How To Teach Our Kids The Sense Of Responsibility

As parents, we want our kids to be responsible. We also want them to become dependable, honest, committed, accountable for their behaviors, accept credit when doing things right and acknowledge mistakes for them to be successful.

Sometimes, we, parents confuse obedience with responsibility. We would love our children to do what we ask, to follow directions and to not question our authority which is understandable when raising our children. However, this is not responsibility! These traits are in fact classified as obedience. Over time, we want children to accept ownership for a task or chore and our children do it because it needs to be done and accept that it is their obligation to do it. Over time, they may even initiate doing a task because it needs to be done not because they are being told to do so. This attitude is called responsibility not obedience.

We do not want our children to fail which can lead us to do too much for our children. When this happens, the children don't learn to take on the responsibility themselves. And I am no exception. I want them to achieve that I support them throughout even to the point of sacrificing my need just to sustain their needs in school.

It stressed me out when I need to give in to my kids' yearning because they do not want to be late in the submission of their projects. I want them to learn how to take charge when something when wrong or doesn't go according to plan. I do not want to take over their responsibilities but I also want them to learn in the process. Even if I feel like this but still worth it because each of them are really good in their craft despite their young age.

Right now, I am trying to set limits and boundaries, impose discipline, teach my children how they should behave, and give them guidance. By not meeting their needs immediately and not giving them everything they want, I provide them with an opportunity to tolerate some frustration, delay gratification, become less impulsive and less self-centered. By setting standards of behavior that I expect my children to meet, I establish consequences for breaking rules and I follow through on those consequences. I teach my children to be appreciative for what they have. It is through the executive role that I hold my children accountable for their behavior, and that in turn, fosters the development of a sense of responsibility.

But I am also a nurturing parent. I am kind and loving to my children. I listen to my children, support them, spend time with them, and are affectionate with them. I communicate my unconditional love - no matter what happens which allows my children to take risks, to make mistakes, knowing that they have my unconditional support and love.

REMEMBER: Children are more likely to accept the limits you set and are more likely to want to meet your expectations when you provide a warm, caring and supportive relationship that underlies the discipline you impose.

When our children feel capable, they are more likely to meet their obligations, volunteer for new tasks, try their hardest and feel good about what they do. These things will increase our child's sense of responsibility.

https://ezinearticles.com/?How-To-Teach-Our-Kids-The-Sense-Of-Responsibility&id=9879394

The Thirteen-Minute Article (It Took Me Ten Minutes To Write, Three To Edit) (By Joshua Clayton)

This article will take me ten minutes to write, but a lifetime to apply for us all! With that said, I will start typing the body of the article from here. Think about it, we all take actions. We must take profitable actions in every moment we can, though. In existence and life (in that order), we either take actions that are beneficial to us or not. The best actions are the most profitable, and the worst actions genuinely waste the most time.

Anything that lifts our lives and realities to higher levels is good, except when we cheat at it. What I mean by cheating is taking irrational short cuts, whatever they may be. Whether it is basic lying to ourselves at a very deep level or "getting away with it in the eyes of other people, but not our own"; reality has a way of working with us making sure we pay what we need to pay or get our just reward for whatever we do. Indeed, at every genuine level it really is an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. Think about this fact for a moment and you shall see, I can hope I am wrong with "everyone else", but I know that I am on point with those facts: There are not any genuine free lunches or tricks we can play to get something for nothing, but somewhere we pay and benefit to the measure we give or take genuinely.

Dealing with reality seems like dealing with nickels, dimes and pennies of energies, does it not? Well, it is. Those who do not cheat genuinely get rich from this way of dealing with things. Those who do cheat have to pay sometime whether they "know" or "do not know" what the price is. In thought and reality, the honest person is right, and the dishonest person is wrong. Indeed, though, who wants to admit that basic fact, especially where "larceny" is involved.

I know, this is a scary, hairy article for those that keep the truth and honest reality submerged, but for those that are close to understanding, I say keep going and you will get it. If anything, I encourage you with my freak like, consciously realistic and honest self.

