I feel this deeply and am struggling to instill this into my young son's perspective. He is almost 8-years-old and has a brilliant curiosity for engineering. Last night as he was going to bed, he got very mad because of a capacitor that we had to recycle about 3 months ago. He hoards parts, motors, circuit boards, etc. They have taken over our house and his obsession. He also pines and grieves parts we got rid of because they were dangerous, unused. I encourage his exploration and he has made amazing things. It just borders on unhealthy habits.
I was thinking about writing a children's book about how holding onto what is not there and collecting items thinking they will bring us real happiness because I see he struggles with this. Of course, we all do to some degree.
Hey Soo Young, It's encouraging to see what's clearly a gift in your son, and it could be that much of your concern will be figured out by himself as he grows up. I suppose that's part of the letting go part!
Alex, yet more insights you share. Thank you. “Think less” will be my mantra this week. Sometimes my expectations become too grand and then I “think” about why others aren’t meeting them. After all, I would expect these of myself! Well, maybe these expectations aren’t a priority for her? So, I’m going to stop “thinking” she should rise to the expectation and just let it go. Rather than trying to fix it, I will just worry about myself.
Thanks Stan. It's a good mantra and confuses many because it's instilled in us that to 'not think' is akin to stupidity. That's why understanding why real intelligence expands when we aren't pressuring ourselves to think is so powerful.
Thanks for this, I agree with you in this article. I have been of the mindset that less is better, it's hard because of all the pressure to have more, both physical and mental. Work in progress.
I feel this deeply and am struggling to instill this into my young son's perspective. He is almost 8-years-old and has a brilliant curiosity for engineering. Last night as he was going to bed, he got very mad because of a capacitor that we had to recycle about 3 months ago. He hoards parts, motors, circuit boards, etc. They have taken over our house and his obsession. He also pines and grieves parts we got rid of because they were dangerous, unused. I encourage his exploration and he has made amazing things. It just borders on unhealthy habits.
I was thinking about writing a children's book about how holding onto what is not there and collecting items thinking they will bring us real happiness because I see he struggles with this. Of course, we all do to some degree.
Hey Soo Young, It's encouraging to see what's clearly a gift in your son, and it could be that much of your concern will be figured out by himself as he grows up. I suppose that's part of the letting go part!
I agree. I find the more I interfere, the more he can't work through things himself.
The key is to learn from his cues and to have conversations when he is open to them. Thanks for your refreshing perspective.
Alex, yet more insights you share. Thank you. “Think less” will be my mantra this week. Sometimes my expectations become too grand and then I “think” about why others aren’t meeting them. After all, I would expect these of myself! Well, maybe these expectations aren’t a priority for her? So, I’m going to stop “thinking” she should rise to the expectation and just let it go. Rather than trying to fix it, I will just worry about myself.
Thanks Stan. It's a good mantra and confuses many because it's instilled in us that to 'not think' is akin to stupidity. That's why understanding why real intelligence expands when we aren't pressuring ourselves to think is so powerful.
Thanks for this, I agree with you in this article. I have been of the mindset that less is better, it's hard because of all the pressure to have more, both physical and mental. Work in progress.
you're right that we need to think counterintuitively - but it's worth it.
Thanks for reading! Comments welcome.
As an economic developer by day, I feel this more and more...
thanks Crystal