Anxious Quote by Martin Seligman
“We deprive our children, our charges, of persistence. What I am trying to say is that we need to fail, children need to fail, we need to feel sad, anxious and anguished. If we impulsively protect ourselves and our children, as the feel-good movement suggests, we deprive them of learning-persistence skills.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Authentic Happiness by Martin Seligman, 2002
Children must experience failure and distress to develop resilience and persistence, rather than being shielded by overprotective attitudes.
In simple terms: Failing teaches kids to keep trying.
Key Takeaway
Allow children to face challenges and learn from setbacks.
Themes
resilience
education
emotional development
Mood
concerned
hopeful
Type
advice
reflective
When to use this quote
- parenting
- school curricula
- sports coaching
- mental health programs
Key Concepts
psychology
growth mindset
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we create safe spaces for failure?
- What signs show a child is developing persistence?
A Different Perspective
Overprotection can cause trauma if not balanced with support.
