Kids Need Stress

Image by timojazz via Flickr

"Good stress is energizing and motivating. We know this when it comes to muscles but we somehow forget when it comes to building self esteem.

Muscles grow more powerful when we use them. Each time they recover from stress, they get stronger and more responsive.

Self-esteem works the same way. Kids need some stress to develop their psychological muscles of resilience, stamina, determination, commitment, confidence, diligence, and perseverance."

- David Walsh, PhD. No: Why Kids - of all Ages - Need to Hear It and Ways Parents Can Say It. Free Press, Toronto. 2007. pg 41

How Much Strength We Have

"Sometimes we don't know our own strength. It can be hard to tell just how much weight you can safely bear, or how much will crush you. I'd like to think you can shoulder as big a burden as you believe you can, that it's all a matter of will. Certainly a comforting thought...Other times it's hard to remember you had any strength at all. Then you can only hope to have someone to remind you, you were once fierce and able."

- Irv Harper, the narrator on Everwood

Real Strength is Not Fighting

"Fighting doesn't prove anything. Real strength comes from the heart."

- Sam, age 8

from Deb Austin Brown's Growing Character.