One of the things that’s really important to me is to be a role model for my son and to be an amazing father.
In fact, every morning and every evening, I say my set of declarations around who I’m creating myself to be and two of the declarations are:
- I’m an amazing husband and father.
- I’m an incredible role model for my son.
These two statements have been guiding principles for how I show up in the world. When there is a decision to be made, I often run it through the statements as in “Am I being a role model for my son when I did take this action?”, “Am I being an amazing father when I do this or don’t do that?”
I found that just having this as a direction to move has completely shifted how I show up as a parent.
I found that I end up spending more quality time with my son because that’s what an amazing father would do. I’m finding that I am turning into a better man, because it’s so important for me to be a role model for my son.
I don’t think that I ever was aware of what it meant to be an amazing father.
The “how to” as Steve Chandler would tell me, is never the issue. It’s the “want to” and when I got really clear that I wanted to be an incredible role model and amazing father for my son, I made that internal commitment to be that, and everything started shifting. Because the “how to’s” that I already knew, I started to actually do them.
I believe every father knows deep down a dozen things they could do right now to be a better father to their children. Here are just some of mine, in no particular order:
- I tell my son every day that I love him, I’m proud of him and I’m glad that he’s mine.
- I make sure I spend quality time with my son almost every single day. For me, this is reading him books during that time.
- I am being a role model of eating healthily, which encourages him to eat healthy.
- I set boundaries for him, and when he has crossed the boundary and he might get upset I let him know he is still loved.
- I make sure I keep my word to him. If I tell him I’m going to do something or be somewhere or buy him something I will do it.
- I ensure that I am financially successful and help him see that we are all powerful creators who live in abundance.
- I remind him that we help out those less fortunate than ourselves.
- I encourage him to be kind by being kind to myself.
- When I have done wrong, I apologise.
I’d love to hear some of the things you do that have made you a better father.
With love and appreciation,
Ankush Jain
Coach and Author of Sweet Sharing – Rediscovering the REAL You
