Be the change you wish to see in the world
– Mahatma Gandhi
A saying said often, and known worldwide, but what does it mean? And how does it relate to young men?
Young Men Crave Role Models.
Under 14yrs, they’re modelling everyone and everything. Over 14yrs, they’re rejecting everyone and everything. Bound to the pursuit of finding their individual identity.
This leaves them vulnerable to bending to unhelpful crowds, influencers, or substances.
This is where you come in. Teenagers are the best Lie Detectors: they need to be, it’s embedded into our DNA for survival. If you feel fear, angry, frustrated; they feel it too. If you are projecting your hurts, pains or ‘If only I had what you have’ sayings on them, they will feel it. There’s no point hiding it.
Yet, this is exactly where hope lies. Because they can model unhelpful behaviours as well as they model helpful behaviours. Without even thinking about it. And this means that: If you show the value of gratitude, courage, love, compassion; they model.
Your significant role in their lives comes with responsibility. When you live what you teach; their Rejection turns into Respect.
“you should study” to “Have a look at what I’m studying”
“you should be better” to “I’m working on…”
“you should stop…” to “I was like that once, I used to…”
BE the Change.
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