4 Insights for Youth: Courage, Authenticity, Mindfulness, and Purpose
Today, we are launching two more children’s books. They are special to us, because the characters are roughly based on real people in our close circle, and their stories too. As we reflect on the journey of these books, we are happy to learn that they represent our love for the Pacific – its land, oceans, people, and all living beings. In Jay and the Mirror of Courage, we explore bullying and being gay. In Lani and Eroni’s Elemental Journey, we describe the benefits of mindfulness and meditation. Both books use magical realism to make their point.
It is our hope that readers will glean and apply the messages embedded in these books, which are masterfully and beautifully illustrated by Regina Vaka’uta, a Pacific woman with great talent.
Here are four insights from these books that we’d love for you to ponder:
- Be yourself: For as long as we are not being authentic, we are not starting our lives fully. There is an important piece – our real identity – that is missing from our lives. Being authentic means being true to ourselves and coming out of hiding so we can shine as who we truly are – this often involves overcoming fears of being judged and disliked, and healing trauma.
- Stand up for yourself: If we don’t stand up for ourselves, we lose the opportunity to model to others how to respect us, and how to honor us. Self-love is a key foundation we need, and standing up for ourselves can be done with love too. Setting boundaries is also a key step, which often isn’t taught to young people.
- Be mindful: In this age of technology and multitasking, we are hardly present in the current moment and present in our bodies. We might be thinking about one thing while doing a task, and listening to music. That kind of habit splits our focus, scattering our energy and focus. Doing one thing at a time is much more mindful.
- Be purposeful: As youth, we might be distracted by hormones or studies or other pursuits. It is crucial to spend quiet time in Nature to soothe ourselves, because Nature provides a deep connection to self, peace, and purpose. When we spend time outdoors and engage with the elements, we can find pathways to inner peace and outer purpose leading to our calling on this planet.
Reflect on the path of a young person in your life – how are they doing in these areas? Share this post with them, or better yet share the books with them for inspiration.
