Focusing on Main task

There are many challenges we face nowadays.

Things keep on piling up, and fast coming. The pace is never slowing down.

To absorb all that come along is madness. Hence to stay sane, focus.

Focus is to scope down the importance.

What is then the importance to you?

For some, the importance is more towards self.

Others is towards the community.

No right and no wrong. It is a matter of preference.

However, there are tasks that lead to rewards.

Thus, are the rewards the main task for one to aim for?

It may be the motivational element for you to direct your energy, but can it sustain?

Is it the real, true element that make you feel good?

Realize the true meaning of doing something.

If you do something well, rewards will come naturally.

Focusing on the rewards will, henceforth, be a deviation from the main task.

It will not be sustainable. It will drain energy.

Doing and focusing on the main issue will always be the true meaning of doing something, and doing it well.

Trying to aim for the rewards of doing something will normally make the main task less prominent in the mind of the doer. 

Be honest and focus on the main task. Do not sway and be tempted for rewards.

Self-improvement is a serious truly pure upgrading of oneself.

The worst thing is to cheat oneself and think highly of it. 

Stay clear of that intention.

.  :-)

Daring to Fail

Everybody longs and seeks for success. It makes them happy and comfortable.

If you ever ask anyone why they avoid failure, they will always give you a stern look.
Why?

Because it may seems that you are testing their level of self-esteem.

Failure does pull down confidence. It destroys plans. It drags your you down emotional for a period of time.
Who likes failure?

Thus doing new and unfamiliar task becomes an issue to be avoided. 
After all what is wrong being in a comfort zone? Nothing will be wrong, and nothing will fail.

Status quo. No change.

Then what?

Times do change and lifestyle, technology and many others changes everyday.

If there is no action on your part to explore new things, you will become history very fast.
Accept failure.

Accept the fact that doing new things will result in failure. This is where you start to learn.
This is where you will find fun!

Learning through failure is one way out of many methods to pick up something new. 
But is a common method to improve oneself.

Daring to fail is the key. Love failure. It exposes you honestly. You will be opened up. You will find that failure in your every eyes a wonderful thing to have. It lets you find the truth after the feedback.

Think over this. Be truthful to yourself. 
If there is no action and remaining with the present, or worst, the past, you will finally lost yourself to the ever-changing world.

Wake up friends. Do your part and dare to fail.   :-)

Trust | Fundamental to Self-Improvement

Do you notice that when you are alone on the road to self-improve, you are solely responsible to your own learning?

This is very real.

Whatever goes into your brain determines your future action. With this new action, behaviour will change.

What are you learning?
Is the training material appropriate?
Do I trust the trainer and his material?

The above questions are important during the path of improvement.
You do want correct and relevant information, right?

However, the trust of your trainer is a very sensitive issue.
Do you TRUST his teaching?

If you do, he must have convinced you well. But do check his material off-line though.
Any reputable trainer has something good to share. He will not be there talking non-sense.
If in doubt, give him the benefit of the doubt first before checking and filtering the relevance.

The other case of trust is that you disbelief his teaching.
Why?
Question yourself.
If you are taking a course and you do not trust the words of the trainer, what more can you do?

As a learner, especially when you are alone, the only inputs are from somewhere else.
(Unless you re-invent some new materials !)
If you do not trust the trainer, how then do you improve.

If you do not trust the material, learning stops there right away.
You may be right. And terminates the learning if you have true doubt over the teaching.

But if you are caught, just note down whatever in question and starts to filter through after the session. This is, in fact, a crucial part of self-improvement; the selection of relevant material for acceptance.

In summary, TRUST is a very important step in learning and self-improving. If you start of doubting the words and material of the trainer, you are putting yourself in a disadvantaged position while the others move forward. Trust first and filter later will at least allow you to capture whatever the trainer is willing to share and for you to digest.

:-) Think about my point.  Comments welcomed.

.

Understanding Situations

We as human do get angry easily.
We jump to conclusion very fast.
We assume we are correct most of the time.

We do not read situation as clearly as it may be.
We do not often understand situation before we make judgement.

Am I honest enough?

I was reflecting on a past incident and it made me laugh at myself, shamefully of course.
They allowed me to start seeing things in another angle.
And another new lesson to learn.

What happened then?

I put some candies on the dining table before going for a shower.
When I came back, I discovered my young daughter eating the candies.
They are not meant for her!
So I started scolding her.....


