Organic Produce and Consciousness Dogs

In conversations lately, I have been reminded me of a few images that I have been thinking about while walking the dog, gardening or driving in my car. I'll share those images and then explain how they fit together with regards to parenting.

One is a picture of organic produce. It's not only healthier because it is not pesticide-laden, it's healthier because while fending off pests, it becomes more anti-oxidant rich. The value of organic produce comes not only from what is missing but from its increased nutritional value. Learning to face adversity strengthens the organism.

The second picture is one about two voices in our consciousness depicted as hungry dogs vying for food in the form of our attention. One dog feeds on fear, habits and negativity. The other feeds on love, possibility and hope. Which dogs grows in our consciousness? Simply said, it's the one we feed with our thoughts, consciously or not.

How do these images relate? Children experience bumps, bruises and conflicts while growing up, helping them become strong and resilient. While children experience challenges, the adults need to work to consciously choose responses. Do we feed the dog of fear and habit or do we feed the dog of possibility, of the value born of adversity? Positive affirmations give children the sense that they can come through whatever it is they are experiencing. When a child falls we can say, "That scrape hurts, let's clean it and put on some boo-boo cream. You are a quick healer, it'll be better soon."

If we react with fear on the other hand when a child gets scraped, we reinforce to the child that we do not trust their resiliency, we are not sure they can heal, that they can handle life's bumps. Since we can never protect children from all that will come and eventually, we won't be there with them, it's important to give children positive messages while they are young.

Choose the environment for your child carefully. Expect bumps and bruises. Affirm the child's strength when they experience physical or emotional discomfort.

Organic produce requires enough sun, water and good soil to be able to ward off pests. Children require much the same on the physical realm but they are also strongly influenced by the quality of our consciousness. Adults' sunny gaze (consciously chosen to reflect all is well) feeds children as does the good soil of healthy experiences, but passing showers and storms also have an impact in developing strong, capable and resilient children.

Think about organic produce when your child is learning to cope with pests and the two dogs in your consciousness when you are responding, feeding the dog of your choice rather than habit.