7 Things You Must Do If You Want To Have "Bully Free Living" 
by Stephen E. McChesney 

Confidence, motivation, and self-esteem. These are character
traits we want in our children and ourselves. It is not just
children who are victims of the bully. You might be intimidated
by the CEO of a huge corporation who holds your job in his or her
power, or by a bully who lives down the block, or by a co-worker,
your hairdresser, your spouse, or even your own kids.

1. Build the self-esteem in yourself and your children

Self-esteem is like a muscle. You must exercise it to build it
and keep it in top shape.

To have self-esteem is the same as saying you feel good about
yourself, you like yourself. Ask yourself if you would like to
have 'you' as a friend. If you've answered yes, then you have
self-esteem. If the answer is no, we have some work to do. 

2. Daily inspiration

Sometimes our lives are so busy that we don't take time to 'stop
and smell the roses'. Tiny things may trigger us to take a moment
and reflect or project. This could be something as small as a
sentence in our email every day.

3. Protect your children

Parents will go above and beyond when it comes to protecting
their children. One way to protect our children is to step
between them and danger. Another is to prepare them to protect
themselves. Not with violence, but with wisdom.

Take little steps, day by day. You'll be surprised at the
distance you've covered over time.

4. Wisdom is a key

The definition of wisdom is 'The ability to discern or judge what
is true, right, or lasting; insight. Common sense; good
judgment.'

"It is a characteristic of wisdom not to do desperate things"
(Henry David Thoreau).

I like to define wisdom as 'Knowledge, and knowing how to use
it'.

Bully Free Living requires wisdom. Again, tiny steps day to day.

5. Self-confidence

To walk with confidence is to repel the bully. Bullies are, more
often then not, cowards. They will target an easy victim. One
that walks with no confidence, head down, shoulders slumped.

Self-confidence goes hand-in-hand with self-esteem. You can build
the confidence in yourself and your children by encouraging the
participation in activities that you (they) are good at.

6. Success in life

Being successful in life is different to different people. To me,
being successful in life means achieving the goals that I have
set for myself and being the best parent, friend, neighbor,
co-worker, boss, employee, husband, and future goal setter that I
can be.

My youngest daughter feels she is successful in life when she has
successfully manipulated me :).

7. The skill of listening

We've all heard the saying that we were given ONE mouth and TWO
ears, so we should listen twice as much as we talk. There is a
skill to listening; I mean really listening.

Think about how you like to be heard. It makes you feel good that
someone else cares enough to listen. You spread that good feeling
whenever you listen to others. Therefore, more self-esteem is
being spread.

Bully Free Living is something that we must prepare for. It's not
really a difficult task. In fact, simple things will lead us.
Something as simple as our thoughts.

Although it is not difficult, if we don't think about it, it may
just sneak up on us. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of
cure.
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Steve McChesney is the President of Mac Stephens Productions,
Inc. He and his wife, Lisa, are the publishers of 'Bully Free Living'
ezine as well as the bully-free-living.com website.Their daily 
inspirational tips are short and to the point. For more information 
please visit: http://www.bully-free-living.com