Being no example is better than being a bad example. As a child, I didn’t think about good or bad examples, not consciously anyway, but as the adult, it's clear that some of the examples being shown, weren’t positive examples I wanted to follow myself.

If we're not following another person’s example, we must set our own good example, live by those examples and aim to do better, in turn potentially helping those less fortunate than ourselves. Setting a good example will always pave the way and impact other people’s lives positively.

We are either a good example, or we’re not. There aren't any half measures. Without setting a good example, there can be no example or standard, and whilst that may work for some, we’re not all living a single life, where we only have ourselves to think about.

We must always set a good example, particularly if we want our children to live with good examples in their own lives. I believe it should be part of the parenting scenario or any scenario, if it is to make us better people.

Whilst the responsibility of setting a good example can seem quite daunting at times, it’s one we should learn to embrace. As society continues to dictate its own moral codes, we must continue to abide by its rules.

Good examples must start from home.

Ilana Estelle is a mental health and wellbeing advocate who combines educational insight with her personal experience of living with physical, mental, and emotional disabilities. She holds diplomas in Counselling, Diet and Nutrition, Nutritional Therapy, Psychotherapy and Counselling, and Stress Management. Through her writing, Ilana supports others in navigating their emotional, mental, and physical health challenges. In addition to writing for The CP Diary, her work has appeared in healthy lifestyle magazines. Ilana is also the author of three books: Cerebral Palsy: A Story – Finding the Calm After the Storm, Spirituality, Healing and Me, and Survival: The Covid Years – Time for Change.

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4 comments on “Setting an example”

  1. I agree. It's the responsibility of the parents to parent responsibly. Setting a good example is paramount, because the child is seeking guidance through interpretation.

  2. As parents, it is important that we set a good example, as children fundamentally learn that way.

    There is an old saying "do as I say, not as I do" and that is very much how I was parented in the 60s/70s; but having seen how inappropriate that is, I would hope that we have changed that for our children.

    1. Thanks. Yes, it's important we change it for our own children and future generations. I believe it's important to lead and be good examples for our children.

      If we say something, we need to carry it through. There's nothing more frustrating than being on the receiving end of someone who says something, then goes and does something completely different.

      I also see it as a moral issue. We must stand by what we preach.

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