Hello parents and students, this is the time of the year school becomes difficult. For those who are struggling to stay motivated - hear me.
Our mindset about ourselves will influence our success with online learning. I can't tell you how many students I have chatted with who, once they reframed their thinking about school, began having incredible success. So, how can we change our mindsets or a least think about them? Let me give you some examples:
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Recognize you have them - Did you make assumptions about this year or how well you would do? What do you think about important relationships in your life? What thoughts persist in your mind?
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Think about the effects of your mindset on whatever seems to "play" the most in your thoughts - is the mindset helpful or harmful?
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"I always mess this up," "Why am I doing this (x)? What hope is there for me?"
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Think about mindset as a piece of the puzzle to how we feel and thrive (or don't thrive) on life events.
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Talk to a trusted adult about which mindsets are difficult for you ("I will never be successful at…," "I can't do ______ because of_______"). What mindsets are helpful? Focus on those which give you hope.
How Can Parents Help:
When we see repetition and trends in our children's thinking, behaviour, or mindsets, start the discussion with "What do you think about …..," " I am noticing ……, what is going through your mind or heart when …… is happening?"
Our mindsets are a piece of this puzzle of how we interact with situations in our lives. We all need a non-judgemental and trustworthy individual who notices us and is willing to have dialogue about our lives. I am not writing about right or wrong mindsets, I am writing about noticing how we think. Halfway through each semester can be challenging for our students. Now is the time we can encourage students and give them a chance to release anything which is tied down by a personal mindset. I am writing as one who needs to notice my mindset and constantly reframe it. You can do it Summit Trails!
