Talking to Yourself

How inspiring listening to Olympian marathon runner Krista DuChene talk last Thursday about her blessings and trials.  She shared stories of both exciting highs and disappointing lows in her bid to win a spot on the 2016 Olympic team.  Every success was given back to God; challenges and failures were opportunities to lean on God.  Through it all, Mrs. DuChene intentionally told herself positive messages including:

I will choose joy.

I will be thankful.

God’s plan is better than mine.

This made me reflect on the messages we play in our minds all day long.  Sometimes these are negative messages which fuel feelings of helplessness, anger, resentment, and despair.  I sometimes hear students verbalize their internal dialogue.  Just in the past week, I have heard students say things like:

I don’t have friends.

I can’t do this.

I’m not good at math.

When I hear these types of messages, I encourage students to add a small but powerful three letter word to the end of their sentences…YET.  “Yet” has the potential to change a fixed mindset into a hope-filled growth mindset.  Students with a growth mindset expect their abilities will improve with practice. 

As teachers, we are intentional about helping students persevere through difficulties and embrace challenges.  God has not promised us that we will never experience hard times, but he has promised to be faithful and to never leave us.  By telling ourselves truths like Mrs. DuChene does, we too can reprogram our minds and become resilient, hopeful, lifelong learners who give God all the glory.

Tracy Bulthuis, Learning Support Teacher