We live in a world where pressures are extreme and all prevailing, and our children are feeling this now more than ever. With this in mind, this month I wanted to collate some inspiring words to remind you – and your incredible children – that their purpose, their reason, the very point in their being alive, is to be wholly and unequivocally themselves. Whether they struggle with maths or if they cannot draw like their best friend, they are certain to have another unique gift hidden within them.

Their whole life is an exploration of all that is on offer so that they may one day discover, within them, their very own Golden Egg, and your job as a guardian is to offer them support whilst they explore.

“The person who follows the crowd will usually go no further than the crowd. The person who walks alone is likely to find himself in places no one has ever seen before.” Albert Einstein

Loneliness is so painful to a child, so supporting them in developing resilience is the greatest gift you can offer. It is often the fear of being left out which pressures the child to conform, not only to the adult world around it but also to peer pressure and unwanted behaviours. An unconditionally loving home can offer a place of solace when the big wide world gets too much.

“We must never be afraid to be a sign of contradiction for the world.” Mother Teresa

In times gone by we praised conformity and wanted only to raise obedient little worker bees to build an empire and fuel economic growth; today we are facing problems on a worldwide scale, such as pollution, deforestation, global warming, and the end of fossil fuels. Today we are raising problem solvers and engineers, creatives and healers to take us forward into a new world, one it is hard for us to imagine yet will be their living reality.

“We are all born originals.” Edward Young

Our children need the opportunity to grow their own food, so plant seeds; to make their own world, so go camping; to solve their own problems, so teach them collaboration; and to create their own future, so feed their dreams.

“I am different, not less.” Temple Grandin

If your child is wired differently, celebrate their uniqueness. If their body works in an unusual way, love the difference and give it a name, and if they just cannot see the world the way you do, why not try seeing it the way they do?

“Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.” Oscar Wilde

While we are at it, you are pretty awesome too you know? And it is never too late to discover your diamond and learn how to shine. So write your poems and sing your songs, dance to your own rhythm and share your passion as only you know how, and never forget the words of the wisest bear ever to grace a story book:

“The things that make me different are the things that make me.” Winnie The Pooh