In this engaging discussion, Sharon McMahon, a former high school government teacher and author of "The Small and the Mighty," joins Ryan Holiday. They explore how to instill hope in children, emphasizing that hope is a proactive choice. Sharon offers practical strategies for parents to empower kids through positive actions and local engagement. They also tackle how to discuss difficult histories without dampening optimism, promoting critical thinking while fostering a belief in positive change.
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Choosing Hope
We possess the power to change ourselves and our interactions with the world, regardless of external circumstances.
Hope is a choice, not a feeling, and it's essential for positive change.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Teaching Hope as a Choice
Teach kids that hope is a choice, similar to choosing not to act on negative impulses.
Frame hope as an act of self-control, guiding actions despite temporary feelings.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Start Small, Make an Impact
Start small to make a difference; focus on impacting your immediate surroundings.
Right-size problems to avoid feeling overwhelmed by global issues.
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Twelve Unsung Americans Who Changed the Course of History, from the Founding to the Civil Rights Movement
Sharon McMahon
In *The Small and the Mighty*, Sharon McMahon highlights the stories of ordinary Americans who, through their courage and resilience, shaped the course of American history. The book features a diverse cast of characters, including a woman riding a white horse down Pennsylvania Avenue, a young boy detained at a Japanese incarceration camp, and a formerly enslaved woman on a mission to reunite with her daughter. McMahon’s thorough research and engaging storytelling bring these untold histories to light, emphasizing that anyone, regardless of background, can make a significant impact on the nation’s future.
It's our job to show our kids that they have the power to instigate change within themselves and their communities, regardless of external circumstances. Sharon McMahon, author of The Small and the Mighty, talks with Ryan about how parents can instill hope in their kids and show them that making a difference is accessible.
Sharon is known as “America’s Government Teacher,” and after years as a high school government teacher, Sharon now runs the non-partisan, fact-based Instagram account @sharonsaysso. Sharon just released her book, The Small and the Mighty, where she proves that the most remarkable Americans are often ordinary people who didn’t make it into the textbooks.
📚 You can grab signed copies of The Small and the Mighty by Sharon McMahon at The Painted Porch.
🎙️Listen to Sharon’s FULL interview on The Daily Stoic podcast | Apple Podcasts & Spotify
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