Believe them!
Who does not like a little story? A good plot, some identifiable characters, a little background, a convincing story-teller sprinkled with some emotions
- Little Red Ridinhood didn’t listen to her mother.
- Jasmine was in a live in relationship with Alladin.
- Snow White alone lived wid 7 men.
- Pinnochio was a liar.
- Robin Hood was a thief.
- Tarzan walked without clothes on.
- A stranger kissed Sleeping beauty n she married him.
- Cindrella lied, sneaking out at nite 2 attend a party..
- These r d stories our parents raised us with n den they complain our generation is spoiled!!
- Jasmine was in a live in relationship with Alladin.
- Snow White alone lived wid 7 men.
- Pinnochio was a liar.
- Robin Hood was a thief.
- Tarzan walked without clothes on.
- A stranger kissed Sleeping beauty n she married him.
- Cindrella lied, sneaking out at nite 2 attend a party..
These are the stories we grew up with and still the they complain our generation is spoiled!!
There is one thing that has continued to bother me though. How is it that as kids we looked at the good sides of these stories and loved them. What really changed by the time we grew up? Today, even when we hear a good story, lets say – a politician doing something good , we still think there is some sneaky self interest involved somewhere.
I mean , by all means, please be a pessimist if you will but then either stop telling children lies or start looking at the truth in them as a grown up!
What really has changed is a term coined by Motivation theorist Ashland – UPR (Unconditional Positive Regard). In simple terms when you meet someone for the first time , you think of them as good people who are there to help and help them if needed. Today however, you reach someone who you don’t know and you are taken up as a disturbance if not a conman already.
What is this happening to the world around us? I asked around , many poeple, and what I got was ‘The world is not a safe place place any more?’ Where do you intend to go – I ask!
So here are three super simple things you can do the bring the UPR back :
1. Realism – Tell children (and adults) what is with the risks and the good sides.
2. Make a Opinion marker – For E.G. I tell myself that I will make an opinion about someone only after meeting thrice. This works, if i did’t do this, trust me I would not have been married yet!
3. Share – When people make you uneasy, say things that you disapprove, share your feeling without accusing other of being wright or wrong.
Do this and slowly and steadily UPR will return to your life. Once you give it, you will get it and then the fairy tales will inspire again!