Now upon reading that situation again, I discovered one funny issue.
Whose kids do not like eating candies?
I suppose every kids!

So, when my kid saw the candies, is it a very natural behavioural instinct to eat them?
Yes.

Who is then the "source" of the issue?
Me!
I placed the candies where she can have access to.
I invited her!

I should be scolding myself, not her.  (So sorry, daughter)

I then recall another situation.
Similar but now it was not my daughter that ate the candies.

I placed candies on the table.
Ants came and had their share of the goodies.

Why did I not scold the ants as I would scold my daughter.

It is because I knew that I did the wrong thing since it is common knowledge that ants eat anything sweet.

I had assumed that my kid was an adult and can think and act as an adult.
Therefore I scolded her.
But I forgot that she is a (3-year-old) kid.

If I had understood the situation then I would not lost my temper and should even be happy because I have a normal kid that like candies.

Thus my lesson is to understand situation before jumping to conclusion and making inappropriate decision.

Do you all agree with me now?

(By the way, though I did not scold the ants, I killed them! Isn't that worst off!...)

Comments?

.

Purpose of Learning

Self-improvement of oneself is a noble cause.

It allows us to grow to contribute and share.

Learning comes with an objective.

"Where will the learning be applied?" takes the main role in every development.

However, in real life, do we really follow what is mentioned above?

We go for training every now and then.
We learn new things, picked up new knowledge, and return back to where we are and then ....

We filled up our minds with unnecessary things as a result.
If we do not make use of our learning, then why are we learning?

Learning has to have deliverable.
It gets us working through the effort we put into developing ourselves.

If there is learning, but no application for it, we have only one thing to do.
That is, DO NOT attend the learning.

To keep us clear-minded and focus on the current, we have to stay clear in our thoughts.
All the saying of upgrading and improving ourselves do not hold water if we go for these "trainings" and come back status quo.

It is simply plain wastage of time and money (if any).
It causes our brain to create a false impression of ourselves improving.

The end result should be the applications of what we have picked up and situation changes for the better.
This is true learning.

Hence, go for improvement when you have a real need for it.
That is the purpose of learning, a simple logic.

Cheers!   :-)

.

Benefits of Pain for Self-improvement

Getting and welcoming pain?

This is a horrible question to ask!

Who likes to have pain?
It is uncomfortable.
It makes one uneasy.
Nobody likes pain.

We know that.

However, do you also know that we will react upon getting pain?

We will tend to find all sort of solutions or excuses to avoid getting pain.

It keeps you on your toe.
It helps you fight your way out of feeling terrible.

You see the benefit of pain now?
Yes, pain does helps, in the proper sense, of course.

No pain no gain. Remember?

Sometimes it is pain that drives us strongly towards being a better person and a better life.

To break out of poverty, to break out of stagnation, we will force ourselves to work hard and to discover new ways of doing things, new technology, new friends, new knowledge, etc.

The catch is to find that pain to improve yourself.

I have come across many people who stay happy go lucky in life. Good for them.

However, do you want this type of life?
It is your choice.

For me, I feel bored after some time. I feel rotten. I feel that I should be more than present.

Where then is the pain?
There are few ways.
My humble suggestions as follows:-

• You may compare with your peer. See where they are now, and where are you compared with them. By salary, by status, by achievement, by number of kids, you name it....
• You may check out (online) what is the latest know-how in your area of expertise. How do you fair compared with them? Do you feel embarrassed after the comparison?
• Think of your past achievements and check your present status. Have you grown better? Or have your stayed as-it-is since the past 5 years?

All these suggestions are NOT to cut you down for low self-esteem.
They are to throw some light to you.
They are to wake you up.

Don't dwell in fantasy. Seek the pain, the good pain that cures your inertia, physical or mental.

Improve yourself means improving your surroundings too.
This surroundings are your family members, your friends, your company, your community, and your country. The list will go on.
The impact is great.

I seem to be talking BIG. But give a moment to reflect on this post. Give me your feedback in the comment section, if you have. I welcome them.

But remember, the wise man's "No pain No gain" still exist.

:-)     or rather  :-(

.

Living in Relativity

Life is a complex blend of happiness and sadness. At one time, we are happy and the next, we may be sad.

