Fortitude
The Strength Within
Fortitude is the strength within you. Fortitude is about your mental and emotional state and courage when facing situations.
Fortitude involves courage, resilience, perseverance and patience that strengthen our character and help us through setbacks, failures and fears throughout our lifetime, whether it be personal or professional.
To explain fortitude to a child, you could let them know that fortitude is a spirit that lives within them and is part of their head and heart. In their mind, it's about their thoughts and whether they believe they can or can't do something.
Discuss the famous Henry Ford quote with them 'Whether you think you can, or you think you can't, you're right'. Fortitude is an attitude that has an impact on the outcome.
What is also coming to mind is a story I included in my book 'How To Raise Kids With Integrity'. It's an old Cherokee story of Two Wolves which is about positive and negative thoughts and the choices we make about them.
Explaining fortitude to your child sounds like it could be difficult, but it's not. There are many situations and things that you can share. Once your child knows they have it within, they won't have to dig as deep to find it when needed.
Sharing terminology such as these character traits with the intention that you share each week with your child will strengthen their self-awareness and enable them in more ways than you might even imagine. Children understand much more than they are given credit for. They quickly 'get it'.
Think of technology and how older people take longer to comprehend how it works. Some struggle or give up getting their heads around technology compared to children who instinctively appear to know what to do with it. It's amazing.
As a parent, you want your child to feel empowered and emotionally and mentally strong. Share these character traits each week with them. Around you are many stories and situations providing you with the opportunity to discuss character traits. They're not hard to find when you look.
I remember the tale of 'The Little Red Caboose' from childhood, which I cherished. I was captivated by the Little Red Caboose's unwavering belief in its ability to overcome challenges, as it persisted with the mantra, "I think I can, I think I can." And indeed, it succeeded.
Let us encourage your child to embody their own Little Red Caboose, instilling the belief that they can overcome obstacles and achieve their goals.
Trish Corbett
info@ethicalfoundations.com.au
Trish is the author of 'How to Raise Kids With Integrity - for parents, childcare educators and teachers' and blogs about a characteristic each week so that the main role models in a child's life can help children grow with self-awareness and self-confidence so they can make a positive difference in their world by recognizing and acknowledging character qualities in themselves and others. This works for adults too! Try it - sign up for a weekly email.
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About Trish
Passionate about helping new parents by sharing what she wishes she had known as a young parent so they can raise their children with clarity, confidence and values.
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