Conscious Adulting
A child enters the world as untouched - unconditioned, pure presence. Then the circumstances they are born in to, begin to condition them. And just as a child is vulnerable, unable to protect itself physically, it is vulnerable, and unable to protect itself from conditioning.
We define conditioning as leaving an imprint on a child - shaping them, and so their future.
Adults are responsible for much of the conditioning that children are subject to. Whether a close relation in regular contact or a temporary but significant connection, adults leave indelible imprints on children.
The more conscious the adult, the more conscious they are of the quality of imprint they leave on a child.
Part of the Planting Seeds collection, the Conscious Adulting writings delve in to the significant relationship between adult and child - with the intention of increasing awareness in adults, of the imprint they leave.
Ultimately the writings aim to improve the quality of life experience, for every child.
~
adulthood – with great power, comes great responsibility
Children enter the world, utterly vulnerable to the world. They cannot feed, clothe, shelter or warm themselves. They cannot protect themselves from any form of harm, and they cannot navigate their way through our world, without assistance. They are completely powerless and wholly dependent on the adults around them for survival.
This dependence makes them increasingly susceptible to adult influence. A child, whether consciously or unconsciously, is innately aware that their very survival is in the hands of adults. Adults can do all that they cannot. The adult becomes an authority, and as such, all that comes from adults is received as truth – for better or for worse.
Adults imprint children through direct interaction with them. Your words and actions towards a child are powerful. Speak to or treat a child as they are bad, useless, trouble, hard work and they will receive this as truth. Speak to or treat a child as they are good, able, kind, a blessing, and they will receive this as truth. Whatever ‘truth’ a child receives most often, is what leaves an indelible imprint on their little being.
Adults also indirectly imprint children through the child’s observation of the adult. When a child observes a significant adult’s response to a situation they believe this is the true way. Children don’t often get the opportunity nor have the capacity at a young age, to compare and contrast adult behaviours. They only see what they are exposed to and they accept what they see as the way. It isn’t until they are older, do they get chances to see different ways of being and responding, but by then the imprints are formed.
These imprints that a child receives, stay with them. Working in the undercurrents. Influencing their life. Often unbeknownst to them.
As adults, in our own experience, we can look back on our younger years and with hindsight, see how the adults around us during that time, impacted us and influenced our trajectory in life. For better or for worse - adults had considerable power over us as children. Now as adults ourselves, we are in similar positions. And, it is in exactly these situations where there is a significant imbalance of power between parties, that we are called upon to act from the highest within ourselves. We must truly appreciate and accept the great responsibility that is now ours and we must act accordingly.
Doing so is particularly important for those of you who were negatively impacted by the adults of your childhood. Focusing on your present self, becoming conscious of and taking responsibility for the ways in which you impact the children around you now, will not only ensure greater health and happiness for these children, it will help you heal.
~