Mindset Archives

1 Oct 2025

Power of Small Wins – Why You’re Winning Without Realizing It

You most likely notice the big wins, but are you seeing the small ones?

The big wins are easy to spot…finishing a challenging project, hitting a professional goal, or successfully navigating a tough situation. Exciting, yes. But it’s the small wins – the everyday choices to stay patient, focused, and calm under pressure that shapes who you are. This is the true power of small wins.

These choices contribute to your personal growth and build your resilience over time.

Try This: End your day by reflecting on one small win. It’s a simple step toward self-improvement and noticing everyday victories.

It could be something as simple as:

Taking a deep breath instead of reacting in frustration
Following through on a task even when motivation is low
Listening fully, even when you’re tired
Encouraging a child or student who’s struggling

Celebrating these small wins is about honouring your everyday efforts and noticing the moments that matter – a practice that strengthens your mindset and shows why mindset matters.

Sometimes a quiet acknowledgment to yourself, like ‘I handled that well,’ can be more powerful than any applause.

This is what I know: These small, often unnoticed moments may seem ordinary, but every effort, every patient response, every deliberate choice, all add up. That’s the power of small wins in action – helping you keep going and growing.

Until next time…

17 Sep 2025

Unlock Your Child’s Confidence in Seconds

A lot of kids tell me they’re nervous to read out loud or speak in front of their class. Many feel scared, anxious, or embarrassed. You might be wondering how to help your child build confidence in these moments. One student’s experience after my presentation is a perfect example of how small actions can make a big impact.

After the presentation, a young girl confided that she had to give a speech to her classmates next period – but didn’t feel confident enough to do it.

I shared a simple strategy: ‘Stand tall, shoulders back, head high.’

She promised to give it a try.

A little while later, she excitedly told me, “It worked! It made so much difference.”

That moment reminded me – the way we carry ourselves doesn’t just change how others see us. It also changes how we feel about ourselves.

Standing tall sends the brain a powerful message: ‘I’m ready. I can do this.’

It’s a small act that helps kids step into courage in moments that feel overwhelming

Here’s how you can help your child build confidence:

Pause & Focus – Before a test, game, or presentation, guide them to repeat the phrase: ‘Stand tall, shoulders back, head high.’
Boost Their Courage – Ask them to repeat the above phrase until it becomes their mindset.
Practice Together – Stand tall side by side and notice the energy shift together.

This is what I know: Confidence often begins with the impact of one simple choice — how we choose to stand.

Until next time…

1 May 2025

Confidence vs Self Worth: Know the Difference

It’s easy to confuse confidence and self-worth—but they’re not the same. Understanding the difference makes it easier to stand strong in who you are. Confidence changes, self worth never.

Confidence is about your abilities—how you feel about what you can do, your skills, and how prepared you are. It shifts and grows as you face new experiences and challenges.

Self-worth? That’s something deeper. It’s about how you value yourself as a person, regardless of what you do or how you feel at any given moment.

There was a time when I believed my worth depended on my achievements, the praise I received, and how many likes I got on social media. I’ve learned that when you define your value by outcomes, you give your power to things outside your control.

Confidence changes, self worth never. It’s constant—no matter the situation

This what I know: You won’t always perform the way you want—and that’s okay. You’re still worthy.

You’ll make mistakes along the way—and that’s part of it. You’re still worthy.

Until next time…

20 Mar 2025

When Kids Want to Give Up

For two years, fear held me back from trying out for Canadian Idol. The third year, I finally said yes. I made it through two rounds, but when I stood in front of the celebrity judges and sang, they said, “You can’t sing! Do something else!”

I was embarrassed, devastated, and angry. I went home thinking, Maybe they’re right. Maybe I should give up. I started to doubt myself.

After a day of feeling sorry for myself, I made a choice: No. I love to sing. I’m going to work harder and improve.

Today, I’m a singer and speaker. If I had let their words define me, I would have quit on something I love.

But how many kids do give up on something they love because someone tells them they’re not good enough?

When I ask students, “How many of you have given up on something you love because of someone’s opinion?” hands shoot up—including the hands of educators.

Two ways to help kids overcome doubt:

1. Support your child in completing this worksheet

2. Encourage them to ask, “Do I love this?” instead of “Am I good at this?”

Too often, kids measure their worth by others’ opinions. Help them focus on what brings them joy, and remind them that skills improve with effort.

This is what I know: Encouraging kids to keep going, even when they face criticism, helps them build resilience that lasts a lifetime. What matters most is believing in themselves!

