Moving our children to the next level!

For those of you who are as concerned about bullying as I am, here is a great idea. Last week I had the opportunity to meet with JoMarie Payton, star of the hit ABC Family show "Family Matters."  She played the role of Mama (Harriet Winslow) and is now hosting her own hit talkshow known as "Second Chance" with JoMarie Payton! We had a remarkable and engaging conversation!  During our discussion she mentioned her daughter's class was having problems with children bullying and acting out. Rather than sending the children to the principle's office or expelling them from school JoMarie had a better idea. She paid for a school portable to be reconditioned as a "genius" room.

This room was full of tables and chairs and books. The students "sent" to the Genius room soon became bored and started to read. When the books are appropriate and reading occurs learning always happens. This approach is so much smarter than kicking them out of school where the chance of them learning something appropriate is slim and none.

The next step would be to arrange for professional counselors to interview each child and help them learn how to love themselves in a healthy way. There is a direct relationship between lack of self confidence, envy, self loathing and bullying. It is in all of our interests to help move children to the next level of emotional maturity by helping our future neighbor's learn self respect and self love.

You can only give love away when you love yourself. You can only increase the love you have when you give your love away. Loving on purpose or loving with intention means finding a way to serve others. If you are a bully you try to feel empowered by tearing others down. This never works out because the opposite is true. Only by loving others will you find more joy in your life than you could ever imagine or desire.