The New Crop: Issue #66
a parenting manifesto + "identity-based habits: how to actually stick to your goals this year"
What’s in this issue:
💭 Thought: A parenting manifesto
📚 Read: Identity-Based Habits: How to Actually Stick to Your Goals This Year
😆 Today’s Laugh
Sharing this in honor of Father’s Day this coming Sunday in the United States:
💭 Today’s Thought
In her book Daring Greatly, Brené Brown authors a lovely parenting manifesto that calls us to a life of courage, vulnerability, and compassion — first with ourselves, and then with our children.
Even if you don’t have kids, consider which parts of this manifesto can serve you personally, or perhaps can support you in another relationship in your life. 💜
The Wholehearted Parenting Manifesto
Above all else, I want you to know that you are loved and lovable. You will learn this from my words and actions–-the lessons on love are in how I treat you and how I treat myself.
I want you to engage with the world from a place of worthiness. You will learn that you are worthy of love, belonging, and joy every time you see me practice self-compassion and embrace my own imperfections.
We will practice courage in our family by showing up, letting ourselves be seen, and honoring vulnerability. We will share our stories of struggle and strength. There will always be room in our home for both.
We will teach you compassion by practicing compassion with ourselves first; then with each other. We will set and respect boundaries; we will honor hard work, hope, and perseverance. Rest and play will be family values, as well as family practices.
You will learn accountability and respect by watching me make mistakes and make amends, and by watching how I ask for what I need and talk about how I feel.
I want you to know joy, so together we will practice gratitude.
I want you to feel joy, so together we will learn how to be vulnerable.
When uncertainty and scarcity visit, you will be able to draw from the spirit that is a part of our everyday life.
Together we will cry and face fear and grief. I will want to take away your pain, but instead I will sit with you and teach you how to feel it.
We will laugh and sing and dance and create. We will always have permission to be ourselves with each other. No matter what, you will always belong here.
As you begin your Wholehearted journey, the greatest gift that I can give to you is to live and love with my whole heart and to dare greatly.
I will not teach or love or show you anything perfectly, but I will let you see me, and I will always hold sacred the gift of seeing you. Truly, deeply, seeing you.
P.S. Click here for a downloadable, illustrated version of this manifesto.
🖊️ Today’s Reflection
If you’re new to journaling, I highly encourage you to read Nancy Adler’s article: Want to be an outstanding leader? Keep a journal.
This week, find a quiet place and gift yourself 10 minutes to reflect on any of these prompts (or invent your own!):
What did you experience as you read the parenting manifesto?
Which parts of the manifesto resonate most with you?
Which parts of the manifesto seem easiest? Hardest?
What do you want to take forward or bring to life from this manifesto, and how will you do that?
📚 Today’s Read
Identity-Based Habits: How to Actually Stick to Your Goals This Year
Change is hard. You’ve probably noticed that.
We all want to become better people — stronger and healthier, more creative and more skilled, a better friend or family member.
But even if we get really inspired and start doing things better, it’s tough to actually stick to new behaviors. It’s more likely that this time next year you’ll be doing the same thing than performing a new habit with ease.
Why is that? And is there anything you can do to make change easier?
Click here to read more of this article by James Clear.
See you next week!
xo,
Anne