Nov 27 2024 5 mins 2
Parents who worry that their daughter is overindulged, spoiled, or ungrateful can use the “George Bailey effect” to help them become more grateful for the people, experiences, and material things in their lives.
In the famous holiday movie, It’s a Wonderful Life, Jimmy Stewart’s character is so discouraged and depressed that he thinks committing suicide to give his family his life insurance money is better than him being alive, and he wishes he had never been born. An angel, Clarence, comes down from heaven and allows Jimmy to see what would have been different for all of the people in his life if he indeed had never been born. This has the effect of making him extremely grateful for his life and he becomes happy and ready to live his life fully.
Dr. Jordan encourages parents to teach their daughters this tool to engender a sense of gratitude for their lives. Have your daughter imagine what her life would be like without a major blessing like parents, siblings, relatives like grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins, good friends, and any positive life events. Then encourage them to express gratitude internally or to thank them in person or with letters of gratitude.
What a great exercise for us all to do during this thanksgiving and holiday season.
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