I often hear from parents about their concern for their adolescent or teen. The situation is often a version of the following: The child acts out constantly, is unhappy, depressed or disconnected. The parent feels helpless and has no idea how to help their child or how to relate to him or her.

What do you do if you feel your child is troubled and/or your relationship is challenged? The solution is their gifts. Chapter 2 of my book, Exploring Your Potential; Who am I and what am I doing here?, discusses how to discover your gifts and the impact it has on your life and destiny.

Helping your child discover and nurture some of their gifts has many benefits to you both.

1. It builds confidence and self esteem. Adolescents and teenagers are swimming in self doubt and insecurities. Understanding your gifts builds a sense of esteem and confidence. You recognize something positive about yourself and get encouraging feedback from others.

2. If offers a sense of purpose. Utilizing your gifts in daily life is an aspect of your destiny. You have these gifts for a reason. Using these gifts is your purpose. Having a sense of purpose gives one a sense of fulfillment and meaning. This also helps your child to feel more centered.

3. It’s a way to connect with your child. Helping your child recognize a gift is something you can explore together. Encouraging your child to develop and nurture the gift. This can create an opportunity for the two of you to bond as you share the journey of discovery and development of the gift. It gives you, the parent, opportunities to give support to your child and gives your child to receive affirmative reinforcement from the parent.

Help your child discover their gifts. Encourage the exploration of these gifts and nurture them in your child. This will boost self esteem and confidence, create meaning in life and establish a bond between the two of you. It’s a win-win all the way around!