Help Today's Youth Stay Optimistic: Ashley Ekmay

In my clippings today, a charming article by Ashley Ekmay entitled "3 Ways to Help Today's Youth Stay Optimistic, Curious, and Engaged"

Ashley shares some interesting research from a Barna study, The Open Generation, finding that "Despite the current social climate and challenges, there’s an undercurrent of optimism, openness, and engagement among Gen Z. There’s what we might call a “lightness of being” that keeps teens today curious and longing to see change in our world."

Ashley's 3 ways are:

• "foster community" adding, "As teens’ satisfaction with their community increases, so, too, does the likelihood that they will say they are optimistic about the future, secure in who they are, and satisfied with their life choices."
• "cultivate an engagement with and appreciation of the Bible" adding "the more engaged they are with the Bible, the more likely they are to report that they are hopeful and optimistic about the world’s future and that they can make a positive impact on the world"
• "Tell the story of Jesus."

Ashley's conclusion?  "As today’s teens grow into young adults, they will face more realities that will serve to weigh down their lightness and diminish the optimism, engagement, and curiosity that mark their youth. Pastors, parents, and all of us who play a part in the lives of these young people must do everything possible to create environments where they will flourish and grow into healthy, happy children of God who not only feel empowered to change the world but go on to achieve this. As this happens, these same adults will become anchors for today’s youth as they hit rough patches ahead, unwavering in their ability to see the world through fresh and hopeful eyes."