However, to reflect clearly, it all comes from our relative comparisons and expectations.
We think that we are unfortunate in some instance. But is it really true?
By comparing to a “better” person, we are unfortunate. But if we set our reference to one that is worst, are we fortunate?
Thus, our mind calls the shot. We select how we feel
If we are physically ill, do we give up and let nature takes it course?

Cancer, stroke or heart problems are common nowadays.
How do we deal with it? Brighten up or dim off?
Help is always at hand and provided we are keen to know the issue.

Self-improvement is a continuous process regardless of mental or physical state.

I am lucky to know of a person, Jackie Clark, who has enlightened me on the issue of cancer.
It sort of waked me up to the relative state we are constantly in.

Here I present to you her sharing on how a cancer diagnosis changes a person's life.

 
How a Cancer Diagnosis Changes a Person's Life
By: Jackie Clark
 
Cancer is a disease that people do not truly understand unless it happens to them. Every year, there are millions of people who hear the scary words "you have cancer." Prostate, breast, colon and cervix are some of the most common forms of cancer being diagnosed today. Mesothelioma is one of the least common forms of cancer, but the number of people being diagnosed with has increased drastically in the past few years. The mesothelioma life expectancy is only about eighteen months, but the prognosis depends greatly on the patient.

People who have cancer are afraid because they do not know what their future holds. They do not know whether they will be able to do the things they once enjoyed. Cancer patients do not even know if they will wake up the next morning. Loved ones of a cancer patient are also affected. Sadly, cancer does not just affect the patient but others around them as well. Losing a friend, spouse, mother, father or child is a pain that cannot be described. Those who are close to someone who has cancer worry constantly about their loved one.

People who have cancer have to endure months and perhaps years of painful treatments. Cancer also causes hair and weight loss, which can make a person feel self-conscious. Many cancer patients also feel guilty because they feel as though they are being a burden to their family and friends.

There is no way that the pain of a cancer diagnosis can be taken away. However, one of the things that cancer patients can do that can potentially be beneficial is seeing a life coach. Life coaches are trained professionals who help people deal with the challenges of life. Life coaches can help cancer patients overcome depression. They can also help the patients develop a more positive self-image. The family members of cancer patients can also potentially benefit from life coaching. The benefits of a life coach seem never ending. The guidance and insight these professionals provide truly help cancer patients and their family members heal both physically and mentally.

People who have heard the devastating words "you have cancer" know that their lives will never be the same. Cancer patients, face a world of uncertainty, but fortunately they do not have to go down that road alone. Family members, friends and life coaches are available to help people go through that terrifying ordeal.

:-) Count your blessings.

.

Doing Meaningful Things

In a mad rush to complete things, we are sometimes, if not every time, caught doing tasks that we do not understand why they exist in the first place.

This occurs frequently and is picking up fast these days. Be mindful.

Example: Too many leaders or bosses giving differing directions.
It makes one wonder whether do the leaders themselves know what they want.

I believe you have come across this type of scenario before.

It makes you wonder what is wrong and a burning desire to stop moving in this direction.

What to do and how to react?

The first and foremost step, I suppose, is to be clear in one's mind.
Are you doing things for a reason, or blindly doing it since everyone else is doing it too.

Give meaning to the tasks. If you cannot find one, then why are you doing it?

Seek out the reason or understand the needs to do it.

However, in the working life, sometimes we are caught in between.
To secure the current job and completing a task that may not lead to your own personal goals but only to serve others' goals. (Sound familiar?)

In this situation, since we are living in a community, the better approach is to complete it as fast as you can, but of course within acceptable quality and standard, as agreed.
This will rid you of hanging onto tasks that carry "no" meaning (to you).

If possible, try to negotiate or convince the other party to align or attach true reasons for doing the work.

In short, do not waste time doing things that do not serve you in the long run. Be prudence.
Do meaningful things.

Stay truly alive.  :-)

All Action Has Consequences

In life, we are always presented with choices. These choices will require actions to reach a certain objectives or goals.

Deciding which is the correct choice becomes a challenge.

Taking a wrong action results in reaching the wrong destination.
While taking a correct one helps us fulfill our wish.

All action has thus a consequence, or consequences.

To be a better person, we has therefore to acquire a suite of self-improvement tools.

One of them will be the ability to decide properly the actions to be taken for a certain purpose.
Thinking and deciding skills becomes critical for that matter.

How do we think?
This question seems "cute" to some.
But if you really dig into this question, you will find that it is not an easy question to answer.

