Teenagers were asked in a poll, what do they think about when they see their parents? Over 90% said they see a giant Mick Jagger mouth. They are always being bombarded with statements like, “You’re no good. You need to do better,” but they are never being listened to. Most of the teens who were surveyed said they wish they could see giant Dumbo-sized ears when they looked to their parents.

Parents, if you listen to your children when they are young, you will begin a strong foundation for their self-esteem. Then when they are older, they will continue to talk to you. It all starts by listening to what they have to say. Become a good listener.

Managers, when someone in your workplace makes a mistake, listen to them. Sit them down and ask them what went wrong. Then, listen to their side, their story, their point-of-view. Don’t just fly off the handle. Listen. Then you can take the chance to correct. And yes, there may be times when you have to terminate someone’s employment, but don’t destroy their self-esteem in the process.

Touch Their Hearts

The University of California in Los Angeles conducted a study that concluded that people young and old, in order to maintain emotional and physical health, need at least eight to ten meaningful touches a day. Now, husbands, don’t get overly excited and run to your wives and say, “See, the research shows that we have to have sex more often! I need it to stay healthy!” The touching that the study refers to is non-sexual, but meaningful, touching. There is certain power in a touch. One-third of the five million feeling receptors in the human body are located in our fingers. So, it is important to touch.

Ed Young Jr said the Babylonians were really a bad people and they decided to boldly walk down to Jerusalem, surround Jerusalem and take back with them the best and the brightest young people from that city.