Historically, people lived in the same small village their entire lives. There was little change in their lives—not only in their residence bur in the community’s values and in the occupations or with the few people with whom they came in contact. Today we live in a time of “constant change.” We say, in fact, that the only constant is change. How then do we best handle change? The answer is through developing an inner gyroscope.
A gyroscope (dictionary definition) is a device, used to provide stability or maintain a fixed orientation, consisting of a wheel or disc spinning rapidly about an axis which is itself free to alter in direction.
As parents, we want our children to acquire a gyroscope to cope with change. We accomplish this simply by imparting to our children the concept of the Power of Choice. They have the power to choose their response in situations they cannot change, whatever stimulations that prompts them, or whatever impulses arises within them.
As with any practice or procedure, making choices needs to be practiced. Having a conversation with children about the choices they are continually making (consciously or nonconsciously) is the way to have them develop this inner gyroscope.
