Neuropsychologist Dr. Sam Goldstein sees roughly 300 children per year. Each parent wants him to be an odds maker, to change the future for the better of their children.

Goldstein once asked a patient, “What would it take to have a good day?” and the child responded, “When bad things don’t happen.” These bad things could range from problems with parents, challenges or adversities on the playground; his view was avoiding mistakes is the best way to not be judged.

Dr. Goldstein had previously thought if he found what was wrong and fixed it, he was doing his job. However, what really makes the difference is who we become and how we view ourselves. Family, extended environment, and things within us influence us the most; experience trumps genetics.

People can go on to manage adversity and live happily, as long as we prepare our children for the future, embrace and understand them, and use our hearts/minds. The power of resilience is irrefutable.

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Sourced: TEDxTalks

Curated: Online Editor Aryssah Stankevitsch @stnkvtsch