Cultivating Your Child’s Courage

The Gottman Institute has a research-based approach to relationships. In an article I read recently, they shared why emotional safety is necessary for emotional connection. And how emotional connection cultivates courageous acts. 

So what does emotional safety mean? And why is it so important in parenting?
Emotional safety is creating a space where you feel open to expressing what you think and feel freely. From this space you can give and receive love, feel like you belong and feel more courageous.

“It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.”

e. e. cummings

In parenting, a child is constantly asking, is it ok for me to express myself. Is it ok for me to make a mistake, is it ok for me to share my emotions, is it ok for me to be me. 

As parents it is our job to lead in a way to be able to say yes to each of these questions.

And that’s not always easy.

A friend and colleague, Dr Amy Silver, specialises in pyschological safety in organisations and explains that self-leadership is the starting point to pyschological safety.

In the Parent as Leader model of parenting, leading yourself before you lead your family and your child helps you create an emotionally safe space for your child to connect with you and build the courage they need to be who they are.