Teaching and modeling Honesty and responsibility

What are you doing today that encourages children and teens to be honest, keep promises made, share ideas and dreams, have respect for themselves and others and resolve conflict in a mature fashion?

It’s very easy to pass the buck and not take the time to have honest communication with kids. It’s much easier to teach only what’s in the text, let them watch television for hours each day or sit in front of their computers.

Everything and anything you can do to encourage an actual extended conversation with a child will make a difference in their lives and in their ability to think indiscriminately and make wise choices.

Zari Alipour, Ph.D.
Making Wise Choices in a Disruptive Age
www.DrZari.com
Zari@DrZari.com
310-574-3832

Constructive communication

Paramount to opening up the communication with a child is your ability to hear about their emotional pain.

Most of the time, heartbreak in a teenager’s life seems pretty trite to us. But it’s the red flag to which you should pay careful attention. When the painful times come, it’s an open door for you to build trust and respect with a teen. You may only get to listen without commenting but if you stick with it without a punitive attitude, you will eventually create a dialogue that may even lead to a turning point in an unhealthy decision based on his/her humiliation, fear, loss or embarrassment.

It all begins with your willingness to be there and listen.

Zari Alipour, Ph.D.
Making Wise Choices in a Disruptive Age
www.DrZari.com
Zari@DrZari.com

Subconscious programming
In our cultural obsession with all things media, our children are being instructed by the habits of the rich and famous, primarily by those who are associated with Hollywood. Are we giving them enough intellectual stimulation to discern behavior patterns that are in their best interest?

Actors, actresses and television role models leave a lot to be desired in terms of preparing children for higher education. Anorexic and bulimic actresses on television and magazine covers are on a collision course. They use their bodies to act and make a living and so they work on conditioning their bodies all the time, and barely eat enough to stay alive in the game. Fast talking, glib, action heroes do little to help children think, let alone discuss ideas that will stimulate an intellectual discussion.
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Recovery takes time

Alcohol and/or drug recovery takes time. Part of recovery is to accept that recovery is a life-time challenge.

Here are 6 factors affecting how successful recovery will be:
1. How quickly the individual adapts to change
2. How supportive your family and friends are in understanding the challenges you are facing
3. The type of drug/drugs the addict is using and the duration of use
4. The type of treatment
5. How disciplined the addict in staying away from friends who are using
6. How successful the addict is at avoiding “trigger places”

Zari Alipour, Ph.D.
Making Wise Choices in a Disruptive Age
www.DrZari.com
Zari@DrZari.com
310-574-3832

There are 4 keys to surviving the college years drug-free:

1. Make a commitment to your dream and focus on keeping your dream alive.

2. Make a decision that you aren’t going to let drugs and alcohol interfere with your education.

3. Find alternatives to fraternities and sororities if either of your parents are/were addicts.

4. Select friends who are committed to their short and long goals.

Zari Alipour, Ph.D.
Making Wise Choices in a Disruptive Age

Opt-in to get a free copy of Alcohol and drug prevention for teen (e-book in 6 weeks)
www.DrZari.com
Zari@DrZari.com

Choosing friends wisely
Are you in a position to influence the decision of a college student to join a fraternity or sorority?

There are things you can do to help young adults make that decision. But the ability to discern appropriate and valuable friends comes long before college. Relationships created in sororities and fraternities can have long lasting consequences, some good – others not so good. If a child has been active in being able to determine what worthy friendships are, they are much more able to make a decision regarding relationships in college.

A genuine friend keeps a promise, follows through with what he or she says, sacrifices for the other, respects and honors, is courteous, builds character, and is a positive connection in helping one realize their dreams.
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How do you help a child make a wise decision?
When children are young, we readily and easily help them make healthy and safe choices and the best among us teach them why each choice is unwise or wise. However, once the child is a teenager, we increasingly back off, often letting the consequences of their actions teach the principles.

Big mistake! The frontal cortex (the center for executive functioning = CEO of brain) is still developing and maturing up to age 22. It is necessary for good judgment, organization, impulse control and solving problems.

They are not adults and even young adults need guidance through decision-making. Children need to have a responsible adult maintain continue the guidance on helping them think for themselves and draw their own conclusions when they’re old enough to think logically. It is a big part of building self-esteem.
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Subject:  Little exercise tips that can change your life

Try these suggestions:

• Walk up or down the stairs instead of taking the escalator or elevator.
• Take a 10-minute walk right after each meal.
• Select the parking space farthest from where you’re going.
• Walk to do your small errands.
• Ride a bicycle to do your small errands.
• Purchase a workout video for your home if you insist on not going to the gym.
• Do some exercise or activity where you can work up a sweat.

You don’t have to begun-ho about exercising, but you do have to keep moving.  You’ll feel better and your family will notice the difference.

Zari Alipour, Ph.D.

Making Wise Choices in a Disruptive Age

www.DrZari.com

Zari@DrZari.com

310-574-3832

Carbohydrates are source of energy. They are easily accessible,

and body can break them down and use them quickly.

There are two classes of carbohydrates: Simple and complex.

Simple carbohydrates these carbs are broken down quickly thus raise your blood sugar include sugar, honey, and fruit juices and……

Complex carbohydrates are better source of energy they are broken down to into glucose and digested. Some complex carbs are a high source of B vitamins and iron, these vitamins are lost during processing they are high source of fiber as well, include corn, grain products, wheat pasta, brown rice, peas and legume ………

Pay attention to the glycemic index:

Fruit high glycemic indices are carrots, bananas, grapes, pineapples, watermelon, and cherries.

You have to be cautious and select carbohydrates with lower glycemic index:

Vegetables Fruits

Baked potatoes 85            Watermelon 72
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Simplify your life!

Is there lots of activity in your life where you’re beginning to wonder if it’s too much?  Are you stressing out in ordering to meet the demands of all of the activities you’ve chosen for yourself and or for your children?

There are ways to simplify your life.  Try these:

Get rid of clutter

• Set your own pace, rather than follow the demands of others.
• Reduce the time you spend watching television.
• Reduce the time you spend in front of your computer.
• Take 10- minute meditations throughout your day.
• Do only one thing at a time. Multitasking causes an increase in errors and unclear communication, especially with children.
• Get rid of clutter.

Analyze what really matters during the day.  Nothing matters until you make it matter.  It’s your choice.

Zari Alipour, Ph.D.
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