Yesterday, before I wrote this article, I felt so overwhelmed that I felt like cheating in a very small, but large way, but I did not. So, I end with this: I put this article under "goal setting" to say, make it a goal to be honest with yourself. You may regret it short term, but you will not regret it long term. I can honestly promise.

http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Thirteen-Minute-Article-(It-Took-Me-Ten-Minutes-To-Write,-Three-To-Edit)&id=9969229

If There Is Not A Way, Make A Way

Life is simple. But, what we want to do with it seems complicated. All we have to do is live now, not later, not yesterday, but now. The future is genuinely predicted by how well we do now really. But, who wants to admit that it is that simple? I do, because the past and the future is not where the cold, hard cash power is.

If I could fake it, I would not. I would and will be creative for real though. How many people would honestly say that though? Some would go for the slang "go for the best bootleg you can and do not look back", others would come close and say something like "I will fake it until I make it." But, the best way to be is to be for real and be with integrity. Because, even if the consequences are "bad", you can say, I did it honestly.

The NBC news anchor Brian Williams influenced this article and some of my past pain influenced it also. Spinning a web of lies is something you pay for even if you move the whole thing "two miles down the road", it catches up with you. But if you are for real all the way through, what can catch up with you? The glory of being real, honest and true. That is it, never a justification. Never a fear of being caught. Just reality being what it is in all its glory for good or bad, that is it. So, when I say in the beginning that life is simple and what we do with it seems to be complicated. All I mean is: It is simple, it is only complicated when we lie, embellish or fully fear the truth and honesty of the matter. Evasion is the ultimate weak point in everything. Facing it may not always be desirable, but at least it is honest and sometimes the most creatively courageous move we can make for ourselves in our existence.

So, when I say the words "make a way", you were expecting some "exciting", "thrilling" way to evade that honesty of now, today and reality, right? Sorry, not here, not now. Especially not in this article. Reality works with honesty, but it becomes "complicated" when you try to be genuinely dishonest. Note the first part of the sentence is simple, but the second part is extremely complicated. Especially when you try to practice it.

https://ezinearticles.com/?If-There-Is-Not-A-Way,-Make-A-Way&id=8918216

Doing This for an Hour Each Day Can Make You More Successful

There are some things that entrepreneurs can do right away to tremendously impact their businesses and careers, like dedicating time to learn,empowering those who are talented and passionate, and being honest with themselves. I find that when we stick to these core principles, it always takes our business in the right direction:

Dedicate time to learn

When you’re a new entrepreneur with a successful business,it’s easy to assume that because you’ve arrived at the point in your career you aimed for, you no longer have anything left to learn. But as I now know, it’s actually the complete opposite: If you’ve become an entrepreneur, especially a successful one, you need to read, learn, and experience now more than ever.

I now regularly attend continuing education classes via webinars and networks like Entrepreneurs’ Organization. I block off time to read how-to’s, biographies, and fiction—almost anything that’s recommended by thought leaders or has actionable lessons (right now I’m reading Traction by Gabriel Weinberg and Justin Mares). I’ve since learned how to define my companies’ core values and vision, and how to engage with team members better at work, so our employees are happier. I’m using these lessons to discover the things I’m best at and get inspiration and energy from, so I’m happier, too.

I’ve learned the importance of and ways to be a more well-rounded individual—not just a workaholic—so my personal life is more fulfilling. I’ve found new passions to focus on in my career, like building sustainable companies, which I never would have fully understood had I not taken the time to read about them. If I were to wish anything for a new entrepreneur (or myself 10 years ago), it’d be to set aside at least one hour a day to just read, watch, and learn.

Empower people who are talented and passionate

It seems the I-can-do it-better attitude of entrepreneurs is a gift and a curse. It’s this mindset that pushed me into starting a company, and that’s awesome. But I also fell into the trap of trying to be good at everything and “do it all myself,” which meant I was great at nothing. The breakthrough lesson for me was to find people who are passionate and amazing in their fields, and to empower them to really take control of those things they’re good at. It’s incredible to see what one person can accomplish when they’re doing something they love, so a big priority for me was to first find these amazing people, hire them, and then mostly get out of their way. That also allowed me the time to do the things I love and am really good at, so the company grew as a result, and everyone (including myself) was happier.

