I’m Not Any Good at That

Audio By Carbonatix

Parents, here’s a phrase you’re definitely going to hear your kids say somewhere along life’s road. They’re going to say, “I don’t want to do that because I’m not any good at it.” Isn’t the same true for many of us? Don’t we only want to take part in events where we know for sure we are going to excel or be the best? Kids need to be reassured that they aren’t alone in these feelings and that it’s okay not to always be the top dog. It is some of the best preparation we can give them for life.

You’ve probably experienced this in some way yourself. In your job, a co-worker might outperform you, but that doesn’t lessen your role. It doesn’t mean that you aren’t good at what you do; you just excel in a different way. We live in a world full of people who are more gifted than us in some way or another. No one person is good at everything. There is even a book called Go Put Your Strengths to Work by Marcus Buckingham that focuses on getting people to build on their strengths and not concentrate on their weaknesses.

Children need to know they don’t have to be the best at everything. In the areas where your children are gifted, seek to encourage them to do absolutely all that they can to use those abilities. In the areas where they’re not as talented as other people, tell them to work at giving it all they’ve got and contribute what they can. In doing so, they will become a good team player. That’s true whether they are on the job, on a playing field, or in a relationship.

Parents, prepare for that comment that’s coming. Remind your kids that you’ve had those feelings too. Doing this is one of the good ways you can prepare them for life.