Encouraging Our Children To Live Passionately

One of my hopes for my children is that they’ll live a passionate life, not settling for less just because they’re told they should or because the alternative seems too hard. But living passionately isn’t easy because it involves taking risks, putting yourself out there and being confident, even when you fail. I don’t think it’s something that can be taught or learned. Our best hope is to model and encourage it.
Although I’m not an expert in this area (and because my kids are young, I don’t have any proof that any of these methods work, just being honest), but here are the methods we’re using to inspire our girls to live passionate lives:

1. Let Them See Your Passion

A lot of “experts” talk about balance, which I think leaves many people discouraged and unhappy, to be honest. It’s okay for parents to have passions outside of our kids, and beyond being okay, I think it’s important that our kids see us excited and passionate about something other than them, even if it means sometimes they have to wait for our attention or help out around the house more.

2. Invite Them to Be Part of What Your Passionate About

In no way am I suggesting that you should force your children to share your interests, hobbies or passions, but let’s face it, kids like to be with their parents and would probably jump at the chance to participate with you in the things you’re excited about. Even if they don’t adopt those interests as their own, it’s still a good opportunity for them to see and participate in the things that get you excited.
For example, my husband loves to build and fly model airplanes, and even though our girls are too young to really participate, he invites them to watch, lets them “toss” his planes for him and answers all of their questions along the way.

3. Help Them Pursue Their Own Passions

Although I don’t have a ton of memories from my childhood, I distinctly remember being in elementary school and learning about animal classification. I decided then and there that I was going to be a zoologist, and I had a notebook filled with information about various animals. My parents indulged this love of animals and allowed me to hav e a variety of pets, including birds, an iguana, rabbits, a hamster who eventually had babies and so on.
Having a small pet store in your home isn’t the only way to engage your child’s love of animals, of course, and the important part is that you support their interests and help them find and outlet. You never know if one of your children might actually grow up to be a zoologist because of the foundation you laid during their childhood!

4. Give Them Lots of Opportunities to Try New Things

An important part of discovering what you’re passionate about is trying lots of new things. There could be a hobby, career or field of study out there that you don’t even know about that would capture your attention if you gave it a chance.

While lessons and hobbies can be expensive, trying new things doesn’t have to be. If you don’t have the money for your children to try a different hobby or sport every season, look for free opportunities. Visit the library and pick up all of the books they have on a single subject. Spend time video-hopping on YouTube for related videos. Scout thrift stores, Freecycle, Craigslist and yard sales for gently used equipment or supplies. And if you’re lucky enough to live near a metropolitan area like we do, take advantage of free museums and events.

How do you encourage your children to live passionately?

Post written by Zen Family Habits contributor Mandi from Life…Your Way.