Lead how?

I try and do it in MY family… but I never imagined it would be done to me.

A few years ago I got a call from a friend… who “called me out” on a mistake I had made. A serious mistake in judgement that needed to be addressed.

Now, I’m no pushover. I’m a person who believes I am trying to do the right things for the right reasons. So, initially, I was a bit… well, maybe standoffish.

But the way he addressed me was so kind, so compassionate, and so… dare I say it… LOVING… that his chastisement (and that’s what it was) of my decision, made me immediately apologize, commit to doing better, and make amends immediately.

After the phone call was over… I was intrigued.

How’d he do that? I thought. How had he SO KINDLY, told me to “straighten up and correct my actions?”

It’s not typically something that many of us (especially me) takes well. Not too many of us (especially me) can handle serious criticism of our actions and deeds, especially when we try so hard to do what’s right.

But here was what was SO interesting.

Even though that’s what he did (he criticized me)… I NEVER felt attacked or berated or belittled. To the contrary, I felt like he loved me and knew that I could do better and wanted to help “lift” me to the level of which I was capable.

Wow!

Then I remembered a quote that went something like this…

“When we lead and guide through anger or fear or manipulation or dominance, others will feel CONTROLLED and want to escape. — But when we lead and guide through kindness and patience and love and by lifting others up, they will feel EMPOWERED and want to do well and reach their full potential and show others kindness.”

Wow!

So, what’s this go to do with raising strong-willed kids?

Here’s what.

When we first started creating the program (the recipe) we now follow that allows us to experience overwhelming joy as a family… AS we raise our kids… EVEN though we still face chaos commonly… we came to realize that there were “three rules” that should guide all of our actions.

Those three rules are…

1. We will always do what’s best for our kids… in the long term… even if it’s hard.
2. We will always do what’s best for our family… in the long term… even if it’s hard.
3. We will always do things in a “spirit of love”… ESPECIALLY when it’s REALLY HARD.

Now, we haven’t always been perfect, but we believe this has helped us… lead ALL our kids to feel empowered and want to achieve their full potential.

I always BELIEVED it was the right way to do things… but now, after having it done to me, I can see the power that is in approaching others…

In A SPIRIT OF LOVE…

Even when… especially when… they need to be corrected.

Just like my friend did to me.