Intention in 2017

Intention

With 2017 right around the corner, New Year’s resolutions are a frequent topic of conversation. I have heard many clients, friends, and family members talking about ways they hope to better themselves in the year to come. One theme I have noticed has been, “be more intentional and help others”.

Intention and controlling the things that one can control is a subject I discuss with clients frequently. Not only in terms of their own actions and the impact on their lives, but also in terms of modeling healthy behavior for their children.
 
Teaching kids from an early age that, while they may be small, they can still make thoughtful, intentional decisions gives them a stronger, healthier sense of self. We can further aid the healthy development of a child’s sense of self by empowering them to help others. This not only shows them the impact they can have, even when they are not yet adults, but also helps them become more connected to their community. None of us live in isolation nor should we, so building community connections from a young age is just one more way we can encourage kids to make intentional decisions that will aid in healthy development.

All any of us can control is ourselves; the decisions we make, how we speak to people, how we manage difficult emotions, what we spend our time doing, our self-talk, who we let in our lives. We cannot control others ever, just ask any parent that has tried to get their two-year-old to eat broccoli, but we can control how we respond to others and how we respond to difficult situations or problems we see. Often times we make decisions on autopilot without thinking through the outcome. That is when intention comes in to play, slowing down, considering the implication of your actions and then acting with purpose knowing that your decision will move you closer to the desired outcome.

So how do we help children “be more intentional and help others”?

The Changemaker Box by Little Voices Are Loud

I imagine there are many ways, but the example I chose is one that resonates with me as a mental health counselor.

Little Voices Are Loud is a wonderful organization that set out to “…empower a generation to believe their voices have a place in the rhetoric of our world”. 

From a mental health standpoint, this is a wonderful thing to do for children because they will develop a healthy sense of self that will help them any time they face monumental challenges in childhood or adulthood.

This organization is the embodiment of the theme of this blog post “be more intentional and help others”.  The Changemaker Box provides the tools for children to help others, using their very own ideas. Little Voices are Loud has several Changemaker Boxes which focus on different facets of communities. 
The Peace box is "full of cause-related materials to help children create peace among their family, friends, and neighbors. The contents of this box encourage children to be intentional listeners, to practice mindfulness, and to show respect for everyone." The simple act of getting this box for your child reinforces your belief in their ability to make intentional decisions that will not only benefit their mental health but also provide them a platform to help others.

I hope in the coming year we can all find ways to “be more intentional and help others” and show kids that they are capable of that as well!!