I do not have the answer.
But I strongly believe that if you can connect as many facts or experience together, you will likely be able to achieve a suitable result through proper actions.

If someone anger you, what do you do?
Do you shout back at him?
Do you start throw any objects you can reach at him?

Or do you cool down and review the situation before you react?

Different actions taken by you will produce different consequence.
Sometimes it is the emotional part that overwrite your mental part.
Which is the correct or suitable cause of actions is more of being aware, at that point in time, of your desire.

You have to go through a few incidence before you can really master that quick decision for the suitable type of actions.
This maybe what we call "experience".

In short, be aware that any action you take, you will have to face some form of consequence, be it good or bad ones.

However, if you are unsure, go for the kind and unhurting style. It should not go wrong.
(Even if it is wrong, you will know that you did it with good intention, :-)  )

.Cheers.

Be True to Your Belief

On a daily basis we are bombarded with many comments and views from others.

Some are encouraging while some are destructive.

Did you get demoralised?

Stay strong, if you have the urge to submit to the latter.

Why?
It is because if you go the way of accepting that you are "bad", you will lost your esteem as well as confidence.

Stay true to your own belief if you think that what you do is for the good of self and others.

Think and review your intention and desire for certain things that you have been doing that have gotten the red eye of others.

We cannot avoid the "speech" of people around us but we can choose to ignore or filter the "speech".

Believe in yourself.
It will make you trust yourself better and happier as a result.

Overtime, with much practice, you will find that you will have the strength to overturn the bad impact and smile over it.

So stay tune to your belief and stay sincere to your goodness self.

Cheers and forever happy.  :-)

.

Viewing Failure as Feedback

Have you really looked at how people walk to their destination?

Or how a boat reaches its final point?

Along the way, aiming for that particular end point, we encounter many "disturbances" that cause us to deviate from the main flow.

While walking, you will notice, if you pay attention, that we continuously skew away from the straight line to the destination.

BUT we managed to steer back and continue walking to our final target.

Some people call these deviations "Failures".

Some call them "Feedbacks".

What is the differences?

Definitely the latter perception is a positive one.
It generates interest in moving forward, taking the message as input for correction.

When you view the deviation (input) as failure, you hammered yourself down into the ground.
You will not enjoy the journey, whether walking or rowing the boat.

Staying positive amidst all the disturbances keep you enthusiastic about finding more.
It keeps you informed. It helps you reach your goals.

It is a matter of viewing the message.
It is possible to change your mindset and perception of things.

Therefore it will be good if you start looking at things on the bright side, viewing feedbacks without "failures" starting today.

Do you agree with me this is a better choice?

Happy feedbacks.  Cheers!

.

Knowledge And Application

Have you ever wondered why you remain the same after attending many upgrading courses or reading tons of materials?

You find that the action taken by you, for the sake of improvement, did not reap the desired or expected results.

Why?

You have understood the materials read or learned. And even been awarded a certification for the course attended.

You are suppose to be the expert now.
You are better informed and knowledgeable.

But why the poor performance?

One answer may lies in that you are keeping the information or knowledge picked up.
You are not using it.
You are just storing the newly acquired knowledge in your brain literally.

To be a better person, a renewed person, you have to use the information.
You have to apply the knowledge gained somewhere.

That "somewhere" has to be an area whereby you can demonstrate and monitor the results after application of the knowledge.

Keeping everything will just be that. Status quo, no change or minimum change.

You need to make use of the information, review its application and do modification or customise the usage to add value to the knowledge.

You need to process the materials acquired. You need to "test" the information through some applications.

Examples:

• Do a project after picking up some programming language.
• Perform a dance after learning some new steps.
• Teach and be challenged by students / colleagues after discovering some new techniques.

Taking action and using the knowledge or skill improves productive and allows you to be efficient.

Keep trying and use information. Do not stop at "just knowing".

Learn ==> Use ==> Re-learn ==> Use

Through this concept of applying new knowledge, your desire to self-improve will definitely reap results.

The results may not be what you expected, but it will still be an answer to an action taken by you. And this is valuable feedback for further actions.

That is what self-improvement is all about.  Don't you agree?

Cheers to a better you!

.

Being Brave In Times of Hardship

'
Looking at imminent problems may be taxing when you know that they cannot be avoided or resolved.

