By Sarah Chana Radcliffe
Every parent wants his or her child to be confident... Is there a way to teach children to be confident? No. Insecurity and anxiety are inborn traits that emerge despite wonderful parenting. When they do, parents can support their children with tools like emotional coaching, encouragement, positive feedback, opportunities to succeed and grow, and, in some cases, therapeutic input. There IS a way, however, to destroy a child's confidence and that is by using excessive criticism.
You may be right. Your loved one may be wrong. Many times a day... If your spouse or child annoys you or triggers you many times a day, that's a difficult challenge to live with. Nonetheless, if you still hope to have a good RELATIONSHIP with that loved one, you need to be able to limit the amount of times you confront the person. Excessive criticism and complaint can irreparably harm your long term bond. Pick your battles.
