{"id":401,"date":"2012-06-19T05:37:31","date_gmt":"2012-06-19T09:37:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/lifeasaconsciousmom\/?p=401"},"modified":"2012-06-19T06:35:46","modified_gmt":"2012-06-19T10:35:46","slug":"teach-your-children-the-importance-of-honesty-value-and-equal-exchange-of-energy-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/lifeasaconsciousmom\/2012\/06\/19\/teach-your-children-the-importance-of-honesty-value-and-equal-exchange-of-energy-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Teach Your Children the Importance of Honesty, Value and Equal Exchange of Energy"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>I just read a blog post by David Lowery over at The Tricordist: Artists for an Ethical Internet<\/em>. (Letter to Emily White at NPR All Songs Considered. | The Trichordist<\/a>.)\u00a0The post was in response to a 21 year-old woman who wrote her own blog post about the fact that she has over 11,000 songs in her music library and has only bought 15 CDS in her life. \u00a0So basically, she\u2019s downloading music for free on file sharing sites.<\/p>\n

What does this have to do with Conscious Parenting? Quite a bit actually.<\/p>\n

One of the fundamental principles of Conscious Living is recognizing that harmony is created by an equal exchange of energy. Someone creates something, someone trades for it or buys it and the cycle continues.<\/p>\n

When we choose to break that cycle, either because we convince ourselves that what we are doing doesn\u2019t harm anyone, or only harms those faceless corporations that already have way too much money, we neglect to take into consideration the individuals who actually fuel the engine. Whether it is the artist or the worker, faceless is only what we see if we want to justify our behavior.<\/p>\n

Today more than ever it\u2019s important to teach your children about honesty, about value and about equal exchange of energy \u2013 both when dealing with others and when people are dealing with them.<\/p>\n

When your child can value who they are and know that what they have to offer is meaningful and of value, they will also be able to recognize this value in others.<\/p>\n

Equal exchange of energy is not dollar for dollar, necessarily. But the exchange has to feel equal on both sides. Since I\u2019m so heavily steeped in all-things Pok\u00e9mon these days, let\u2019s use Pok\u00e9mon trading cards for an example. If you child really understands the game and has several cards that don\u2019t benefit him, he may be will to exchange them for one card that does. On the other hand if your child doesn\u2019t really understand the game a three or four card exchange for one card wouldn\u2019t seem fair.<\/p>\n

Equal exchange of energy is subjective. I do a lot of healing work just in connecting with people. I take this into account when I\u2019m looking at equal exchange of energy. I\u2019ve set up a system where people need to email for an appointment, primarily because I acknowledge the fact that just in telling me their problems or concerns over the phone, I am actually working.<\/p>\n

Understanding the notion of equal exchange of energy starts by helping your child to see value in their very existence, in the energy they bring to the world.<\/p>\n

As your child matures, help to instill an awareness about value and energy.<\/p>\n

Here are a few ways you can touch on this in the everyday:<\/p>\n