Are Your Kids Getting Enough Unstructured Play?

Are Your Kids Getting Enough Unstructured Play?

by | May 29, 2023 | Parenting, Virtues

If you want your children to be more successful, give them more time for unstructured play. That’s the conclusion the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and many other experts reached. In fact, the AAP recommends that kids get at least an hour a day to play outside, along with regular breaks throughout the day.

Are your kids getting enough unstructured play?

by Joseph Michael

I have noticed that many parents need help resisting the temptation to interfere or direct unstructured playtime.

Let your kids play by themselves because, let’s face it, kids are the masters of their own play universe. It’s like trying to navigate a spaceship without a manual – just let them take the wheel! When parents hover or impose their ideas on the unstructured play, it’s like a giant meteor crashing into the magic of imagination. Trust me, kids have an uncanny ability to transform a cardboard box into a time-traveling spaceship or a humble stick into a mystical wand.

The activities that your children invent for themselves have a dramatic and unique impact on their social, emotional, and cognitive development.

So, parents, take a step back, resist the urge to control the play script, and let your little Einsteins, Picassos, and superheroes shape their extraordinary playtime adventures. You might be surprised at the ingenious castles they build or the wild jungle they create in the living room. Unstructured play is their domain, and by giving them the freedom to reign, you’re unleashing their creativity and nurturing their genius.

Benefits of Unstructured Play

Stimulate creativity

Children naturally engage in imaginative and creative activities When they are free to play without predetermined outcomes or instructions. Put your child’s imagination to work. Innovative thinking will help your kids excel in their future careers and develop enriching hobbies. For example, creating storylines for tea parties could help them break into advertising. A cardboard box into a spaceship may encourage them to become a pilot or investigate science.

Teach conflict resolution

When children engage in unstructured play, they have the opportunity to interact and collaborate with their peers. They learn to negotiate, take turns, share resources, and resolve conflicts independently. They ponder ethical decisions and explore how to treat people fairly. Unstructured play encourages the development of empathy, communication skills, and cooperation. For example, children playing in a sandbox might collaborate to build a sandcastle, each contributing their ideas and working together towards a common goal.

Manage stress

Intensive study camps and nonstop playdates can be too much of a good thing. Kids need a break from external pressures, just like adults do. Unstructured play provides an opportunity for children to unwind, relax, and relieve stress. Playtime allows children to engage in activities purely for enjoyment, which helps them reduce anxiety and tension. Whether building with blocks, playing with dolls, or engaging in imaginative scenarios, unstructured play is a stress buster, promoting emotional well-being and relaxation.

Strengthen motor skills

It may be difficult to explain fine motor skills to a toddler. However, unstructured play supports the development of children’s motor skills, coordination, and overall physical well-being. Activities like running, climbing, jumping, and swinging stimulate gross motor skills. In contrast, smaller-scale activities like drawing, painting, and playing with small objects enhance fine motor skills. By engaging in unstructured play, children improve their strength, balance, and agility, contributing to their overall physical development. On the other hand, they’ll love sorting pebbles and shaping cookie dough.

Develop self-awareness, self-regulation, and independence

Childhood is a time to create a sense of identity and figure out what we like and dislike. Taking charge of their free time helps kids to appreciate themselves and become more resilient. 

In unstructured play, children have the freedom to explore their interests and make decisions on their own. They learn to manage their time, set goals, and engage in activities that captivate their attention. This fosters a sense of autonomy, self-regulation, and independence. Children develop an understanding of agency and self-determination by deciding what to play and how to play.

 Fight obesity

Sedentary lifestyles can start young. Shooting hoops or roller skating after school burns calories. Best of all, those healthy exercise habits will stick with your children as they get older.

Enhance problem-solving

Building a fort from scratch can bring out the engineer in your child. During unstructured play, children encounter various challenges and problems that require them to think critically and find solutions. As a result, they learn to make decisions, experiment with different approaches, and adapt their strategies. Whether building a complex block structure or devising rules for an invented game, children develop problem-solving skills that transfer to real-life situations.