Two things can be done then.
1) Completely ignore the fact and move on as though they did not exist
2) Face the fact and move on in reality

Choice one may be good in the short term, but may results in accumulated negative impact later.
Choice two is down to earth, feeling the pain upfront but growing stronger later.

Being brave takes energy.
Choice two needs a stronger amount of energy.

Being realistic reflects maturity. Shallowing pride demonstrates strength in understanding.

Failure to meet goals meant more hardwork to be factor in.
As such, failure meant delayed success.

Being brave will see results later.
Staying on track and remaining focus will be good objectives to keep one going.

Things will be brighter along the way.
There will go ups and downs, a cycling effect at play.

Just look forward and move on in times of hardship.
Select happiness and not drown yourself in sorrow.

You have a choice in life.
Being happy or sad.

Know that everyone goes through this one time or another.
Know that you are not alone.

Be brave.

Understanding Imperfection

'
Since our school days, we are exposed to the number 100% which represents full mark or perfect score.

It is a wonderful thing to have. Almost everyone wants it.

Looking good is also a nice thing to have.
Barbie dolls are models for young girls to emulate.

We thus grow up in a "nice" world.

What then is imperfection?
Can you accept imperfection?

Demands in work for high standard these days aligns everyone for the perfection.
A slight deviation can be picked up and be the talk of the day.

To err is human.
Does this sound familiar?

Understanding imperfection is a realistic step to understanding people.

Though we do strive for the best, we need to know that we are not perfect.
A certain amount of slack will happen one time or another.

Do you blame yourself for any hiccups?
Try not.

Understand that you are afterall human.
You will feel better having this knowledge.

The key is to try your very best, but do not expect it to be perfect always.

Hope this article can lessen the pressure of daily life, and
to understand the meaning of being perfectly imperfect.

:-)

Removing Dependancy

.
When we were young, we looked towards our elders for guidance.
When we were school-going, we looked at our peers and teachers for direction.
When we are working now, who do we look for?

The dependacy mindset is always within us.
We look for support. We fear. We need help.

It becomes a mental block.
Without support, we cannot progress on our own.

We lose confidence.
We cannot do without given direction.

Now the question, "Is it healthy in the long run, habouring this type of mindset"?

Can we be guiding than being guided?
I believe we can.
It all depends on which option we prefer.

Removing dependacy, removes the need to seek direction from others.
We become a thinker, a planner and a leader.

We think out new ideas.
We plan for directions to achieve the ideas (objectives).
We lead towards our ideas.

Along the way, you will discover people following you.
People will look upon you to depend themselves on.
They seek advice from you.
You become their mentor.

Do you see the change with the removal of dependacy?

You grow.
You learn and improve through contemplating.
You self-explore and experiment new initiative never done before.

You will feel a more confident you.
You will be more daring.
You will find the fun of exploration.

You self-improve.

That is life.

Make full use of your life.
:-)

.

Sincerity Towards Others

.
We live in a world of ever-changing environment.
We meet different people now and then.

They exist anywhere. Be it the office, the school, the market, or even your neighbour.

Do you treat them like strangers?
Or do you welcome them into your life?

Relations are build not in one day.
To have strong bond and rappor, we need to know each other.

To break the ice, (in a fast way), we need to be sincere.

Sincere in the sense that we do not view each other with suspicious motive.
Treat them as they are, and accept them and align as we go on.

Understand that every people has their own personality, their own character and behaviour.

Being sincere opens up our defence to others.
It is mutual.
It may not be instant, but it will come.

The respect and trust for each other is an important part of human relationship.

Time will always tell if the person is really sincere or plain entertaining.

To treasure a specific relationship, practice sincerity.
It matters.

People are social beings. The sincerity will reciprocate, though maybe in another form.
But it will come. 

Happiness will also follow suit.

Have a happy sincere day ahead!
Cheers  :-D

.

Dwelling on the Past Instead of Future

.
It is very often that we look back into the past and wonder why some events happen only to us.

It is even more bitter when the events were not happy ones.

For those happenings, we tend to question the why's.
We cannot accept the fact that we are involved and not others.
We felt let down or demoralised.

But is it necessary to ask why?
Will it helps?

It may be better if we go for the "what" than the "why" for most of these instances.

What I meant is the learning part or the lesson to be picked up for those incidents.

Dwelling on the past and wondering "why" is just simply recalling the sad situation and remaining status quo.
No progress is made with such action.

