Raising Kids in a World That Rewards Anxiety
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Many children today aren't just anxious; they are being trained to overthink.
Kids need to take sensible risks with actions, fail at times, and then prevail.
The PACE model changes kids' relationship with anxiety-ridden thoughts.
My mom always encouraged me during my youth to think about time and place. She would say, "Jeff, make sure you pick the right time and place for what you say and do." Similarly, I have heard parents encourage their kids to "read the room." No doubt, in moderation, this is great advice. Thank you, Mom.
In this high-visibility, judgment-laden age, however, where the stakes of managing our impressions and engaging others "properly" are higher than ever due to social-media-driven scrutiny and aggression, and a more ferocious, nasty court of public opinion, parents tell kids to be even more mindful, self-aware, reflective, and careful. But then these parents scratch their heads, wondering why their kids can't power down their racing thoughts.
The Truth You Don't Want to Hear
Many children today aren't just anxious. They are being trained by their parents to overthink. The kid who double-checks everything is "conscientious." The one who worries over........
