Adorning our school’s main hallway is a sort of charter for the Heights graduate which designates him as a man who is “optimistic toward life’s challenges,” as one who “sees freedom as an opportunity to choose the good.” Fostering these ideals in each student is a central aspect of the school’s mission. But, in a world that is increasingly filled with children suffering from anxiety, how—in very practical terms—can we help our students develop such an outlook on life?
Last month, we heard from Mr. Alex Berthé on how parents can find peace in an anxiety ridden world. This week on HeightsCast, we begin a series of discussions with Dr. Kevin Majeres, lecturer at Harvard Medical School and Founder of OptimalWork.
In this three-part series, we take a deep dive into three sets of challenges which are becoming increasingly prevalent in today’s youth, and three mindsets or skills that can help us as parents and teachers to help our boys help themselves:
Our first discussion with Dr. Majeres focuses on anxiety. Combining years of experience as a psychiatrist and drawing on research in cognitive behavioral therapy, Dr. Majeres teaches us both what anxiety is and what we can do about it.
In the episode, we learn:
An essential component of The Heights School’s mission is to help students discover the adventure hidden in every challenge they face. Having spoken with Dr. Majeres, we might phrase this skill as the ability to turn the adrenaline of anxiety into the adventure of everyday life.
Chapters
Additional Resources
The Golden Hour with Dr. Kevin Majeres
Turning the Knots in Your Stomach into Bows by Jeremy Jamieson, et al.
Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol S. Dweck
Also on The Forum
“Learn to Turn”: Tom Royals on Parental Prudence
Parenting: Patience or Optimism with Andrew Reed
The Stressed Son: The Causes of Adolescent Anxiety with Alvaro de Vicente
Be the Rock: Fatherhood During Times of Crisis by Kyle Blackmer
Toughness for the Adolescent Boy by Kyle Blackmer