Emotional Regulation and Self-Expression 

Unstructured play offers a safe space for children to express and manage their emotions. Through play, children can act out and process emotions like joy, anger, fear, or sadness. In addition, they may engage in dramatic play, taking on different roles and experimenting with different emotional responses. For instance, a child playing with dolls might enact scenarios that help them understand and navigate complex emotions.

Strategies to Provide Your Kids with More

Unstructured Playtime

 Head outdoors

Spending time outdoors provides children with ample opportunities for unstructured play. Encourage them to explore nature, engage in physical activities like running, jumping, or climbing, or create imaginative scenarios in outdoor settings. Nature offers a rich and stimulating environment for unstructured play. Visit your local park. Hang a tire swing in your backyard. Keep a trunk full of Frisbees, jump ropes, and hula hoops on your porch.

Redecorate your child’s room.

Encourage children to engage in independent play by providing them with age-appropriate toys, games, or materials they can explore independently. This fosters self-directed learning, decision-making, and creativity. Offer support and guidance when needed, but allow them to lead their play. Design your child’s bedroom to incorporate multiple play areas. For example, you might want to arrange a table and chairs for crafts and reading. Set up an easel for sketching. Paint a hopscotch diagram on the floor.

 Choose simple toys. Cardboard boxes and wooden blocks require your children to rely on their own resources rather than following the directions that come with a kit.

Put the money you save into their college account.

Be a Playful Role Model

Show enthusiasm and join your children in their play. Be present, actively engage, and demonstrate a playful attitude. This strengthens the parent-child bond and encourages children to immerse themselves fully in unstructured play.

Connect with Other Parents

Arrange playdates or join parent groups where unstructured play is encouraged. Children can benefit from playing with peers, exchanging ideas, and collaborating on imaginative play scenarios. It also allows parents to share ideas and experiences related to unstructured play.

Check school programs 

Many schools have cut back on recess. Talk with your child’s teacher about policies at your school. Are they getting regular breaks during the day?

Encourage experimentation

Expose your children to a wide variety of activities. They’ll be better positioned to discover their true passions if they try out ice skating, dancing, and art rather than specializing too soon.

Create a Safe and Stimulating Environment

Set up a designated play area at home where children can freely explore and engage in open-ended play. Ensure that the space is safe, well-organized, and stocked with various age-appropriate toys, art supplies, and materials that encourage imaginative play.

Allow for Uninterrupted Play

Set aside blocks of time when children can engage in unstructured play without interruptions or distractions. Avoid over-scheduling their day with structured activities, and instead, provide them with opportunities to initiate and explore their own play ideas.

Set limits on screen time

Reduce children’s time in front of screens, such as television, video games, or smartphones. Excessive screen time can hinder unstructured play and limit creativity. Set reasonable limits and encourage alternative activities that foster imaginative and active play. Pediatricians recommend two hours or less a day of TV and computer time. Set a curfew on electronics and monitor your child’s activities online.

Embrace Messy Play

Embrace activities that may be messy but promote creativity and sensory exploration. Activities like painting, clay modeling, water play, or building with sand allow children to engage their senses, express themselves, and experience a range of textures and materials.

Balance Structure and Unstructured Play

While unstructured play is essential, finding a balance between structured activities and unstructured play is vital. Structured activities like music classes, sports, or art lessons can also contribute to a child’s development. The key is to ensure that there is ample time for unstructured play alongside structured activities.

Remember, each child is unique, and their play preferences may vary. Observe your child’s interests, provide them with the necessary resources and support, and allow them to explore and create in their own way. By prioritizing unstructured play, parents can help their children develop essential skills and experiences that will benefit them throughout their lives.

The virtues stimulated with unstructured play include; creativity, confidence, cooperation, flexibility, friendliness, purposefulness, resilience, self-discipline, determination, simplicity, fairness, openness, and wonder. Which virtue do you want your child to develop further?

Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth

Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth

by | May 5, 2023 | Parenting, Self-care, Virtues

Setting Your Life Priorities

Are the complexities and chaos of life leaving you confused at times and struggling to figure out the next step that is best for you and your family? Whether young or old, single or with a partner, setting priorities is crucial for living a fulfilling and purposeful life. It helps us align our actions with our values and goals.

When you were young and single, your priorities often involved personal growth, self-discovery, career building, or education. The activities we took part in may have had a goal that promoted physical, mental, and emotional well-being, such as exercise, travel, or pursuing hobbies. They may also have prioritized building skills, networking, or gaining experience in your field.

In contrast, parents’ priorities often revolve around their families’ well-being and their children’s growth and development. Family bonding, attending family events, children’s education, extracurricular activities, and emotional well-being are high on their list of priorities. Of course, your career and personal goals may loom large if you are a single parent. Still, generally, like all parents, you look at how your decisions contribute to your family’s overall well-being.

Either way, making those priority decisions is hard when everything feels necessary, and you struggle. On the parenting side, you may ask, “What activities will the children participate in?” What school will they attend? “Are the children on a developmental track?” Then the hard stuff begins. What are the house rules? How will I discipline and train my children? How are consequences determined and implemented? Mike Tyson once said, “Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth.” When you’re a parent, it feels like that sometimes. We all know how we planned on parenting, and then we get punched in the mouth.

Setting your life’s priorities, or, as we say in the Four C’s of Successful Families, clarity in life, is more than just what the kids’ extracurricular activities and schooling will be. More important is having a vision, identifying values, and even a mission for your family. Knowing what you want for yourself and your family is critical for every family. Decision-making comes more effortlessly with a clarification of family values. Finally, there is a peaceful feeling knowing that you are doing what is suitable and correct for you, helping you feel more fulfilled and satisfied with life experiences for you and your children.

Here are some common life priorities.

      • Family
      • Education
      • Finances
      • Friends,
      • Extended family
      • Work
      • Hobbies
      • Personal appearance
      • Health and exercise
      • Nutritious eating
      • Alone time or partner time
      • Quality time with children

How you choose your priorities depends wholly on what you value. The virtues are the foundation of those values. Recognizing, identifying, and clarifying these virtues and values may take time and effort. However, once these are clear to you, your priorities, choices, and decisions in every part of your life will be much easier.

Before you begin this exercise, please be aware that there is a danger that you must be careful about. The risk with this exercise is that sometimes our answers get tainted by social norms or the ideas others place before us. Even our long-held beliefs can influence how we think we feel and not align with our true selves. So as you answer these questions and identify your values and priorities, take your time to reflect, examine, and be confident that those influences are not diminishing your beliefs and desires.

Here is a first step:

Choose one role: parent, employee, volunteer, student, etc. You can do this with all of your roles, but for now, choose one that is high on your list of priorities.

      • Write a brief description of your best self in this role.
      • Describe how you want to be in this role.
      • How do you want to be remembered by others?
      • What is the legacy you would like to leave?
      • How will you feel successful in this role?
      • Is there someone you admire for their activities in your chosen role? What is it about them that you admire?

In the role you chose, there is also likely a corresponding role. For example, if you chose “parent,” the related part would be the child. If you selected “spouse/partner,” it would be your spouse/partner. Now answer the following questions:

      • What are your expectations of them?
      • What would make them excellent in that role?
      • How do you want to describe them in that role?
      • Who do you know that you admire in this role, and why?

As you look at the answers to all these questions, what are the recurring themes or ideas? The words you see coming from these answers are no doubt what you value the most.

Now download the list of 100 virtues or go to our “100 Virtues” page at josephmichael.coach. As you look at these virtues, which ones match what you have identified as being your best self?

Some virtues may not have yet developed the way you would like. Or you may notice some that you identify with closely and are pleased with how you show them. But, on the other hand, other virtues may appear overdeveloped—as in, maybe you should balance them with another virtue.

