Children are remarkable for their intelligence, for their curiosity, their intolerance of shams, the clarity and ruthlessness of their vision.”–Aldous Huxley
Along with potty training and socialization, most parents want to give their children some kind of spiritual training, some kind of guidance into the higher dimensions.
Sadly, the most popular spiritual training involves a list of rules and no-no’s, a set of 10 commandments and a lot of reining in of natural impulses. Not to mention forcing them to get up early the one day they hope to sleep in.
Here’s what I suggest instead:
Make it clear to your children that the very best way to connect with their spiritual nature is to follow their joy. Those impulses of bliss and joy are God communicating. Any child (even grown-up children like myself) who follow that path will know God (or what I call the field of potentiality) in a very real way. There will never be any doubt about what to do next or which path to follow.
Because we’re taught just the opposite (you need to do this, you need to get good grades, you need to forget about running around and whooping like a wild banshee), most of us spend our lives wondering “What does God want from me?, “What am I supposed to do with my life?” It’s all there in living color.
If we only follow our “beeps.”
Pam Grout is the author of 19 books including E-Squared: 9 Do-it-Yourself Energy Experiments that Prove Your Thoughts Create Your Reality and the just-released, Art & Soul,Reloaded: A Year-Long Apprenticeship to Summon the Muses and Ignite Your Daring, Audacious, Creative Side.
18 Responses
I’ve been wondering about parenting, discipline, etc.
If my son follows his joy, he’d never do any school work, bug other kids while they worked, yell (not in anger he just has loud yell he does when he gets excited… And not always in the most appropriate times).
I get wanting to follow his joy but other kids are starting to shy away from him because he gets them in trouble.
I would appreciate any help in finding the balance.
Same challenge here. My 9th grade son finds his joy in anything that is not school work. He is failing 3 classes and C’s in two others. He prefers to trade shoes, ride his scooter all over the city and eat junk food. If only it were as simple as Pam suggests. I have studied LOA for 17 years and understand the ideology but the practicality sometimes does not translate.
Dear Pam,
I think today’s post was THE best! After a recent health diagnosis/challenge, I looked up to the sky and asked, “why are you doing this? I have enough on my plate already!”.
After reading today’s post, ah ha – I see it’s not so much what God is doing – it’s what I am not doing! Finding and following joy.
The only child-ren I have is my eight-year-old self and two, furrykin dogs. So I apply today’s knowledge to my child-self.
I recently received a tip to keep a photo of myself as a child in view and ask it everyday, “what do you need?”. I think I am gonna follow her to find joy and whoop it up!
Toot-toot. Beep-beep. 🙂
Karen
Karen, I love the idea of the photo of myself as a child. Just last week, I realized I need to consult and work together with my little self to help me figure out why and release my/our wimpy scaredy cat that has been limiting me/us, all these years. A photo (and I was one adorable child, if I do say so, myself) would be so perfect.
Thank you!
Pamela Joy
You are welcome, Pamela Joy! Such an endearing image of your “little self”! I bet she’s just waiting to have some fun! You’ll care for each other and when you’re ready, you’ll take the lead! Here’s to whoopin’ it up! Blessings….
Love your blogs BAP!!! Me thinks that I am addicted to them. 😉
From Subject: [New post] The best parenting advice. Ever.
psgrout posted: “Children are remarkable for their intelligence, for their curiosity, their intolerance of shams, the clarity and ruthlessness of their vision.”–Aldous Huxley Along with potty training and socialization, most parents want to give their children so”
I offer a 6 week program that will not only help parents be the best but allow the child like part of who they are to shine, and with this training they can be the BEST example they can be for their children…..Children model what they see let them see you @ your BEST….like you say totally awesomenessssss!!!! Blessing, join me on FB anytime!
God is joy!! I just love it!
Pam, I LOVE your posts! Thank you for your courage, your truth, your vision. Thank you for YOU! love, Kate
Pammy Sue Grout, thank you! This comes on the very day that my nephew and his wife had their second child (and the first girl in the family since my daughter, Carter, was born 16 years ago). I will print and save this for them.
Much love to you and to all your readers,
Pamela Joy
P.S. I just finished Art & Soul, Reloaded. So much goodness, so much Joy, and so much Zumba for my soul. xox
Absolutely , love your posts Pam <3
Wow 😮! Awesome 💕
Pam,
When I read CONVERSATIONS WITH GOD, and God said s/he didn’t want anything from us, I breathed a huge sigh of relief. I was liberated from being the good girl all the time.
I’m not a parent, but I’ve been a teacher in one form or another for many years and I incorporate that idea into my teaching. School is supposed to be exploratory, in my opinion. So, I tell my theatre students what they need to do to get a good grade, which is as minimal as I can possibly make it and still satisfy the college. But I also tell them that my goal is for them to explore and try out new ideas and ways of being. All sincere efforts will be rewarded in my classes.
Thanks for your posts.
Lucinda, you sound like an awesome professor! With a teaching approach such as yours, you offer freedom to learn using personal style of expression. Who wouldn’t wand to excel under those principles?! Very genuine!
Your comment reminded me of a Wayne Dyer quote. He said, if I remember correctly, “Have a mind that is not attached to anything but open to everything.”. Releasing expectations. A good way to live!
Thanks!
~Karen
Thanks Karen. I also have my father to thank. That’s how he taught me.
I had been thinking about advising my daughter how to parent her 4 year old now. I felt the little girl needed to have a stricter mom. Your article appeared exactly when I needed it!
Your posts come to me exactly when I need them. You are an amazing woman and I love hearing from you. We need a few more Pams in this world. Your books have changed so much for me. Thank you.