I’m reading a great book at the moment called “No More Jellyfish, Chickens or Wimps”, by Paul Coughlin, a must-read for any parent trying to help a bullied child. The author has a lot to say about depression in children, as well as in the adults who parent them. Let me quote a bit:
“The lonely and depressed adult sees success as something outside her control. She does not see herself as an active agent in the quality of life. This is the thinking of learned helplessness, an unintended but tragic consequence endured by the person who had her life lived for her during her early years. (my emphasis)
Unfortunately, this kind of helplessness breeds fear rather than love of life, and the helpless parent goes on to raise a fearful and depressed child.
What a tragedy! Life’s focus is on being safe, never adventurous.
What does our Heavenly Father say to us, His children. Well, to his first two kids he said, “Be fruitful and increase in number. Fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over …every living creature..” (Gen 1)
What a dream! What an adventure! Nothing safe or helpless here.
Paul Coughlin quotes:
“It’s in the setting of goals (dreams) and progress in working towards them, however mundane they are, that positive feelings are generated. From such everyday activity, resistance to depression is born”
It’s NEVER too late to start dreaming. It’s actually good for you, in more ways than one.
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