In well-developed Anglo-Saxon countries across the world, the personal development movement is a multi-billion dollar industry. Including market segments from holistic approaches, motivational speakers, inspirational websites, personal coaching, and other forms of personal development, the net worth of this industry is estimated to be almost $11 billion.
Millions of adults spend their hard earned money and time to read books and participate in seminars to develop life skills to create more success, happiness and fulfillment in their lives. However, one may ask, "Why wait!?". Shouldn't we be learning the basic skills of communication, goal-setting and planning from a young age?
Natalie Ledwell, author of the bestselling book, "Never in Your Wildest Dreams", host of The Inspiration Show and Co-founder of Mind Movies, asked herself the same question. Therefore, she took matters into her own hands and created "P.D. for Kids".
"P.D. for Kids" is a personal development curriculum designed for children between the ages of 6 and 12. The lessons are designed to be taught in classrooms and facilitated by teachers. The goal is to enrich and expand as many students' minds into what's actually possible and to instill positive life habits at an early age.
Each lesson is comprised of an easy-to-grasp explanation about a specific core principle of Personal Development, along with very engaging exercises and assignments to help students absorb the content. As part of the classroom activities and/or homework, students are instructed to directly and gradually apply those principles on a daily basis either at school and at home with the participation of their families. Ultimately, they will be encouraged to turn everything they've learned into life-long and healthy habits.
In a very informative and dynamic way, the program curriculum instills the students with core inter - and intra-personal values, and all the life tools they need to thrive in their lives.
The curriculum cover topics such as the importance of gratitude and settings goals for one's life, the power of words and thoughts and how they can influence the outcome of our dreams, the meaning and how to use affirmations and visualization techniques to move them closer to their goals.
The program also introduces to students to a powerful visualization tool entitled "Dream Design Movies" and guides them step-by-step in creating their very own dream movie.
Moreover, students receive in-depth orientation on how to identify and overcome challenges as well as the importance of taking action in order to accomplish their goals.
Lastly, the concept of "Stillness" is explained and students learn how to make use of meditation techniques in order to gain more self-confidence, peace and make the right decisions in relation to their goals.
They are encouraged to create their personal success daily routine that contain all the steps learned during the program, make them habits in order to achieve each and every goal they set for themselves throughout their lives.
However, Natalia and her partner Glen took it a step further and asked themselves why these same life-skills aren't being taught to children who really need them in under-developed countries.
As Natalie explains:
Basically, I have always wanted to empower adults and kids all over the world with successful life skills that they could apply for the rest of their lives. When my partner Glen and I started Mind Movies, I knew I would be able to accomplish just that.
So, I couldn't be happier when a university in Colombia requested that I create a Personal Development curriculum for kids that had the potential to benefit and empower the lives of 10,000 well-deserving kids who reside in the most poverty-stricken areas of the country.
Therefore, they took their charter program to Colombia and donated the program to 10,000 underprivileged kids to improve their own lives and the lives of their families. Additionally, the pilot program is now being taught in schools in Dubai, Australia and the U.S. and soon to be in Canada, South Africa and Spain.
Natalie and Glen's vision is to create a buy-one give-one system so that for every program that is purchased by a school, they will donate a program to either a low income or underprivileged school somewhere around the world.
Children are our future and empowering children around the world is one-step towards creating a better future for all.
For more information on Natalie and her work, visit MindMovies.
All photos used with permission and license from FOTOLIA.