As we continue our series on applying Psycho-Cybernetics principles to homeschooling, we now focus on two essential life skills that will serve your child well beyond their educational journey: courage and decisiveness. By nurturing these qualities in your homeschooler, you empower them to face challenges head-on, seize opportunities, and take control of their own lives.
Courage is a vital component of personal growth and success. As Maxwell Maltz states, “A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, and die gallantly.” Encourage your child to step out of their comfort zone and face their fears, whether it’s trying a new activity, speaking up in a group, or taking on a challenging project. Help them understand that courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the willingness to act in spite of it.
One way to cultivate courage in your homeschooler is to model it yourself. Share your own experiences of facing fears and overcoming obstacles, emphasizing the growth and learning that resulted from those experiences. Encourage your child to view challenges as opportunities for development and self-discovery, rather than as threats or limitations. As Maltz advises, “The more you respond to threats and problems with aggressive action and a positive attitude, the more you develop the ‘habit of courage.’“
Alongside courage, decisiveness is a key skill that will help your child navigate life’s challenges and opportunities. Maltz emphasizes the importance of taking action and making decisions, even in the face of uncertainty or potential failure. He states, “An imperfect decision vigorously pursued is often better than no decision at all. Fear of making a mistake is frequently the one thing that keeps a person from making any decision.”
To help your child develop decisiveness, encourage them to practice making choices in low-stakes situations, such as deciding on a family activity or selecting a book to read. Teach them to gather information, weigh options, and trust their instincts when making decisions. Help them understand that perfection is not the goal and that it’s better to make a decision and correct course as needed than to remain paralyzed by indecision.
In addition to practicing decisiveness, teach your child to take responsibility for their choices and learn from the outcomes. As Maltz reminds us, “If you are criticized for a decision you make, remind yourself that you made the decision and accept the responsibility. Then, calmly evaluate whether or not the criticism has any validity. Often, it will not. When it does, accept the fact that you made a mistake, learn from it, make the necessary correction—and move on to the next decision.”
To further cultivate courage and decisiveness, incorporate mental practice and visualization exercises into your homeschooling routine. Encourage your child to visualize themselves facing challenges with confidence, making decisions with clarity, and taking bold action towards their goals. As Maltz explains, “Your automatic mechanism is teleological, that is, operates, or must be oriented to ‘end results,’ goals. Think in terms of the end result, and the means whereby will often take care of themselves.”
In addition to these strategies, create a supportive and encouraging environment that celebrates your child’s efforts and progress. Praise their willingness to take risks, make decisions, and learn from their experiences. Help them develop a growth mindset by emphasizing the value of effort, perseverance, and continuous improvement. As Maltz states, “Don’t fear to try something because you ‘might make a mistake,’ or because you may not get it 100% perfect the first time. Failing is a part of learning.”
By cultivating courage and decisiveness in your homeschooler, you equip them with the tools and mindset necessary to face life’s challenges head-on, seize opportunities, and create the life they desire. As Maltz writes, “Courage is not the absence of fear. It is the conquest of it. When you act in the face of fear and act as if it were impossible to fail, you have courage.”
In the next article, we will explore how to help your child develop a growth mindset, further enhancing their ability to learn, grow, and thrive in the face of adversity.
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