I

CHAPTER 13

Shelve Those Great Expectations

’m  often   asked,  “What   do  you want    your    child   to  be  when    she grows

up?”    This    question    always  puzzles me  because I   have    no  idea    what

my  child   should  become.

I   answer, “She    already is. I   only    want    her to  know    her own wholeness

as  it  flows   from    her inner   stillness.  Once    she knows   this,   she will    own

the world.”

Children    come    to  us  full    of  the what    is, not what    isn’t.  When    we  see

our own reality for all it  isn’t,  we  teach   our children    to  operate from

lack.   When    we  see our children    for all they    are yet to  become, barely

recognizing all they    already are,    we  teach   them    they    are incomplete. For

our children    to  see a   look    of  disappointment  in  our eyes    sows    in  them

seeds   of  anxiety,    self-doubt, hesitation, and inauthenticity. They    then

begin   to  believe they    should  be  more    beautiful,  competent,  smart,  or

talented.   In  this    way,    we  strip   them    of  their   enthusiasm  for expressing

themselves  as  they    are right   now.

As  I   tucked  my  daughter    into    bed the other   night,  I   said,   “I’m    so  proud

of  you.”   When    she asked   why,    I   responded,  “Because    you dare    to  be

yourself.”

When    you celebrate   your    children    for their   ability to  be  true    to

themselves, you encourage   them    to  trust.  You inspire them    to  follow

their   insight and have    faith   that    they    will    be  held    if  they    fall.   You show

them    they    don’t   have    to  create  a   safety  net because their   safety  net is