A WILL TO SUCCEED

Have you ever wondered why some people are successful and others are not? Further, how is it possible that the least favored make great strides while the popular and most favored seem not to.....

Is it safe to say that success is dependent on WILL?

We are all wired differently and motivated by different things. Do we really expect everyone to strive for the same things simultaneously? Is it erroneous to think like this? Or are we led to believe that this is the norm...

I believe and I may be wrong that what we do or become in life is defined by our meaning of the word "success". Moreover, the attainment of this success is dependent on what we are willing to do to achieve this state. Will we strive to attain this in an ethical manner or will it become "by any means possible"? Does it even matter?

What are you willingly to sacrifice in order to succeed? How will you know when you have succeeded? More importantly, how do we know when others have succeeded? Are they being measured by our standards?

How does this impact what we do as educators? Can we foster "a will to succeed" in our students? As we prepare for the coming week, I encourage us to think about Helen Keller and her teacher, Anne Sullivan. What are some of the lessons to be learnt here?

Have a Fabulous Week!

Petreno

TOO TIMID TO ACT

Last week I had an extraordinary experience of witnessing the results when there is a failure to act. Though at times it may seem as if you are boxed in a corner and you may feel that there is no way out..... there usually is..... if we look hard enough and are willing to take the risk. Being too timid to act only serves to exacerbate the problem causing it to spiral out of control.

This is usually evident in the workplace when you know that given circumstances may be morally and ethically wrong. Still if you maintain that its not your problem and it will soon go away then you are as much a part of the problem rather than the solution! Where does one get the courage to stand up for injustice? How do you attack it? Why do some people have the willpower while others don't? Is this an innate quality or does a certain type of "prevailing climate" fosters  the development of such a trait? 

Conversely, being able to address injustice at its roots requires a leap of faith, mental toughness, and an acknowledgement to suffer the consequences of one's action at all costs. This is not a task for the "faint" of heart but a "warrior". This is the flip side of being too timid to act!

According to Abraham Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, it is imperative that the lower level needs to be satisfied before those at the top of the pyramid. Is it that most people get stuck in the middle? The most fundamental needs are physiological, safety, love, belonging, and esteem.  The growth need is that of self actualization. 

What will you do when you are faced with injustice? Do you run away or do you fight? More importantly, how will you fight? Being too timid to act limits your potential for "self actualization". Did Abraham Maslow get it right?

Or is it that we are stuck at the need for safety? In situations like these I can't help but remembering these clips from the movie Office Space......

What will it be when your time comes? Will you be too timid to act?

Enjoy your week.

Petreno

THE POWER OF THE MIND

Why is it so easy to believe in things that are negative? Do you fear that the things you are most afraid of will haunt you? How can we rethink the negatives and make them positives? Is this even possible? Do you believe in the power of the mind?

Recently I sat down with a student who wanted to share the frustration and anxiety being experienced while preparing for an upcoming exam. I could physically feel the pain and anguish as I sat listening quietly to this outpouring. The student described feelings of being torn, helpless, and being an outright failure. Though it may have seemed dismal, I was happy that this student took the time to reflect on the upcoming task and admired the sincerity, and courage to speak up about this internal conflict! How many of us would have been this brave? Honestly?

It was indeed a learning curve for me! I have witnessed first hand what it takes to be a "reflective learner". Here was this student, thoughtfully analyzing and assessing to determine how best to move forward. This was one of the most fulfilling part of my career. We don't get to see this happening much in the classroom but when it does, you get an overwhelming feeling of satisfaction. When students are able to predict their performance and monitor their level of mastery and understanding (metacognition) they become more actively involved in their own learning. Additionally, they have to become resilient learners.....who are not afraid of failure.

There are two types of mindsets according to Carol Dweck. A fixed mindset where intelligence is seen as "fixed" as compared to a growth mindset where intelligence can be changed and developed (Dweck, 2008). A growth mindset can be developed from three simple steps:

1. Learn, learn, learn
2. Realize hard work is the key
3. Face setbacks

Sadly, overcoming a fixed mindset is challenging. It requires extraordinary discipline and total commitment. As educators, we have to be prepared to guide students as they transition from identifying their current state to the their desired goal. The realization of such a goal is also intricately associated with the power of self motivation and possessing a positive mental attitude. This is where it becomes even messier! A conscious decision has to be made to bring about the desired change. THIS IS THE POWER OF THE MIND!!

Together the student and I worked out a  plan of action. I knew that if the plan was followed through it would bring ultimate success....in time. Additionally, such qualities as patience and discipline are imperative.....other challenges to overcome with time.

How many times in life have we been faced with the same? How did you succeed? 

I will now close with the following:

"The Man Who Thinks He Can"