ALL THE RESOURCES YOU NEED FOR PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

Search the complete list of self hypnosis sessions by entering your personal issue or problem you would like help with...
Browse 500+ self hypnosis mp3s

Experts agree that bullying not only exists in every school and community in our country, but it is also escalating at a frightening pace. Bullying, defined as the strong preying on the weak, has reached epidemic proportions in the U.S. Nearly one out of three American children have experienced bullying, either as the victim, perpetrator, or both - with few victims letting on they are, in fact, victims.

According to social scientists the common causes of bullying are rooted in diversity: racial differences, differences in family formation/structure, perceived sexual orientation, learning disabilities, and religious differences.

As the percentage of "different" children in schools and in society increases, the problem of bullying grows along with it. We can't escape diversity even if we wanted to. It is reflected in the languages we speak, the colors of our skin, our gender, our age, our traditions, our sexual orientation and identity, the structure of our families, and the financial and educational resources available.

The fundamental way to "bully-bust" is to teach young kids to respect and celebrate all cultures, choices and abilities. Decades of social science research has found that diverse classrooms and communities improve children's experiences through more realistic representations of the world around them, increase opportunities for authentic civic engagement and increase social interaction between members of different racial, ethnic and cultural backgrounds. That's a fancy way of saying that our kids are less likely to be bullied or to tolerate bullying of any sort if they are exposed to diverse people as early as possible.

So how can you become a bully-buster? Just follow these simple steps and empower one child, one family, one school, and one community at a time.

1. Bias-recognize, and then forgive yourself of your biases.
   We are all human. We all have biases, both positive and negative: the super-smart Asian, or the mysterious villain in a turban. The trick is to be aware, acknowledge and not unconsciously pass them on. And don't let the media or other institutions get away with it either. You can fight back and win!

2. Insist that school and home environments reflect the world young children live in.
   Look at the books, dolls, toys, magazines and musical instruments, the colors of paint, paper and markers your children play with. Watch how gender roles are displayed in your homes and classrooms and ask: Do they really reflect our diverse world? Pay particular attention to books as they are a proven way to influence a child's worldview, help form concepts of right and wrong, and raise awareness for social issues. Cinderella's impact on generations of young women should be all the proof you need to convince yourself of the power of the written word. Don't forget, what is absent is almost as important as what is present because the missing link can provide children with the vital information necessary for beating bullying and diversity.

3. Language matters... Watch what you say and write!
   Sticks and stones really do break bones and names do hurt. We are not even talking about the racial slurs of the past, but we are talking about other insidious and hurtful language. Use what sociologists call "people first" positive language. For example, a person is blind. He is not a blind person. A child was adopted, not an adopted child (meaning permanently adopted). "People first" positive language applies to racial and ethnic stereotypes, i.e. we sit like pretzels and not Indians. Asians are not Oriental and not every black person is African-American. If this seems like political correctness run amok, one glance at the mountains of sociological and psychological studies demonstrating language's role in shifting perceptions should be enough to convince the most ardent nay-sayers. And silence isn't always golden, either. Silence equals complicit agreement when racism rears its ugly head.

4. Teach your child how to be successful.
   Tweak assignments (or help teachers) to create a win-win for all. A simple and seemingly innocent "family tree" assignment can send a child in a non-traditional family into a tailspin. A "family orchard" assignment may accomplish the same educational objective yet allow everyone - no matter what their family looks like - to feel successful and included. Create family or classroom "contracts" of behavior that include bully-busting values like Respect, Honesty, Compassion, Fairness, Responsibility and Courage. Get everyone on board the diversity and bully-busting train and stick to it.

These four simple steps to stop bias and bullying in its tracks will provide everyone with a huge payoff: safer, more secure children who can thrive in an incredibly complex and diverse world. And who knows where that might lead? Next stop: world peace!

Known as the bully buster, Deb Capone, provides an easy, effective and entertaining way to talk to kids about race, culture and bias, while sowing the seeds for bully-proofing children and classrooms. As an award-winning author of 3 books and President of 'As Simple As That,' Deb has helped thousands of parents and educators bully-proof their kids and classrooms. For a limited time, sign up for the free newsletter, 'Breaking the Cycle' and receive for FREE, 'Grandparents Are For Loving' e-Book and companion classroom/family guide. A special e-book gift just for signing up today at End Bullying Today.

Daring to be Yourself The aim of the new book, Daring to be Yourself by Peter Shepherd, is to help you achieve a 'wide-awake' state of consciousness, with integrated use of left and right brain abilities, forming the bedrock for breakthroughs in personal consciousness and spiritual insight. The practice is based on the premise that we have learned disabilities that set boundaries to our action and knowing. But no one need accept that they must remain as they were shaped by their hereditary body-mind and by the conditioning of their childhood and culture. This 264-page eBook is like a "best of" the Trans4mind site, all brought together for your convenience. But much more than that, it's also an incredibly powerful program for personal growth. Remove the barriers to self-knowledge and reveal your full potential with this step-by-step approach... Daring to be Yourself. Also available for Kindle (or the free Kindle Reader application for all platforms) at Amazon.com. Our Blog features excerpts from the book plus current news, views and links. More Trans4mind eBooks: Click here to download the Trans4mind eBook Catalog + complimentary eBook! "I realize many people use praise in ways that sound frivolous...but I must tell you that your book has changed my life AND I mean that in all ways. I found the entire work wonderfully upbeat, readable and valuable! It really was quite a wakeup call. In the midst of my "trials and tribulations" I had failed to be "me." Anyway, this "talk with you" really did change my life. Thank you! I needed this kind of "kick in the pants." It worked. WOW! You made a huge difference in my world."–Becky, USA A digital copy of Daring to be Yourself is included with purchase of the Start a New Life! home-study course - which is effectively the practical "workbook" that accompanies the book by Peter Shepherd. Working through this course enables you to dare to be yourself and design a brand new life. Expressing your true needs, wants and feelings, you can start to live your life's purpose! After you have purchased the course, Peter Shepherd is available whenever you wish by email, to guide you every step of the way from where you are now, until you are established in a brand new life - the life that you have designed... Start a New Life!