How Early Experiences Shape Us

I have a client who comes in for sessions twice a month and in between works with various routines and habits at home/on her own time. Every visit, she comes with a list of conversations and/or questions to discuss, often surrounding mindset. A recent topic of conversation touched on RESILIENCE and (as she often does) she made a very good point...

What do we do as TEACHERS / ADULTS with kids during rainy days at school? ... We keep them inside.

As PARENTS, what do we do with kids during rainy days in general? ... We keep them inside (instead of dressing them appropriately for the weather and getting them outdoors).

*I added to her second point that both as kids and adults we now ACTIVELY avoid getting dirty, muddy etc... We couldn't have that! We'd have to wash the kids... and their clothes... Oh my! 🫣

As silly as it may sound;

☂THIS upbringing and the "don't get wet or dirty" approach CREATES adults who ACTIVELY AVOID "non-perfect weather conditions". Not to mention things that help us adapt and BECOME more resilient to our surroundings.

☂This CREATES adults who don't WANT to go outdoors if the weather isn't "just right".

☂In turn, that CREATES adults who become "GOOD AT" avoiding the outdoors (even WHEN the weather IS "perfect").

☂This creates a society of PEOPLE who lack time spent outdoors and who lack healthy RESILIENCE in their wellbeing.

It was a really good point brought up by a retired teacher herself; We ingrain these mindsets and approaches to lifestyle right from the early years!

The only way to move AWAY from this mentality and to BUILD resilience for ourselves, is to first and foremost SEE this reality happening in MANY ways all around us.