Be honest with yourself

This seems like common sense, but it took me a while to realize that nobody thinks they have a bad idea. Every entrepreneur makes decisions that he or she thinks is best for the company, even though those decisions are oftendead wrong. So I try not to justify any of my ideas with gut feelings. Think about it. Everyone has that feeling when they make a decision. Nobody says, “This feels like a bad decision, but I’m going to do it anyway.” I instead try to boil my decisions down to first principles or objective measures. It’s a really hard habit to master, so I have to be honest with myself and often re-think my approach. A gut feeling isn’t a competitive advantage. Your competitors all think they’re right—just like you.

http://fortune.com/2015/12/29/entrepreneur-successful-company

9 Traits of Trustworthy People

Trust is valuable. It affects everything. Being trusted by others is one of the things you must have to go far in life and to achieve your greatest success.

Before starting my own company, I worked in the security and investigations industry for 20 years, and I learned that trust isn’t a quick thing you can gain. It is something earned over a period of time, after consistently being honest, always acting with integrity, never lying or misleading. It is how you act. It is who you are.

If you want to be a person other people trust, take a look at your actions, the decisions you make on a daily basis.

Here are 9 traits of trustworthy people. Do you have them? Can people trust you?

1. They are authentic.

People want to be around others that are real, meaning they are authentic and have high character. Authentic people are not trying to be above anyone else. They are likeable, humble and easy to talk to.

2. They are consistent.

Everyone has a bad day. But people want to see consistent, positive behavior in the people they trust. Affirmative actions and smart decisions make a difference in the eyes of others. 

3. They have integrity.

People want other people around them that stand up for what is right in life, even when no one is watching.

4. They are compassionate.

Trustworthy people put themselves in other people’s shoes. They are always thinking of others, feeling for others—it’s not all about them.

5. They are kind.

People build up trust when they look out for others, when they are there for them when they need someone most, not just when everything is going OK. 

6. They are resourceful.

Trusted people are always learning and growing. They are constant students. They always know there is room to get better, and because of that, they know ways to help inspire and support others—and they give and share those resources.

7. They are connectors.

They look for ways to align like-minded people, and they connect people who have the knowledge or experience to help them get what they want.

8. They are humble.

Trustworthy people have humility. They want to get others out there first, before themselves. They realize that the efforts of the team really make things happen, versus what they can individually accomplish. 

9. They are available.

They are there for people, available to others to support them always. They go out of their way to make time for others. 

http://www.success.com/blog/9-traits-of-trustworthy-people

30 Things to Start Doing for Yourself

Remember today, for it is the beginning.
Today marks the start of a brave new future.

Here it is, a positive ‘to-do’ list for the upcoming year – 30 things to start doing for yourself:

