be better. But what you wish for and what you want needs to be realistic. It needs to be something
that you can actually attain. It helps to make it specific, to spell out exactly what you want in the ways
that you think, feel, and do things. Then, don’t forget to decide when you’re going to put them into
practice.
“Let me share a trade secret with you: the three magic questions that every genie has to ask him-
self before he can make a wish come true. He needs to ask:
What do I want to do?
How can I make it happen?
When am I going to do it?”
The girl reached out and gave the grouchy old genie a hug. A softness lightened his eyes, the
warmth of a smile flickered in the corners of his mouth, and poof, he disappeared back into his lamp.
192 Healing Stories, Teaching Stories
EXERCISE 11.1
What are the skills a child needs to be a good problem solver? What will help equip children
when they find themselves suddenly facing unexpected situations of adversity or trauma? What
will help them find a solution to a problem, or accept a situation that cannot be changed? How
can you put this information into stories that will demonstrate or teach such appropriate skills?
Use your notebook to write out your own problem-solving stories.