affirmations = hypocrisy? How to alter that perception?

[baro-san]

Originally Posted by DoubleM

this is really difficult to express....
I've worked with affirmations for almost 30 years, not steadily, but I have found it did help with my deep insecurities and negative attitudes.

I had a very deep conversation with my 19 year old son recently and discovered just how grim his outlook on life is, in general.

He takes the weight of the world and it's fate on his shoulders. He sees the big picture and finds nothing to smile at. Humans are killing the planet. We have messed up Earth and it's too late to reverse it.
Humans are sick, heartless, stupid and cruel.
He isn't in a deep depression or suicidal, he just doesn't like humanity.
I have given him <the four agreements> to read and he did, shrugged it off, basically.

I've tried to explain that he can't do that to himself, he isn't responsible for the entirety of the race, only himself and his own energy.
That he could do some affirmations and a gratitude journal.
He says he feels like it's hypocritical. Lying to himself.
Needless to say, this made me very sad and distraught.

How can I change his perception of these wonderful tools?

I am probably wrong, but your post reminded me of the movie "About A Boy". In the movie, the mother was oblivious to her son's problems, unable to help him.

These days, maybe more than ever, kids are exposed to an undiscriminating informational bombardment, peer pressure, utopic ideas, scare-mongering. These may scar them for the rest of their lives. It is a very serious situation, and if you find unable to help your son, and even just to make sure you do what's right, try to enlist some reputable professional help. Be careful that your depressions and insecurities, political and social strong convictions, don't rub too much on him, before he's mature enough to make judgements for himself.

At 19 year old, your son should be involved in acquiring a solid education, building healthy lifestyle habits, learning about life, responsibility, work ethic, Earthly and spiritual values, and ... obviously, being preoccupied with learning about girls.

[CrystalSong]

Dire outlooks and post apocalyptic leanings are a stage many teens experience. It could be part of the hormones and chemicals going through more shifts for onset of adulthood, who knows. I remember it well though!
However that gets boring after a while as its so dark and gloomy and in the 20's Hope and Joy and Exploration and New thoughts often assert themselves and thus a new outlook on life.
Often this new perception is so pleasant and fun that one decides to stay with it instead of exploring pessimism again.

[Lynn]

Hello

I like what Grey Hawk 58 put.....

It hurts my heart that so many of today's youth seem to be missing out on Hope...Gratitude... JOY.


I have an 18 year old that thinks its all doom and gloom. Where we live is not good, the life he has is not good, man is not good ect ext. It goes on and on with him to the point I ignore most of the "gibberish" that comes out of his mouth at times.

He has what I call "the grass is always greener on the other side" syndrome that many have at this age. That the "world owes them a living" at times thinking as he sleeps all day and games all night on his PC.

He understand metaphysics and affirmations as he can use them to get what he wants but does not understand for example he go the car he wanted now he has to WORK to get the parts it needs. He has to work to get his licence to drive, insurance for the car, gas for the car the list goes on and on.

Its so common sadly in many this age not sure what they came in with in their Soul Contract to learn. Right now what he is learning is "how to push mom's buttons and how the street would look to live on". Not that I might well come to that place but......

Lynn

[Brucely]

The 'doom and gloom' is because of the access of information we youngsters have. A major part of that info are 'conspiracies' about the way society got it wrong, govt propganda and programming, schooling faults, debt, controlled monetary systems and commodities, etc. every soul in the stock market is greedy and conniving. Most major video games are about post-apocolapse and killing to survive. TBH sometimes i wish to see a world at war just so we can drop the trivial things we care about and restart society socialisms from the ground up.

Its almost impossible to change someones view, but they can evolve their view for better or worse

Take it from a spiritual youngster who has been on the dark side

[Emm]

Originally Posted by DoubleM

this is really difficult to express....
I've worked with affirmations for almost 30 years, not steadily, but I have found it did help with my deep insecurities and negative attitudes.

I had a very deep conversation with my 19 year old son recently and discovered just how grim his outlook on life is, in general.

He takes the weight of the world and it's fate on his shoulders. He sees the big picture and finds nothing to smile at. Humans are killing the planet. We have messed up Earth and it's too late to reverse it.
Humans are sick, heartless, stupid and cruel.
He isn't in a deep depression or suicidal, he just doesn't like humanity.
I have given him <the four agreements> to read and he did, shrugged it off, basically.

I've tried to explain that he can't do that to himself, he isn't responsible for the entirety of the race, only himself and his own energy.
That he could do some affirmations and a gratitude journal.
He says he feels like it's hypocritical. Lying to himself.
Needless to say, this made me very sad and distraught.

How can I change his perception of these wonderful tools?

The old adage "action speaking louder than words" might come in handy perhaps by showing him places or experiences that might bring a lightness of heart rather than looking things up in books or computers. A young lad may be interested in sport or some other outdoor persuit...travel, or anything that can fire up a passion of sorts with something he's interested in.

Action of any kind may help with body awareness more and get him out of his mind where troubles just seem to brew for most of us.

[DoubleM]

Originally Posted by Brucely

The 'doom and gloom' is because of the access of information we youngsters have. A major part of that info are 'conspiracies' about the way society got it wrong, govt propganda and programming, schooling faults, debt, controlled monetary systems and commodities, etc. every soul in the stock market is greedy and conniving. Most major video games are about post-apocolapse and killing to survive. TBH sometimes i wish to see a world at war just so we can drop the trivial things we care about and restart society socialisms from the ground up.

Its almost impossible to change someones view, but they can evolve their view for better or worse

Take it from a spiritual youngster who has been on the dark side

Thank you SO much, I could kiss you. lol. Maternally, of course.

Every one has great points, as usual, which is why I love you guys' input.
The funniest part is, a few days ago he said to me that he spoke to a friend of his who has depression and medicated, and also uses heroin, he told him to try a Gratitude Journal. I didn't over-react to the statement but my heart went <EEEEEE!!!>
It's baffling to me sometimes that as spiritual as I am, my own child is atheist... maybe that will change eventually, and if it doesn't, oh well. At least he's got good morals and personal ethic. I am very proud of that.

Kids today have such a different set of challenges than we did....