1. Start spending time with the right people. – These are the people you enjoy, who love and appreciate you, and who encourage you to improve in healthy and exciting ways.  They are the ones who make you feel more alive, and not only embrace who you are now, but also embrace and embody who you want to be, unconditionally.
2. Start facing your problems head on. – It isn’t your problems that define you, but how you react to them and recover from them.  Problems will not disappear unless you take action.  Do what you can, when you can, and acknowledge what you’ve done.  It’s all about taking baby steps in the right direction, inch by inch.  These inches count, they add up to yards and miles in the long run.
3. Start being honest with yourself about everything. – Be honest about what’s right, as well as what needs to be changed.  Be honest about what you want to achieve and who you want to become.  Be honest with every aspect of your life, always.  Because you are the one person you can forever count on.  Search your soul, for the truth, so that you truly know who you are.  Once you do, you’ll have a better understanding of where you are now and how you got here, and you’ll be better equipped to identify where you want to go and how to get there. 
4. Start making your own happiness a priority. – Your needs matter.  If you don’t value yourself, look out for yourself, and stick up for yourself, you’re sabotaging yourself.  Remember, it IS possible to take care of your own needs while simultaneously caring for those around you.  And once your needs are met, you will likely be far more capable of helping those who need you most.
5. Start being yourself, genuinely and proudly. – Trying to be anyone else is a waste of the person you are.  Be yourself.  Embrace that individual inside you that has ideas, strengths and beauty like no one else.  Be the person you know yourself to be – the best version of you – on your terms.  Above all, be true to YOU, and if you cannot put your heart in it, take yourself out of it.
6. Start noticing and living in the present. – Right now is a miracle.  Right now is the only moment guaranteed to you.  Right now is life.  So stop thinking about how great things will be in the future.  Stop dwelling on what did or didn’t happen in the past.  Learn to be in the ‘here and now’ and experience life as it’s happening.  Appreciate the world for the beauty that it holds, right now.
7. Start valuing the lessons your mistakes teach you. – Mistakes are okay; they’re the stepping stones of progress.  If you’re not failing from time to time, you’re not trying hard enough and you’re not learning.  Take risks, stumble, fall, and then get up and try again.  Appreciate that you are pushing yourself, learning, growing and improving.  Significant achievements are almost invariably realized at the end of a long road of failures.  One of the ‘mistakes’ you fear might just be the link to your greatest achievement yet.
8. Start being more polite to yourself. – If you had a friend who spoke to you in the same way that you sometimes speak to yourself, how long would you allow that person to be your friend?  The way you treat yourself sets the standard for others.  You must love who you are or no one else will.
9. Start enjoying the things you already have. – The problem with many of us is that we think we’ll be happy when we reach a certain level in life – a level we see others operating at – your boss with her corner office, that friend of a friend who owns a mansion on the beach, etc.  Unfortunately, it takes awhile before you get there, and when you get there you’ll likely have a new destination in mind.  You’ll end up spending your whole life working toward something new without ever stopping to enjoy the things you have now.  So take a quiet moment every morning when you first awake to appreciate where you are and what you already have.
10. Start creating your own happiness. – If you are waiting for someone else to make you happy, you’re missing out.  Smile because you can.  Choose happiness.  Be the change you want to see in the world.  Be happy with who you are now, and let your positivity inspire your journey into tomorrow.  Happiness is often found when and where you decide to seek it.  If you look for happiness within the opportunities you have, you will eventually find it.  But if you constantly look for something else, unfortunately, you’ll find that too. 
11. Start giving your ideas and dreams a chance. – In life, it’s rarely about getting a chance; it’s about taking a chance.  You’ll never be 100% sure it will work, but you can always be 100% sure doing nothing won’t work.  Most of the time you just have to go for it!  And no matter how it turns out, it always ends up just the way it should be.  Either you succeed or you learn something.  Win-Win.
12. Start believing that you’re ready for the next step. – You are ready!  Think about it.  You have everything you need right now to take the next small, realistic step forward.  So embrace the opportunities that come your way, and accept the challenges – they’re gifts that will help you to grow.
13. Start entering new relationships for the right reasons. – Enter new relationships with dependable, honest people who reflect the person you are and the person you want to be.  Choose friends you are proud to know, people you admire, who show you love and respect – people who reciprocate your kindness and commitment.  And pay attention to what people do, because a person’s actions are much more important than their words or how others represent them.
14. Start giving new people you meet a chance. – It sounds harsh, but you cannot keep every friend you’ve ever made.  People and priorities change.  As some relationships fade others will grow.  Appreciate the possibility of new relationships as you naturally let go of old ones that no longer work.  Trust your judgment.  Embrace new relationships, knowing that you are entering into unfamiliar territory.  Be ready to learn, be ready for a challenge, and be ready to meet someone that might just change your life forever.
15. Start competing against an earlier version of yourself. – Be inspired by others, appreciate others, learn from others, but know that competing against them is a waste of time.  You are in competition with one person and one person only – yourself.  You are competing to be the best you can be.  Aim to break your own personal records.
16. Start cheering for other people’s victories. – Start noticing what you like about others and tell them.  Having an appreciation for how amazing the people around you are leads to good places – productive, fulfilling, peaceful places.  So be happy for those who are making progress.  Cheer for their victories.  Be thankful for their blessings, openly.  What goes around comes around, and sooner or later the people you’re cheering for will start cheering for you.
