Rising above childhood adversity and taking the road to success

Image source: sciencedaily.com

It is crucial for children to develop a sense of initiative and resiliency growing up, allowing them to overcome the many challenges that wait along the way.  Throughout history, many great and important figures have risen above dire circumstances like poverty and a lack of access to education.  These hardships are scars that come early, but those who truly overcome adversity look back on them and allow these scars to be their markers for success.

Image source: talkinghumanities.blogs.sas.ac.uk

All face adversity on their path to adulthood.  But the unspoiled child will be readier to develop resiliency; you should become role models to them and not lull them into thinking that life is easy.  The more children see that you are working hard to attain your goals and embracing adaptability, they will follow suit and adopt their drive and perseverance.  In other words, parents must double as mentors. 

Early experiences mold the child, and important values like charity, responsibility, and empathy should be inculcated early on.  The same goes with resourcefulness, which cannot be developed if everything is always easily or readily available. 

Conversely, while being born into a well-off family is not something people can control, you shouldn’t make children feel that the situation should make them better than others.  The sooner they realize that the world does not revolve around them, the faster they’d learn to be other-centered.  This need for selflessness, generosity, and kindness should be true of all children if they are being humbled as they reach for true success.

Michael Melton has been the subject of numerous print, TV, and radio articles detailing how someone can overcome a bad childhood and inferior education system to become a success in life. More on Michael’s various advocacies here.