How do we teach our kids to reach Enlightenment when we're not there yet?

We don't teach. We inspire.

Photo by Cai on Unsplash

Our son knows how to spout off little Budda wisdom.

He’s one of those kids who acts like he’s not listening as I ramble insights and advice about tapping into divinity. I’m sure the kids get tired of hearing what I have to say. That’s part of their job, to tune me out.

The truth is when I get on a roll I’m talking to myself. I hear the wisdom coming out of my mouth and I’m impressed and impacted. I couldn’t plan these words if I wanted to.

I wonder, “Who am I to teach our kids what I don’t know?” This voice gets in my head and stops me cold. But when I let it slide on out of my head, a flow starts to happen. A gush from the ethers.

We’re warned against being our kid’s best friend. I agree.

But we can journey with them. We can allow our relationship to include the unknown. We can let the wisdom of the universe unfold in our connection with our kids.

Be honest.

A key to keeping it real is obviously honesty. Honesty is golden.

When I tell our kids from the get-go that I don’t have the answers it helps me relax. God has a hard time feeling welcomed when we’re all tight and judging ourselves.

If I feel myself getting pushy and preachy, I check in, pause and bring in the honesty card. It might be something like this, “Sorry I’m sounding so pushy. I just get scared because I want you to have an amazing life and sometimes I feel like I don’t know how to support you.”

When I pause and do this, it changes my whole approach. Maybe I’ll have more to say but from a more clear, real place.

Or maybe I sense the need to just sit and share the feeling of connecting that’s under all the words we think we have to fill the space with.

Teach as we learn.

I’m a lifetime learner of the divine. It’s my obsession. I’m drawn to books and stories of Enlightened spirits. And others who seem to be hungry to reach our full potential of being and channeling Love.

I have not reached Enlightenment. I still have way too much struggle. Trying to do things on my own.

So the biggest gift I have to offer our kids is to share as I learn. When I have big or small epiphanies. When I have moments when all the confusion melts away and things fall into place.

Do more than study. Practice like it’s all that matters.

In my world it is all that matters. I know it’s the key to everything. Happiness. Fulfillment. Financial freedom. Deep connection in friendships. Being the ultimate support as a parent.

Getting absorbed with studying, “How to reach Oneness in 10 easy steps!” can be a distraction. It’s the best way to procrastinate.

And trying to go it alone is the fastest way to shut things down.

We have to find what works for us. What are the key ingredients to help us stay on track for allowing the path of Enlightenment to unfold.

Eating healthy and exercise are keys for me. When I pay attention and dedicate myself to pass up the sugary treats and push myself with the weights, everything is so much easier.

One of my goals as a parent is to help our kids find what supports them to evolve in spirit. Or at least expose them to some of the possibilities so it will be part of their language they can choose to use.

Stop telling ourself we don’t have the answers.

It has been a struggle to find the balance in guiding our kids when I’m not even there.

I tell our kids all the time that I’m in process of learning this too. And my goal is to have an amazing life and help others do the same.

When I get out of my head and into my heart, I can channel some wisdom.

I hear my head voice saying, “Wow, this is good stuff! You should pay attention!”

A richer gift I can give our kids instead of trying to fake that I know all the answers is to be an example of what evolving on the path of Enlightenment looks like. And I am a master of this!