When I was a youth director, I had a poster on my wall that said “You are already a role model, the question is what kind are you?”
Like it or not we are all role models, from the person living on the street to the top professional athlete. By role model I mean that we all have influence on the development of children – for better or for worse.
The way we see ourselves and the world is what decides how we will behave, and how we behave determines, what will happen to us.
Role models serve as living, breathing mental images that help us visualize the way we would like to live.
For example, if a child sees a homeless person sleeping on the street, this most likely will stimulate negative images in their mind and will direct them in a way where they will not want to end up there. The same kind of image can happen when they see their favorite super start throw the winning touchdown, or shoot the winning basket. They will want to act like the best, to be the best. No matter how many times an athlete may say that they are not a role model, they are.
However, the more important role models are the ones children come in contact with on a daily basis. While it is helpful to read about a significant person in a book or a magazine, or watch an inspiring life story in the movies or on TV, it is much more powerful when we can actually interact with someone who shows us possibilities for ourselves.
When we can do so on a daily or regular basis, as we do with parents, grandparents, teachers and pastors just to name a few, this has the most powerful impact of all.
It is not only what we say that matters, kids will learn from our actions as well, so the best role models do not only need to say the right things but they need to live a good example as well.
Of course we cannot control everything. The best thing that we can do is to tell them and show them the right way to live and let the kids figure out the rest for themselves. They will make mistakes, we all do. But hopefully they will remember the positive role models in their life and follow their example.
Your blog is so informative