What is the value of this exercise? When you identify what you value the most—the virtues you respect for yourself and others—you can begin to determine what that looks like in your day-to-day life. It helps us make choices about everything by comparing those choices with who we aspire to be.

I invite you to sign up for our newsletter. It is a great way to get the Virtue of the Month and tips on relationships, parenting, and self-care. In addition, you’ll be the first to know about upcoming classes for successful families.

To sign up, visit the “Newsletter” section here on the website. Enter your email address, and you’ll receive our newsletter in your inbox on Wednesdays.  I appreciate your interest in bringing out the best in your children and yourself. We look forward to keeping you informed through our newsletter!

Five Thought Habits Used by Optimists

Five Thought Habits Used by Optimists

by | Mar 17, 2023 | Parenting, Virtues

Thinking Habits of an Optimist

If you are trying to change your thinking methods, consider making your thoughts mirror those of an optimist. But this can be easier said than done. Here are five examples of thought habits used by optimists that you can employ in your own life on your journey to become more optimistic.

Knowing Everything Happens For A Reason

If you think someone is an optimist because nothing ever goes wrong in their life, this couldn’t be further from the truth. Optimists tend to experience just as much hardship as people who can be classified as pessimists. The difference is that optimists know that everything in life happens for a reason, so when something terrible does happen, they aren’t thrown off and instead resolve to take the problem in stride.

Optimists Know They Are Never Given More Than They Can Handle

Besides knowing that everything happens for a reason, optimists also see that they are never thrown more than they can handle. So instead of breaking down and crying because something is “just too much to bear,” they get to work at conquering the roadblock they’ve encountered immediately.

Happiness is a Choice

Many people are misled into thinking you must find or earn happiness. But this couldn’t be further from the truth. Happiness always has been, and always will be, a choice, and optimists know this. So even if they are experiencing tough times, or perhaps life isn’t going their way, an optimist will find something in their life to be happy about. They will focus on that instead of the bad parts, which helps them stay optimistic.

Nothing Is Permanent Unless You Want It To Be

Another thought process that helps optimists stay optimistic is that they know nothing in life is permanent unless they make it a permanent fixture. If you feel you will always be sad or alone, this is because you have chosen to be sad and alone.

Optimists always choose to change their lives to increase their happiness and work towards the success they desire. And when they find something, they want to keep in their life, such as warm feelings and good health, they do their best to work positively towards keeping those thoughts in their mind.

You Are The Only One Who Can Dictate Your Life

No matter what may happen, you must know you are in control. This means nothing can affect you or hurt you unless you let it. If you don’t want to let the fact that you lost your job get you down, it won’t.

If you don’t want to spend time with someone who is negative and brings you down, cut them out. The optimist knows in their mind that they are the creators of their own destiny and have complete control over everything that may happen in their lifetime.

Thinking like an optimist isn’t easy, but once you’ve changed your thinking habits, you’ll be well on your way to becoming more optimistic. Start by knowing that everything happens for a reason and that no matter how bad it is, you are never given more in life than you can handle.

Don’t forget that happiness is always a choice; nothing is permanent, and you are in control. “If you want something to happen, it will”; if you make that statement part of your thinking habits, you will become an optimist.

The virtue of Optimism is described here on our 100 Virtues page – Optimism

I invite you to sign up for our newsletter. It is a great way to get the Virtue of the Month and tips on relationships, parenting, and self-care. In addition, you’ll be the first to know about upcoming classes for successful families.

To sign up, visit the “Newsletter” section here on the website. Enter your email address, and you’ll receive our newsletter in your inbox on Wednesdays.  I appreciate your interest in bringing out the best in your children and yourself. We look forward to keeping you informed through our newsletter!

