Try This At Home…………………….
If you haven’t already, have your child do the exercises at the beginning of the first and second goal setting posts. Next have child write out a plan for after he’s accomplished his goal. How does he want to celebrate? How long of a break does he want to take? What is his next step or goal to focus on?
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After spending time, energy, resources and pinning hopes and dreams on achieving a goal, there is often a void and let down after the goal has been accomplished and the attention and accolades have stopped. The honest truth is that success and the attention that goes with it are addicting. Just like any addiction, you can only ride the high for so long.
There are a few things you can do to ease the feelings your child may feel after he has accomplished his goal.
1. Explain that what he is feeling is normal. You may even choose to prepare him ahead of time that it may be coming. Just knowing why he feels the way he does might help.
2. Keep him busy. It’s okay to allow for a day or two of down time, but then get him back into his routine.
3. Don’t forget to celebrate his accomplishment. Let him enjoy the attention, but don’t let it go to his head. If you stay humble, he’s more likely too.
4. Teach him to achieve for himself, not for attention from other people.
5. Most importantly, have him set another goal. Knowing what is next will give him a purpose again and something new to focus on.
Make sure he takes care of himself. Despite the potential lack of sleep and poor diet that may go along with the celebration, it’s important he stays healthy. I got sick every year after the World Championships. After a whole year of planning and preparing for it, my body just seemed to let go once it was over. As soon as I had relaxed and my guard was down, bam, I’d get sick. Help your child safe guard against this.
The downer isn’t any fun, but it is just a fact of life. The harsh reality is, to many people you are only as good as your last accomplishment and, sooner than later, the accomplishment is old news. It’s not a fun reality, but learning to cope with it now will make it easier on your child later in life.
For more information on myself and my children’s books, please visit www.erinmirabella.com
