| Think back to your childhood for a moment. Did | | | | human lifetime is spent worrying about what other |
| anyone ever sit you down and talk with you about | | | | people think? |
| how to live a joyful and passionate life? Was this a | | | | Teaching children to succeed both financially and |
| frequent topic of discussion in the classroom, or at the | | | | socially is an important task, but it will not ensure their |
| dinner table? If so, then chances are good you came | | | | happiness. "Living a joyful and passionate life" needs to |
| into contact with a significantly advanced soul. Most of | | | | be added to the childhood curriculum. |
| our childhood lessons are in fact about being | | | | Unfortunately, schools aren't likely to squeeze it in |
| successful, not about being happy. And the one, | | | | between history and gym class anytime soon. So how |
| unfortunately, does not necessarily lead to the other. | | | | can we teach these lessons at home? There are two |
| In school, lessons are about history, geography, | | | | important avenues, and both are necessary for the |
| mathematics, grammar. The emphasis is ultimately on | | | | greatest effect. First, provide your children with a living |
| preparing each student for future training in a trade, be | | | | example. Practice the art of living a joyful and |
| it technical school, college, or even a Ph.D. program. | | | | passionate life however, whenever, and wherever you |
| The curriculum is concerned with financial success, not | | | | can. |
| happiness. And although financial success can provide | | | | Second, engage your children in a dialog on the |
| the most basic aspects of human satisfaction--food, | | | | subject. You won't have all the answers. You aren't |
| clothing, shelter--beyond these the connection between | | | | supposed to. So explore the possibilities together. Talk |
| money and happiness is tenuous at best. | | | | to them openly about your greatest joys. Ask them |
| At home, most lessons are designed to promote | | | | about their dreams. Experience those joys and |
| socially acceptable ideas and behavior. Knowing how | | | | dreams together, and explore new possibilities as they |
| to fit in is a form of social success. Children learn to | | | | arise. This will jump start a wonderfully positive cycle |
| eat with utensils instead of their hands. They are | | | | of shared learning and growth. |
| reminded to say "please" and "thank you." They are | | | | If you're having trouble opening the conversation, try |
| instructed (hopefully) not to bite, not to hit, not to lie, not | | | | asking them what they think makes people happy and |
| to steal. In short, they are indoctrinated with the | | | | see what they say. You might learn something. |
| countless behavioral, moral, and legal codes of our | | | | (Remember what Paula Poundstone says: adults are |
| inherited civilization. | | | | always asking kids what they want to be when they |
| But here, again, learning how to "fit in" covers only the | | | | grow up because the grown-ups are looking for ideas.) |
| most basic level of happiness. We are glad not to be | | | | These conversations are pure gold. They will |
| outcasts, but at the same time, "fitting in" can be its | | | | encourage your children to pursue a joyful life, and |
| own source of sadness and disappointment. In the | | | | they will remind you to do the same. In fact, the |
| days before the modern feminist movement, how | | | | conversations themselves are likely to be among your |
| many women would have been happier as doctors or | | | | greatest joys. Sharing your most profound inspirations |
| lawyers than they were being housewives? How | | | | with the people you love most in the world is about as |
| many doctors and lawyers today would be happier as | | | | joyful as it gets. That's lesson number one. You can |
| auto mechanics if they weren’t concerned | | | | build the rest of the syllabus together. |
| about their social "status"? What percentage of each | | | | |