The Roots of Violence

THE DAILY GROOVE ~ by Scott Noelle
www.enjoyparenting.com/dailygroove

Nothing is more natural than for a child to become

angry when his or her intention is thwarted.

Anger is a reaction to perceived entrapment or

disempowerment; it activates the body’s primal

energies for restoring freedom and personal power.

These energies can be applied violently… or creatively.

But when anger itself is thwarted — when those energies

are successfully suppressed via threats of punishment,

withdrawal, or exclusion — the child will descend into

hopelessness (relative to the original intention, if not generally).

The child may then appear “well-adjusted,” but those energies

persist, like a sleeping volcano, increasing the potential

for extreme violence.

So when you empower children rather than

thwarting them, you make the world a less

violent, more peaceful place.

However, it gets tricky when parents think they

have to thwart themselves to empower their

children, as that can awaken their own raging

volcanoes.

Today, look for ways to experience power with

your child. Be creative. Think outside the box.

Give as much as you can and still feel good.

And remember that you are not the ultimate

Source of your child’s power.

http://dailygroove.net/violence

Take the next step…
Join the PATH Program:
http://www.enjoyparenting.com/path/info

Copyright (c) 2010 by Scott Noelle