Make it Meaningful

"Put your heart, mind and soul into even your smallest acts. This is the secret of success."

--Swami Sivananda Saraswati, Indian Spiritual Teacher

We had a really fun Gold Award Training the other night!  Small group of committed (or ought to be committed, LOL!) parents and advisors.  All were there to learn how they can best help their girls earn the Gold Award.  We trainers hit hard on the ideas of taking action to make a difference in the community, raising the bar in terms of expectations, and helping the girl identify her issue and root cause.

We talked about having the girl identify what she's passionate about.  Because we know, without that passion, it will be difficult for the girl to move forward and complete her Take Action Project. She needs to truly have the motivation to take on the hardest challenge she'll have in her Girl Scout career!  Having only lukewarm interest will not cut it!

We want our girls to put their heart, mind and soul into their project!  This is the passion that needs to be channeled into a Take Action Project.  Why?  Partly so they want to do it, and partly because, it's contagious.  Girls who lead with passion and heartfelt belief attract others, and bring others along as the girl leads the work to be done.  She is perceived as a winner, a leader with charisma who is going to achieve a great goal.  Now who wouldn't want to be on her team???

Our girls really need to know success.  It's more than crossing a finish line in a race, because that's very individual. This is about achieving a far-reaching goal with a team of supporters with whom she can celebrate success.  The girl has the knowledge that she made a difference in the world, and that she is a leader.  That she took on a challenge, overcame obstacles and had success!

Be sure she has a chance to reflect on what she's accomplished and also to celebrate!