Every Wednesday, I’ll post about multiple intelligences so we can better understand children and why they do what they do. — As I wrote about last Wednesday, in Four Awakening Strategies for Multiple Intelligences, all of us are born with the capacity to develop eight intelligences. Our Creator generously creates us with each, but relies on parents and others to awaken each part of the brain in children. The earlier they’re awakened, the better. It’s more likely that they’ll become strengths. Creating “crystallizing experiences” to spark the birth of intelligences is a privilege. The first four ways of doing this that I explained were creating new experiences, attending cultural events, going exploring, and engaging … [Read more...]
Finding Our Purpose Helps Us To Embrace Life and Truly Live
February 27, 2012 by · Leave a Comment
Every Monday, I’ll post about discovering genuine hope and authentic answers for living a healthy life. — Purpose is purposeful. When we know why we’re alive, we’re more apt to live. Really live. Embrace life. Take it seriously. Step up to the plate. Knock it out of the park. (Okay, I couldn’t resist. Spring training has begun!!!!) Back to the point… Purpose is the fourth core need: It follows security because we need trustworthy people to speak into our lives so we know ourselves better. And being trustworthy ourselves will help us develop our purpose. It follows identity because our specific attributes and interests help us identify and embrace specific purposes. It follows belonging because healthy people … [Read more...]
Thought Provoking Discussion Starters #8: Have You Broken Someone?
February 24, 2012 by · Leave a Comment
Every Friday, I’ll post thought-provoking discussion starters. — If you read last Friday’s discussion starter, you might have liked it. You may not like today’s. <smile> Can you think of a time when you broke someone? When your actions tore them apart rather than helping them become whole? Have you appropriately taken responsibility for your choices? Asked for forgiveness? Matured so others aren’t hurt by your actions? If not, why not? … [Read more...]
Four Awakening Strategies for Multiple Intelligences
February 22, 2012 by · 4 Comments
Every Wednesday, I’ll post about multiple intelligences so we can better understand children and why they do what they do. — Multiple intelligences is a strength-based way of looking at children, teens, and even adults. That’s one reason I enjoy teaching the Model. All of us are born with a capacity to develop all eight smarts. Although it’s never too late to awaken them, the earlier they’re awakened, the better. It’s a greater likelihood they’ll develop as strengths. Let me share four awakening strategies, in no particular order. We want to create “crystallizing experiences,” a term coined by Dr. Thomas Armstrong. These are turning points that spark the birth of an intelligence. Next Wednesday, I’ll share … [Read more...]
Healthy Belonging Makes People Our Priority
February 20, 2012 by · 1 Comment
Every Monday, I’ll post about discovering genuine hope and authentic answers for living a healthy life. — The quality of our relationships – our belonging – can make us or break us. Belonging is the third of the five core needs we teach about at Celebrate Kids, Inc. It’s dependent on our security and our identity and it helps us find our purpose which leads to our competence. When our relationships are based on trustworthiness, that shows up as healthy belonging. If we place our security in things, that shows up in our belonging, too. It won’t be as healthy because we haven’t prioritized people or found people worthy of our trust. If we try to meet our need for security in our popularity, position, or … [Read more...]
Thought Provoking Discussion Starters #7: Are You Investing In Others?
February 17, 2012 by · 1 Comment
Every Friday, I’ll post thought-provoking discussion starters. — Are you living for others? Investing in others? I sure hope so. Ask others if this is how they see you living your life. These two questions can drive your thinking: Who is becoming whole again on your watch? Who is being healed through your influence? … [Read more...]
The Most Music-Smart Generation Ever
February 15, 2012 by · 1 Comment
Every Wednesday, I’ll post about multiple intelligences so we can better understand children and why they do what they do. --- If intelligences were based on interest alone, it would be safe to say that today’s young adults and teens may be the most music-smart generation ever. This is largely due to the iPod. It was invented in 2001 and iTunes was voted the invention of the year just two years later. Because music has always been readily accessible, this generation highly values it. They enjoy it. They prioritize it. They know it. But, when considering intelligences, ability must be factored in. Because of the quantity and variety of music on iTunes, bands on YouTube, and television shows they watch like American Idol, … [Read more...]
Answering The “Who Am I?” Question is Critical for Ongoing Health
February 13, 2012 by · Leave a Comment
Every Monday, I’ll post about discovering genuine hope and authentic answers for living a healthy life. — What’s important to understand about identity? One of the most important things is that identity controls behavior. Who we think we are is who we will be. Therefore, how we define ourselves is critically important. How do you answer the identity question of “Who am I?” I’m spending this week with wounded warriors from Iraq and Afghanistan. I’m privileged to do so! One of my goals is to help them find and embrace new identities. They can’t always think of themselves as wounded or they may never achieve what they’re capable of. Although they may have wanted to stay in the military until retirement, they’ll … [Read more...]
Thought Provoking Discussion Starters #6: “Out, out, brief candle! Life’s But a Walking Shadow …” or is it?
February 10, 2012 by · 1 Comment
Every Friday, I’ll post thought-provoking discussion starters. — "Out, out, brief candle! Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage and then is heard no more: it is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing." - Macbeth (Act V, Scene V). Is this what you think of life? If not, how would you define it? How would you finish the sentence, “Life is…..” … [Read more...]
Helping Teachers See Students In A New Light
February 8, 2012 by · 1 Comment
Every Wednesday, I’ll post about multiple intelligences so we can better understand children and why they do what they do. — Helping teachers see their students in a new light, with a healthy perspective on why they have the strengths they have, is one of the best things we do at Celebrate Kids, Inc. Being able to identify and classify strengths as intelligences is empowering and refreshing. When teachers know their students are smart, they are more likely to strategically teach to all eight smarts of the brain. This allows students to be more motivated and successful and feel smarter. This results in them actually being smarter because more intelligences are awakened and applied to the topic. It’s such a win-win! Last … [Read more...]
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