THE DAILY GROOVE ~ by Scott Noelle
www.enjoyparenting.com/dailygroove

:: Healthy Selfishness ::

Conventional thinking has it that if children get "too
much" of what they want, they'll become narcissistic
adults who only care about themselves.

But this thinking is locked inside the box of the
"dominator paradigm," where you "win" by exploiting,
excluding, or defeating others. Outside the dominator
box is PARTNERSHIP.

In partnership it's understood that we're all
connected, so *your* wins are *my* wins, and vice
versa. Children internalize partnership values
when their parents believe that Love is abundant.
Such parents tend to nurture generously and
unconditionally.

Younger children are naturally narcissistic. When
parents model the "healthy selfishness" of partnership
and don't resist their children's narcissism, the
children eventually learn that it feels good to care
for others.

Today, notice all the ways in which *giving* makes you
feel good, and how others feel good when you allow
them to give to you. Let the line between giving and
receiving dissolve. That's the magic of partnership!