Top Ten Virtues Worth Developing

Top Ten Virtues Worth Developing

by | Mar 10, 2023 | Virtues

Top Ten Virtues (Character Traits) Worth Developing

Good character comprises fortitude, integrity, courage, honesty, loyalty, and other notable virtues that support good behavior. We want a good character for ourselves and our children. Several positive traits define a person’s character and are not the same as personal morals or ethics. 

 

Why Build A Good Character

Warren Susman, the famous historian, states, “Character is so important it should be considered a vital component of an individual’s identity.”

This is even more important for young and old today, where political discord and cyberbullying are prevalent. Hence, cultivating virtue has become even more critical.

Developing your virtues will bring out the best in you and help:

  • Gain trust and respect from others.
  • Inspire and motivate others to build good character.
  • Improves confidence and self-respect.
  • Provide a core for making significant choices and decisions.
  • Display leadership attributes in both professional and personal endeavors.
  • Also, good character traits are the backbone of a healthy, functioning society.

While developing these traits is not without stress, successfully developing them can be among the most pleasant and satisfying endeavors.

People often fall into the trap of thinking their character is fixed and cannot be changed. They assume they are either good or bad. However, research has shown that character is malleable and new character can be developed over time with practice and devotion.

The following lists the top 10 character traits worth developing. Working on all ten at once might be quite impossible, so a good idea is to pick one of these qualities and get started.

Humility

This is the quality of being humble. The feeling or attitude that you are not more special or important than others. No man is an island, and humility entails accepting other individuals’ contributions in helping you accomplish all you have achieved. Acknowledging the role of your mentors, role models, and everyone else who’s helped you reach your goal. No one likes an arrogant overachiever. As C.S. Lewis says, “True humility is not thinking less of yourself, it’s thinking of yourself less.”  https://josephmichael.coach/humility/ 

Contentment

This is the mental and emotional state of contentment and satisfaction drawn from being at ease with one’s situation. According to research, this is the state of accepting one’s condition and is a less tentative feeling of happiness. Bernard Williams said, “We may pass violets looking for roses. We may pass contentment looking for victory.”

However, a thin line separates lack of ambition from contentment. While contentment is an admirable trait to strive for, a lack of ambition can be dangerous. Ambition is necessary to succeed; however, over-ambition is unhealthy and leads to sadness. https://josephmichael.coach/contentment/ 

Reliability

Successfully fulfilling whatever has been entrusted to you is an amazing character trait. Roy L. Smith says, “We are sure to get opportunities as we show ourselves capable of being trusted.” Being considered reliable and dependable, even when it requires some sacrifice, is a positive character trait worth developing. https://josephmichael.coach/reliability/

Determination

This positive emotional feeling entails persisting in pursuing a challenging goal despite obstacles. Determination serves as motivation to achieve a goal, and it usually precedes the achievement of said goals. Everyone loves a determined person who works steadily to achieve their goals; a lack of determination is a depressing attitude. In fact, as Tommy Lasorda said, “The difference between the impossible and the possible lies in a man’s determination.”  https://josephmichael.coach/determination/ 

Patience

Author Joyce Meyer said, “Patience is not the ability to wait but the ability to keep a good attitude while waiting.” This character trait is among the most neglected in today’s fast-paced world. This involves waiting for the right things to happen at the right time. It is knowing and having faith that it will all work out while you are waiting. It is not being restless but the willingness to delay satisfaction, and it’s among the top character traits worth developing. (Especially as a parent.) https://josephmichael.coach/patience/ 

Honesty

Truthfulness and honesty with others and yourself are good indicators of a responsible individual. Thomas Jefferson said, “Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom.” Apart from being respected by others, an honest individual has better odds of being genuinely happy and living a long life when compared to a cheat or swindler. 

