Where i work there are several classes that can cause students to become stressed out even before they get to the class. I always encourage them to walk into that room with an " I can do it" attitude because if you think you can then you can. Mindset plays a huge part in how one succeeds in anything. Yes maybe some things come more natural to one person than the next but with a positive attitude and hard work anything can be accomplished.
What a wonderful way to encourage positive self talk! I think it's also important to remind students to put a positive 'spin' on situations that they face and to be results oriented. For example, if a student is upset about how a situation went, I listen to their concern then encourage them to see any positive that may have existed and suggest a solution to whatever is upsetting them. Instead of the situation being "something bad happened to me" it becomes "I sparked a positive change for myself and others".
Minerva,
Affirmations are a really important way to get into a proper mindset.
Jeffrey Schillinger
