The first step is to recognize, accept, and embrace your children for who they are. Don’t force your idealized image of the perfect child on them. Make sure they know you love them for who they are, not because they are well behaved or get good grades in school. Give them all the love they need and assure them that whatever they may do, you are their greatest friend and ally. That’s the way to enable children to learn to love themselves, and children who love themselves can nurture and develop themselves.

From The Wisdom for Creating Happiness and Peace, part 2, revised edition, pp. 78-79