Among the leading reasons for being dishonest is the fear of consequences. This can be overcome by having the courage to face the consequences of our actions, however dreadful they might be. https://josephmichael.coach/honesty/ 

Courage

This is the willingness and ability to confront uncertainty, danger, intimidation, pain, or agony despite fear. As Mark Twain said, “Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear – not absence of fear.” This is a good character trait worth developing as it makes honesty and finding focus much easier. Once courageous, you’ll face the unknown and explore the world rather than be held back by fear. https://josephmichael.coach/courage/ 

Compassion

Nelson Mandela said, “Our human compassion binds us the one to the other – not in pity or patronizingly, but as human beings who have learned how to turn our common suffering into hope for the future.” According to research, this is a desirable and admirable character trait, especially when placed alongside the alternative of being ruthless and indifferent. This is especially important in today’s world, where the media has created a generation of indifferent and numbed people by constantly distributing gory images and offensive photos. The ability to maintain a compassionate streak is vital. https://josephmichael.coach/compassion/ 

Flexibility

This is the quality of adjusting to new situations and conditions. Alice Duer Miller said, “The strongest will is the will that knows how to bend.”  While there are times when standing your ground and being rigid has its benefits, it more often than not gets in the way of progress. This trait entails being resilient enough to adjust and adapt to new information and situations rather than being rigid. Or, as Dolly Parton said, “We cannot direct the wind, but we can adjust the sails.” https://josephmichael.coach/flexibility/ 

Self-Discipline

While the above character traits are important and worth developing, self-discipline helps ensure you know when to defend such traits and are not thrust into crisis by defending such traits. This is the ability to think, learn, absorb, and know when to act on strong impulses. Gary Ryan Blair put it well when he said, “Self-discipline is an act of cultivation. It requires you to connect today’s action to tomorrow’s results. There’s a season for sowing, a season for reaping. Self-discipline helps you know which is which.” https://josephmichael.coach/self-discipline/ 

Developing these 10 or any of the 100 Virtues is not about putting them into us. It is about drawing them out of ourselves and our children. They are already there waiting to be discovered, cultivated, and balanced with other virtues.

 

If you like this, you may also enjoy my newsletter, Virtues & The Four C’s of Successful Families. It is a weekly email full of proven ideas to bring out the best in yourself and your children. Start getting it here: https://josephmichael.coach/newsletter/

Zeal

Zeal

by | Jul 4, 2021 | Virtues

Description

Zeal is the vibrant energy that arises when we dedicate ourselves to a purpose that resonates deeply with our values. The passion propels us forward, igniting our actions with enthusiasm and ardor. When we embrace zeal, we commit wholeheartedly to our vision, channeling our energy into creating positive change and pursuing what we believe to be meaningful and true.

Zeal is fueled by belief and faith—faith in ourselves, in others, or in a cause greater than ourselves. It inspires us to approach life with vigor, seeing even the smallest tasks as opportunities to contribute to a greater whole. At its heart, zeal is a celebration of purpose, lighting our way with joy and determination.

However, zeal also calls for balance. When our passion encounters differing perspectives, tolerance acts as a grounding force. It reminds us to respect others’ beliefs while staying true to our own, ensuring that our fire remains a beacon of inspiration rather than a source of division.

Zeal empowers us to live with intention, give our all, and leave a legacy of enthusiasm and commitment in every walk of life. It transforms effort into joy and purpose into action, making it a cornerstone of a life well-lived.

Affirmations for Zeal

1. I approach each day with enthusiasm and purpose.
This affirmation sets a tone of excitement and intention, encouraging a proactive mindset.

2. I dedicate my energy to what truly matters to me.
It reinforces alignment with personal values, ensuring focus on meaningful pursuits.

3. I embrace challenges as opportunities to grow.
This fosters resilience and keeps zeal alive even in the face of obstacles.

4. My passion inspires others to pursue their dreams.
Recognizing the impact of your zeal can motivate you to sustain it and share its benefits.

5. I give my full effort to every task, no matter how small.
This practice builds a habit of excellence, making zeal a part of everyday life.

6. I honor the diverse beliefs and passions of others.
Encourages balance and tolerance, preventing zeal from becoming overpowering or divisive.

7. I take time to reconnect with the vision that fuels my passion.
Regular reflection keeps your sense of purpose strong and revitalizes enthusiasm.

