| Chapter |
Key Points |
Makeover Tip |
| Chapter 1: The Trouble with Being Special |
- Allowing children to make mistakes, encounter failure, and know limitations (of self and others) teaches flexibility in the face of life's challenges.
|
Resilience Comes From Being Flexible. |
| Chapter 2: The Roots of the Problem |
- Skills and abilities develop over time.
- Developing them to the level of true creative expression takes diligence and patience.
|
Developing Talent and Creativity Requires Patience. |
| Chapter 3: The Importance of Adversity |
- The world is full of limitations.
- The ability to handle disappointment is key to confidence, self-governance, and optimism.
|
Real Life is Disappointing. |
| Chapter 4: The Necessity of Conscience and Virtue |
- Good character requires good manners, good conscience, and virtue, all of which are the foundation for success.
|
Good Character Wins. |
| Chapter 5: Autonomy and Emotional Maturity |
- Self-esteem/self-governance comes from knowing our strengths and weaknesses through receiving feedback from the things we do.
|
Autonomy is the Goal. |
| Chapter 6: The Value of Being Ordinary |
- Excessive praise for ordinary activities is addictive.
- Excessive praise contradicts the inner wisdom that enables skillful decision-making.
|
Don't Feed Kids Junk Praise. |
| Chapter 7: Religion and Reverence |
- Helping others is a source of deep satisfaction and happiness.
- Teach caring and compassion toward others as the norm.
|
Kindness and Generosity Bring the Greatest Happiness. |
| Chapter 8: Love and its Near Enemy |
- Show interest in, and respect and kindness for, your own parents, your partner, and elders.
|
Your Relationships Set the Example |
| Chapter 9: The Truth About Happiness |
- It is as important to recognize, respect, and respond to the needs of others as it is to have one's own needs met.
- Connection is the foundation of success and happiness.
|
Your Kid is Not King. |
- Belonging to a family means more than being born into it; teach kids to become a member by contributing.
|
Belonging Means Contributing. |