One of the more rewarding aspects of working with people is in witnessing their growth. Certainly parents, educators, medical professionals, religious leaders and coaches experience this gift in their work, as well.
I am often hired to consult with the youth. I marvel at their self-assessments, their instant self-identifiers and their choices for alignment. Of course, throughout the ages, current obsession has played a heavy-handed role in determining these choices. Who knows what our current influence in the comic world would be were it not for the comic book influence from the 1940's? What would our current musical choices be, were it not for the influence of the gyrating rhythms of Elvis, the constant beat hailing from Motown or even the cross-Atlantic trip of the Fab Four? Pop-culture can influence for the better, give voice to the mute and offer cause for the weakened.
When I meet with my youthful audience, I often ask them to describe themselves as they will be when they grow up. I am amazed at how frequently I am given a current pop-star or reality star as an example. While the answers are seemingly fun, the deeper concerns are in my youngest audience members wanting to be sexy and/or rich like a celebrity. If these crystal ball requests were only coming from my youngest attendees, perhaps I'd pay it little attention. The bulk of the requests are coming from my impressionable 15-18 year olds as well as the college-level students.
In my specific study of work, Feng Shui, the focus is on generating positive environments. In my 15+ years of study and consulting, I've honed my work to focus more on the individual. Identifying your attributes, strengths and weaknesses is key to understanding you. I teach my audience to recognize their strengths and work on them as diligently as one would a dance move or golf stroke.
Daydreaming and imagining another's life as your own is harmless. God knows I've flown around the world as a pilot, stormed the Senate floor, battled for causes and kissed Brad Pitt (uh...current dreams don't count, do they?). The harm is in ignoring the essence of YOU for the sake of acceptance. Well, if large pouty lips, broken-ribbed Victorian-corseted waists and endless selfies are de rigueur, what's a kid to do? Play if you wish, but don't lose YOU. In chasing the fantasy, don't forget to bring you along for the party.
Lest you think I have absentmindedly forgotten to mention addressing one's weaknesses, fear not. The basketball player couldn't have mastered his shot if his dribbling were poor. But mastering the shot was vital to providing him confidence so that he could then perfect his ball-handling. My audiences' weaknesses are addressed at a gentle pace. We approach the strengths with vigor and handle the weaknesses with focus and love. They learn that their job in this life is to make a mark as intensely or as gently as they wish.
Witnessing the growth of another is rewarding for the teacher at least. At best, its effects ripple into the community and reward us all.