8. I focus on what I can do today to make a difference.
Directs zeal into actionable steps, avoiding overwhelm and fostering progress.

9. I celebrate my achievements and use them as motivation to keep going.
Acknowledging progress strengthens your commitment to your goals and keeps zeal alive.

10. I trust that my passion, guided by wisdom, will lead to meaningful results.
Combines enthusiasm with discernment, ensuring zeal remains both focused and effective.

Quotes

“Zeal without knowledge is fire without light.” — Thomas Fuller

“Zeal is a volcano, the peak of which the grass of indecisiveness does not grow.” — Khalil Gibran

“The happiness of a man in this life does not consist in the absence but in the mastery of his passions.” — Alfred Lord Tennyson

Zeal In Family Life

Zeal in family life is the spark that brings energy, passion, and joy into our relationships and activities. Our enthusiasm drives us to pursue our goals with purpose and dedication, turning even ordinary moments into opportunities for growth and connection.

For parents, zeal means modeling a love for life and a commitment to meaningful values. It involves showing excitement for family goals, encouraging children to pursue their passions, and approaching challenges with courage and positivity. Parents inspire zeal by living with purpose, supporting each family member’s unique talents, and fostering a home environment filled with encouragement and celebration.

For children, zeal is the joy of discovery, the thrill of learning new things, and the drive to give their best effort. It’s about following their passions, contributing enthusiastically to family life, and approaching everyday tasks with energy and a sense of adventure.

A family that practices zeal together embraces life with shared excitement and determination. They celebrate big and small achievements and face difficulties with resilience and optimism. Zeal in family life brings warmth and vitality to every interaction, creating a strong foundation of love, joy, and purpose.

Balancing Zeal

When zeal is in balance, it becomes a powerful and positive force in family life, driving us to pursue meaningful goals with energy and passion. However, zeal can become overwhelming or misdirected without the tempering influence of other virtues. To ensure zeal serves the family well, it is essential to cultivate complementary virtues that moderate its intensity while sustaining its vitality.

      • Tolerance:  Tolerance ensures respect for other’s beliefs and ideas, preventing zeal from becoming overbearing or dismissive of differing perspectives.

      • Patience:  Patience slows the urgency of zeal, reminding us that meaningful progress takes time and steady effort.

      • Discernment:  Discernment helps channel zeal into purposeful actions, ensuring energy is directed toward what truly matters.

      • Humility:  Humility keeps zeal grounded, fostering openness to feedback and an awareness of others’ contributions.

      • Kindness:  Kindness ensures our enthusiasm uplifts and encourages others rather than overshadowing or pressuring them.

      • Resilience:  Resilience allows zeal to persist through setbacks, transforming challenges into opportunities for growth.

      • Moderation:  Moderation tempers excessive zeal, helping us maintain balance and avoid burnout.

      • Focus:  Focus sharpens zeal, preventing distractions from diluting our energy and enthusiasm.

      • Compassion:  Compassion softens zeal’s intensity, ensuring it is expressed with empathy and sensitivity toward others.

      • Wisdom:  Wisdom integrates zeal with thoughtful decision-making, creating a harmonious blend of passion and practicality.

Balancing zeal with these virtues ensures it remains a source of inspiration and vitality without becoming overwhelming or misdirected. For both parents and children, this balance fosters a nurturing environment where passion is coupled with understanding, energy with thoughtfulness, and determination with kindness. By cultivating this harmony, families can pursue their goals with enthusiasm while maintaining the well-being of every member.

Joe is a husband, father, grandfather, author, speaker, educator, course creator, and parent/family coach.

He helps parents develop unity, find clarity, communicate, and develop consistency in their parenting with the Four C’s of Successful Families. You can find his work on social media.

In addition, the Four C’s newsletter is enjoyed by many as it encourages parents to self-care, build their relationships with their partners, and raise their children. 

And he loves to golf! 

Joseph Michael