Rather understand the happenings and seek the "what" to be learned.
This way improvement is made and you will be delighted with yourself for learning and experiencing life.

You will not be dragged down by the past but be boosted with new lesson learned.

Move forward after learning the lesson and strive for self-improvement.

Past is past, we have only the future to look forward to.

Cheers and ...  don't forget to feed my cheerful and happy fishes (on the left ). Thanks.

.

Side Effects Of Positive Thinking

.
Trying your best in whatever you do is an example of being positive.

Accepting new challenge or task is another example.

To be happy, one way is to help people. This is positive thinking.
But if you are helping too many people, will you still be happy and continuw to stay positive?

Moderation comes in.
Positive thinking is good if you balance your limit to it.

Overdoing and exceeding your buffer may do more harm.

If every single thing has to be accepted in the name of positive thinking, to improve or otherwise, we will go bersek.

It is counter-productive in nature if ignoring "negative" fact is deemed bad.

Information has to be reviewed and time buffer, and capability studied before going with new challenge.

It is against the objective if due to being positive, committment is agreed but cannot be fulfilled.

What then is positive thinking?
It will pull you down and makes you worried and sad.

Think twice.
Rejecting offer is good to yourself and others if you believe that you are not able to commit to the task.
It is fair to you and others too.

It even reflects maturity in your thinking.

Moderate whatever comes along and balance them with existing duties and roles.

Any thing we handle has side effects. There are always advantage and disadvantage in everything.

Be aware of this and less thing will go wrong.

Stay balance and happy ,  :-)

.

Is Problems Useful?

*
Ever heard of Problem-based learning?

It implies some usefulness in having problems.

Everyone dread problems. It irritates.
We are all human, and human tends to aim for comfort.

Problems forces us to re-evaluate our thinking and concept.

Problems disturb the norm and smooth-flowing of process.

So how do you perceive it as useful when it has so many negative impact psychologically?

There is no hard and fast rule of re-looking at problems.
They have to be felt.
They have to be experienced.

One good way is to reflect on the final outcome after encountering problems.
Do they improve your performance?
Do they change your mindset or thinking for the better?
Do they force you to be more hardworking to explore new areas?

Or do they simple demoralise you?

Balance the positive and the negative impacts they do to you.
My bet is that they improve more than wack you down!

Problems are here to stay whether we like it or not.
It will come back and "remind" you of any wrong-doings.

Probems are not brakes in life. Problems are guidelines.

They align your directions when you deviates unknowingly.
They recall you back, in a harsh way.

To reduce your anxiety towards them, see them as aids than foes.
Be aware that they improve situations.

They disturbs because we, as humans, have mental inertia.
Not that they are of no good.

Change your mindset towards problem and you will definitely see a brighter and cheerful you.

Try it, and experience it.
It wil not be immediate.
Give yourself some time over a defined period of time.
Be consistent and alert to its goodness.

Seek for the learning points in problems.
Treat them well
and you will treat yourself well.

Cheers

:D

Tips On Improving Your Kids Studies

.
Teaching a kid is a tough job for any teacher or parent.

The minds of kids are fluctuating now and then, even during studying.

We can't do much about the mind unless we apply stright discipline.
This cause resentment and rebellion.
The negative impact on the freedom demoralises the kid and make studying a chore.

What is a good tip then to "wake up" and encourage the kid in their study?

The answer lies in how we get them motivated.

How do you, in the first place, what others to motivate you?
Using the answer, you can apply it onto the kids.

One way, for me, is the feel of success.

Motivation comes when you discovered that a certain task assumed to be out-of-reach can be accomplished with some effort.

The "I made it!" conclusion stimulates.

Apply this aim onto the kids.

How to go about it?

1)  Get the kids to start of simple. Some hand holding may be necessary.
2)  Guide the kids closely. Showing examples or model answers if possible. This built confidence.
3)  Let the kids pratice a few times of the same type of problems.
4)  Summarise the steps or key points.
5)  Request the kids to repeat your summarised steps.
6)  Give a test question for them to try on their own.
7)  Wait to see their SMILE.

Finally, you will be smiling with them.

Be consistent throughout the guidance.
They can read your mind if you are sincere about training them.

Kids are NOT stupid. They are sensing and testing water at times.
Show them you care. They will read you correctly.

Improving this skill and you will be having less resistance teaching your kids.

:-D   Happy tutoring.

.