17. Start looking for the silver lining in tough situations. – When things are hard, and you feel down, take a few deep breaths and look for the silver lining – the small glimmers of hope.  Remind yourself that you can and will grow stronger from these hard times.  And remain conscious of your blessings and victories – all the things in your life that are right.  Focus on what you have, not on what you haven’t.
18. Start forgiving yourself and others. – We’ve all been hurt by our own decisions and by others.  And while the pain of these experiences is normal, sometimes it lingers for too long.  We relive the pain over and over and have a hard time letting go.  Forgiveness is the remedy.  It doesn’t mean you’re erasing the past, or forgetting what happened.  It means you’re letting go of the resentment and pain, and instead choosing to learn from the incident and move on with your life.
19. Start helping those around you. – Care about people.  Guide them if you know a better way.  The more you help others, the more they will want to help you.  Love and kindness begets love and kindness.  And so on and so forth.
20. Start listening to your own inner voice. – If it helps, discuss your ideas with those closest to you, but give yourself enough room to follow your own intuition.  Be true to yourself.  Say what you need to say.  Do what you know in your heart is right.
21. Start being attentive to your stress level and take short breaks.– Slow down.  Breathe.  Give yourself permission to pause, regroup and move forward with clarity and purpose.  When you’re at your busiest, a brief recess can rejuvenate your mind and increase your productivity.  These short breaks will help you regain your sanity and reflect on your recent actions so you can be sure they’re in line with your goals.
22. Start noticing the beauty of small moments. – Instead of waiting for the big things to happen – marriage, kids, big promotion, winning the lottery – find happiness in the small things that happen every day.  Little things like having a quiet cup of coffee in the early morning, or the delicious taste and smell of a homemade meal, or the pleasure of sharing something you enjoy with someone else, or holding hands with your partner.  Noticing these small pleasures on a daily basis makes a big difference in the quality of your life.
23. Start accepting things when they are less than perfect. – Remember, ‘perfect’ is the enemy of ‘good.’  One of the biggest challenges for people who want to improve themselves and improve the world is learning to accept things as they are.  Sometimes it’s better to accept and appreciate the world as it is, and people as they are, rather than to trying to make everything and everyone conform to an impossible ideal.  No, you shouldn’t accept a life of mediocrity, but learn to love and value things when they are less than perfect.
24. Start working toward your goals every single day. – Remember, the journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.  Whatever it is you dream about, start taking small, logical steps every day to make it happen.  Get out there and DO something!  The harder you work the luckier you will become.  While many of us decide at some point during the course of our lives that we want to answer our calling, only an astute few of us actually work on it.  By ‘working on it,’ I mean consistently devoting oneself to the end result. 
25. Start being more open about how you feel. – If you’re hurting, give yourself the necessary space and time to hurt, but be open about it.  Talk to those closest to you.  Tell them the truth about how you feel.  Let them listen.  The simple act of getting things off your chest and into the open is your first step toward feeling good again.
26. Start taking full accountability for your own life. – Own your choices and mistakes, and be willing to take the necessary steps to improve upon them.  Either you take accountability for your life or someone else will.  And when they do, you’ll become a slave to their ideas and dreams instead of a pioneer of your own.  You are the only one who can directly control the outcome of your life.  And no, it won’t always be easy.  Every person has a stack of obstacles in front of them.  But you must take accountability for your situation and overcome these obstacles.  Choosing not to is choosing a lifetime of mere existence.
27. Start actively nurturing your most important relationships. – Bring real, honest joy into your life and the lives of those you love by simply telling them how much they mean to you on a regular basis.  You can’t be everything to everyone, but you can be everything to a few people.  Decide who these people are in your life and treat them like royalty.  Remember, you don’t need a certain number of friends, just a number of friends you can be certain of.
28. Start concentrating on the things you can control. – You can’t change everything, but you can always change something.  Wasting your time, talent and emotional energy on things that are beyond your control is a recipe for frustration, misery and stagnation.  Invest your energy in the things you can control, and act on them now.
29. Start focusing on the possibility of positive outcomes. – The mind must believe it CAN do something before it is capable of actually doing it.  The way to overcome negative thoughts and destructive emotions is to develop opposing, positive emotions that are stronger and more powerful.  Listen to your self-talk and replace negative thoughts with positive ones.  Regardless of how a situation seems, focus on what you DO WANT to happen, and then take the next positive step forward.  No, you can’t control everything that happens to you, but you can control how you react to things.  Everyone’s life has positive and negative aspects – whether or not you’re happy and successful in the long run depends greatly on which aspects you focus on.  
30. Start noticing how wealthy you are right now. – Henry David Thoreau once said, “Wealth is the ability to fully experience life.”  Even when times are tough, it’s always important to keep things in perspective.  You didn’t go to sleep hungry last night.  You didn’t go to sleep outside.  You had a choice of what clothes to wear this morning.  You hardly broke a sweat today.  You didn’t spend a minute in fear.  You have access to clean drinking water.  You have access to medical care.  You have access to the Internet.  You can read.  Some might say you are incredibly wealthy, so remember to be grateful for all the things you do have.

http://www.marcandangel.com/2011/12/18/30-things-to-start-doing-for-yourself/