Raising Grateful, Empathetic, Mindful Teens: It’s Possible!

By: Joni Boyd

“How do I raise my teen to be a grateful, empathetic adult?”

According to Hugh van Cuylenberg is a renowned educator, resilience expert and founder of The Resilience Project, there are simple practises that parents can adopt, to create an environment which fosters these traits.

Hugh believes that practicing gratitude, empathy and mindfulness doesn’t mean we won’t struggle, “it means you’ll have the tools to handle those struggles better.”

Hugh works with the Australian cricket team and AFL teams as well as educational institutions, promoting mental well-being through resilience.

“When I was with these kids in India, I saw them practicing gratitude, empathy, and mindfulness every day, and they were so unbelievably happy,” Hugh said of the moment he realised what Aussie teens need.

Parents can foster these traits in their teens by creating structured opportunities for gratitude, empathy, and mindfulness.

“Practicing GEM—Gratitude, Empathy, and Mindfulness—doesn’t mean you won’t struggle.

“It means you’ll have the tools to handle those struggles better.”

Gratitude, Empathy, and Mindfulness (GEM) form the cornerstone of The Resilience Project.

Parents can foster these traits in their teens by creating structured opportunities for gratitude, empathy, and mindfulness. Hugh shares a practical and family-friendly method in this podcast interview.

Article supplied with thanks to Hope Media.

Feature image:Photo by kevin laminto on Unsplash

About the Author: Joni Boyd is a writer, based in the Hawkesbury Region of NSW. She is passionate about the power of stories shared, to transform lives.