Celebrating Failure through a Solution-Focused Lens After reading an article by Melanie I Stefan in 2010, Johannes Haushofer – Assistant Professor of Psychology and Public Affairs (Princeton University) was inspired to share an alternative resume (2016) where he listed all of his career failures (e.g., degrees he did not get into, jobs he did… Continue reading Failures Exist Within a Landscape of Opportunity
Children have the ability to live in the moment as they observe, absorb and interpret information. Each day presents opportunities to connect with who they are in relation to their world. Their most impactful experiences begin in the home where they observe and model after their parents. They look to their parents to distinguish between… Continue reading What We Tell Our Children about Themselves; The Impact of Personal Narratives
Children develop confidence and autonomy when with guidance of a caring adult (e.g., a parent or teacher), are encouraged to actively resolve personal challenges (great or small). Depending on age and maturity, if left to their own devices, children may not have the awareness needed to recognize personally crafted decisions that can negatively affect their… Continue reading Children as Decision-Makers?
Conversations about SUCCESS often include the great outcomes, the big win, top evaluations, performances and presentations. This type of success is only available to the fortunate few. With a solution-focused mindset, success is accessible to everyone, as it represents the many accomplishments we experience in daily life, both large and small. What is a small… Continue reading Success
Communication has been the vehicle through which people connect and develop relationships from infancy through adulthood. We are a social species, motivated to develop and evolve within the context of others. When we interact, we do much more than exchange information. We express our thoughts and opinions, actively listen, engage both verbally and nonverbally, observe… Continue reading Communication
Teenagers often tune off to adult wisdom – interpreting it as a personal affront on their own core beliefs, and their ability to problem-solve on their own. We can open the lines of communication and help to develop an improved relationship with our teens, by actively listening to, and supporting them in reflecting on their… Continue reading Teenagers Can Ignore Adults
One of the best ways in which to show our appreciation to our children is to give them a fresh start each day. As we do, we send a strong message of acceptance and forgiveness, regardless of any setbacks experienced on the previous day. In a climate of hope, we celebrate with them the importance… Continue reading The Importance of Fresh Starts
Children of all ages are often excited at the start of the school year as they anticipate and prepare for new opportunities. This excitement can keep them awake as the Canadian Labour Day weekend draws to a close. They bounce out of bed on the first day of school, no matter how tired they are.… Continue reading Seizing the Day with our Children as School Starts; Success in Renewal
Vicky Essebag MEd-CPSY, OCT, CSFC. Relational Communication Specialist. May 2022. There is an old saying, sometimes attributed to an ancient Chinese curse; ‘May you live in interesting times’. We can all agree that so far the 2020’s have certainly been ‘interesting’. In addition to any personal crises that may arise, we’ve seen unprecedented global challenges… Continue reading Supporting our Children in Times of Social Crisis
