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We are living in a time of massive change, where environmental, technological, geo-political and socio-economic shifts happen fast and can increase levels of stress, anxiety, and uncertainty. A question that I often ask myself is, "What are the tools that I need to give to the children that I work with, which will allow them to effectively navigate the world, now and in the future?"
This is a key question, as we, as parents, mentors and coaches, might not be around to help them in the future.
Below is a list of the top five challenges along with the most impactful tools, practices and philosophies that I believe will equip a young adult to navigate effectively and thrive.
Skill #1: Managing mental & emotional state
We are seeing rates of anxiety, depression, and suicide skyrocket in western society. The challenge is that we live in a fast-paced and dynamic world where there are many potential triggers. We cannot always control the outside world; however, something that we can learn to do is acquire more skills and tools to modulate emotional and mental states.
Mindfulness practices, backed by neuroscience and multiple clinical studies, are proving to be incredibly effective in reducing rates of stress, anxiety, and depression. This umbrella of practices, when done regularly, train the mind to be able to focus, be present, relax, and stay calm and present.
The good news is that there are many resources that are now available to get started. Some are listed below:
Guided practices can be found on apps like:
Bhuddify and so on.
My personal recommendation is Insight Timer, given that it is subscription-free for a vast number of practices from various sources.
Skill #2: Finding purpose and meaning
Contemporary wisdom, used by the ancients, spoke about the power of knowing oneself. It is never too early for a child to get to know the things that give them a sense of purpose and meaning, and associate with something greater than oneself. Suffering is very often a result of excessive focus on one’s desire for comfort and an easy life, and it is when we expand our view to encompass being able to help and serve others through something deeply meaningful that stress, anxiety, and depression diminish.
Activities such as sport, dance, volunteer work, charitable work or even a part-time job in an area of interest can teach teens and young adults the value of being service-oriented, as well as develop leadership and interpersonal skills.
The Demartini Value determination system is a free-of-charge exercise that can give incredible insight into your child’s values and will also help to give an indication of suitable and fulfilling career paths.
Skill #3: Developing entrepreneurial skills
As technology continues to advance and replace many process-driven, straightforward job roles, our children will need to learn how to effectively create and offer valuable, unique products and services, ideally aligned to what they love doing.
Start by getting them to have a side hustle, be it washing cars, baking, content creation, software development, tutoring, babysitting etc. The list is endless, and opportunities to add value are everywhere. People are also generally very impressed by young people taking initiative and are more likely to buy from them. This will give your child a sense of responsibility and financial freedom as they earn their own money and learn to manage this at a young age.
Skill #4: Keep moving
There is a strong correlation between reduced rates of anxiety, stress and depression, and having a regular exercise routine or movement practice. "Healthy body, healthy mind" rings true.
We are seeing the effects of excessive sitting and sedentary lifestyle as rates of type-2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, and hypertension continue to rise massively. My recommendations would be a sport or martial art (particularly Brazilian Ju-Jutsu), or a mindful movement practice like yoga or tai chi. These practices foster a sense of discipline, and focus the mind whilst also being fantastic for the body.
Skill #5: Cultivating growth mindset
We are now very aware that our brains continually keep growing, adapting, and changing throughout our lives, based on the demand we put on them. We are capable of learning new skills and achieving desired results in just about anything that we truly value and put our minds to.
Encourage and remind your child that just about everything is a learnable skill, where focused effort is required to cultivate the skill or achieve the desired outcome.
More on having a growth mindset here.
Final thoughts
There are some thought-provoking talks by Sir Ken Robinson, an education specialist, that made me think about what is needed to help children thrive. The words that resonated with me are these:
“Our task is to educate their [our students'] whole being so they can face the future. We may not see the future, but they will, and our job is to help them make something of it.”
Keep seeking, keep growing, and let’s encourage our future generations to do the same.
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