment within one who truly understands, appreciates and lives with gratitude that it actually changes their whole outlook on life to one that is incredibly positive, enlightening and happy.

Gratitude is the act of intellectually recognizing, willingly acknowledging and emotionally appreciating such things as the kindness of others, gifts bestowed upon us, or the beauty of a grand, majestic mountain. We have all felt the power of these feelings at one time or another in our lives.

We do not necessarily need to take in the awesome wonderment of the Grand Canyon to experience a feeling of immense peace and calmness; in fact, we can grasp that feeling anytime and anywhere if we train ourselves to think with a gracious attitude. That's truly all it takes. Gratitude is to feel the beauty of life in everything, from the simple things and the small things to the breathtaking beauty of mountainous landscapes and the grandiose accomplishments of human beings. We don't need to look far. It's all around us and most importantly, it's within us.

Discovering the power of gratitude allows us to tap into feelings that are important to us, to understand them, embrace them and act upon them. This begins with our grateful acknowledgement of the world in which we live, the people with whom we share this planet; and of course, acknowledging the importance of our own being. You are important! We are important! The world is grateful to have us!