From my good friend, James Kinnaird, whom God has gifted with a great “big picture” heart and mind for others:
There’s only one frustrating aspect to teaching Life Skills classes and Relationship classes. Having to deconstruct the “I’m not good…smart…fit…rich…cute…enough” mindset. Sad part is when kids hear that mess from various adults in their lives. In the name of being realist or practical, we can actually quash the dream and goals of those who look up to us. We adults have to commit to fanning the flame of vision and setting faith-inspired goals in the hearts and minds of teens. By the way, adults, it’s AN AWESOME thing if the kids we influence do better than us…that’s what we’re supposed to be about.
From Alex Harris, author of Do Hard Things: A Teenage Rebellion Against Low Expectations:
“Unfortunately we often get praise for things that weren’t particularly difficult to achieve. If we focus on the props and encouragement of those who have low expectations for us, we become mediocre. It can be challenging to set our sights on excellence, particularly when we’re hearing that we’re already there. One of life’s greatest lessons, which we all must learn, could be expressed in the phrase ‘That was nothing. Watch this.’ Challenge yourself and others to call the normal things normal and save that word excellent for things that really are.”
