
Take this survey and tell us how you want to take your money and career to the next level. "Once they begin to do that, they develop an incredible mindset says, 'I've got this,' because they're beginning to recognize they can be little changemakers."ĭON'T MISS: Want to be smarter and more successful with your money, work & life? Sign up for our new newsletter ! "Help your children see that they can make a difference," Borba says. He was always surprised at her optimism considering all the. Volunteering can help your community, and research shows it can boost your own mental health. the belief that things will turn out well or that there is always hope for something good to happen. Lastly, acts of service as a family can help by reminding kids that they can improve other people's lives, even by volunteering locally. That could mean going around the dinner table to discuss positive things happening in your daily lives, or making a point of sharing good news from around the world. You can also actively inject optimism into your kids' outlooks. Chances are, they're going to learn those things anyway - whether on TV, social media or from friends. Frame those conversations in ways that acknowledge the tumult without sounding hopeless, she recommends. "The reality we face is: It's a tough, unpredictable world."īe open with your children about sad or scary things happening in the world, Borba says. "Our goal is not to raise a Pollyanna," Borba says, referring to the sort of person who is blindly optimistic or positive. Turning off the news isn't about living in denial, Borba says: It's about recognizing when a behavior boosts your anxiety, and not over-indulging in it. Practicing optimism doesn't mean being unrealistic or blind to the world's many real problems. And the most amazing thing is very often they pick it up, and now they have a way to talk back to the worry themself." Promoting optimism doesn't mean living in denial "If you keep saying it, you're actually having your kid eavesdrop on your management strategy. "The next time something happens, 'That's OK, we've got this.'" Borba says.

Remember that optimism can be learned and taught - which is good news for both parents and children. Try repeating positive affirmations on days when the stress of the world is getting you down, a tactic that psychologists say can help reduce stress and boost self-esteem. Kids affirmations instill creative thinking, strengthen the little ones’ self-esteem and allow them to become adults with a growth mindset and positive habits. Turn off the television when you find yourself stuck in a negative news spiral. But affirmations aren’t just for adults children can benefit from using positive affirmations too to foster a mindset of optimism and success. That means you need to start by examining your own habits.

"Very often, teens say the most important thing is how we look." "It's not just the eavesdropping on what we say," Borba says, noting that older kids especially can pick up on physical cues that you're stressed or worried. Even if you make an effort to not voice your concerns to your kids, your anxiety can rub off on them nonetheless.
