Instead of calling them role models, I call them heroes. And I am extremely lucky that my heroes never let me down. (Warren Buffet).
As a life coach, parents often inquire about guiding their teenagers. It’s a role that goes beyond household rules and curfews – it’s about instilling values and aspirations. Enter positive role models, the unsung heroes of teen inspiration. These figures provide a roadmap for your teenager’s journey, offering a tangible example of values, traits, and behaviors to emulate.
Choosing role models consciously is paramount. It’s not just about having someone famous on a poster but aligning with their personal mission, goals, principles, and values. Engaging in a conversation with your teenager about their role models can offer insights into the attributes they admire.
While not all teenagers have role models, having them is highly beneficial. It allows teenagers to identify with those who have achieved success by following similar principles, goals, and values. Whether it’s an athlete, academic, or community figure, role models play a crucial role in shaping a teenager’s aspirations.
So, how does a teenager find a role model? The journey starts by examining their personal mission statement, goals, principles, and values. With these in hand, they can seek individuals who share similar values. A teenager can have multiple role models, each contributing to different aspects of their life – be it athletics, academics, or societal contributions.
Watching a role model’s journey becomes part of a teenager’s life, providing inspiration and encouragement. It fosters intrinsic motivation, where teenagers are driven by their own goals rather than external pressures. Encouraging teenagers to capture inspirational quotes from their role models reinforces this motivation and provides an opportunity for meaningful communication between parents and teenagers.
If the role model happens to be someone close, like a parent or teacher, the conversation remains the same. Understanding what traits they value in that individual creates opportunities for personal growth. It all circles back to following their personal mission statement, principles, values, and goals.
In essence, positive role models become a valuable tool in a teenager’s toolkit for achieving the success they’ve outlined for themselves. The communication built around role models fosters trust and love, strengthening the relationship between parents and teenagers. After all, communication is the backbone of any relationship, and every opportunity to build it should be embraced.