Until next time…

26 Feb 2025

The #1 Mindset that Helps Kids Win in Life

Winning brings success—so does learning. When kids embrace a win-or-learn mindset, they recognize that every experience has value. Whether they achieve their goal or gain new insight, both outcomes help them grow stronger, wiser and more confident.

This perspective teaches them that success isn’t just about crossing the finish line—it’s also about the skills, knowledge and resilience they develop along the way. When kids understand this, they become more willing to take on challenges, push through difficulties and trust in their ability to improve.

Encourage them to reflect on these questions:

✔️ What worked well for me?

✔️ What new skill or understanding did I gain?

✔️ How can I use this experience to keep improving?

A win-or-lose way of thinking can create fear and self-doubt, making kids hesitant to try. But a win-or-learn mindset develops courage, motivation and perseverance.

This is what I know: Whether in school, sports or friendships, remind your kids that every challenge, setback or loss is progress on the path to success.

Until next time…

20 Nov 2024

Self Reliant Kids: Power Up Their Mind – Not Their Devices

In today’s world, where technology plays a significant role in a child’s life, it’s easy for kids to become overly reliant on devices. Encouraging self reliant kids is important to ensure they grow up with independence and life skills. Don’t get me wrong, technology has many benefits, however, it can feel like it’s taking over.

When kids are encouraged to trust their abilities, they develop the confidence to tackle challenges head-on. Self reliant kids begin to see the incredible potential within themselves—their ideas, creativity and resourcefulness.

It’s more important than ever to teach kids how to rely on themselves rather than always reaching for a device.

1. Nurture Curiosity over Quick Answers

When your child has a question or faces a challenge, resist the urge to let them turn to a device for answers. Instead, ask questions like, ‘What ideas can you come up with?’ or ‘What’s one thing you could try to solve this?’ This practice will help build self reliant kids.

2. Build on What They Already Know

Encourage your child to recall past experiences or lessons they’ve learned to solve a problem. For example, if they’re stuck, ask, ‘What have you learned before that could help with this?’ or ‘Does this make you think of something you’ve seen or done before?’ Such reflections are pivotal for building self reliant kids.

3. Embrace Challenges as Opportunities to Learn

When your child gets stuck, remind them, ‘It’s okay not to have the answer right away—sometimes our brains need extra time to think.’ This teaches them to trust their mental process instead of defaulting to technology for instant solutions.

This what I know: Encouraging children to trust their own judgment doesn’t mean removing technology; it means guiding them to recognize that their true strength lies within themselves, not in a screen. Self reliant kids learn to rely on themselves first.

Until next time…

5 Oct 2024

Prioritize Yourself, Set Healthy Boundaries

Do you find it challenging to prioritize yourself? Me too. I’ve been improving because I’ve learned that setting healthy boundaries, even though sometimes stressful, is crucial for my well-being.

It’s perfectly okay to say ‘no,’ even when saying ‘yes’ is an option. At times, choosing to say ‘no’ is one of the most effective ways to prioritize yourself.

By finding ways to continually set healthy boundaries, you safeguard your time, energy and emotional well-being.

Tips to prioritize yourself and maintain healthy boundaries.

Pause Before Responding: Before saying ‘yes’ out of habit, take a moment to reflect. Is this something you want or need to do? Give yourself permission to say ‘no’ when it doesn’t serve you.
Communicate Clearly and Calmly: Let people know what you can or cannot do without over-explaining or apologizing. A simple, “I can’t do that right now, but thank you for understanding” can go a long way.
Consistency: People may push back, especially if they’re used to you saying ‘yes.’ Stay firm and remember why you set the boundary in the first place.
Remind yourself: ‘Their disappointment is not my guilt.’ It’s okay to uphold a boundary, even if others feel disappointed. People are more resilient in handling disappointment than we often assume.

This is what I know: When you honour your boundaries, you’re prioritizing yourself and protecting your well-being, and in turn, fostering healthier, more respectful relationships. People may not always like it, but they will respect you for it in the long run.

16 May 2024

Ditching the phrase ‘make a good choice’

I avoid saying ‘make a good choice’ to my son. I’ve found that saying ‘good’ isn’t specific enough. Instead, I encourage him to make choices that align with his character. I emphasize specific character traits by saying, ‘make a respectful choice’, ‘make a determined choice’, ‘make a kind choice’, ‘make a responsible choice’ etc.

Remember that choice you made out of anger? It seemed like a ‘good choice’ in the moment to say it, do it, post it or type it. That’s why it’s important to be specific with your kids, since emotionally-driven choices can initially appear to be the right one, yet ultimately lead to regret and remorse because the choice didn’t show their character.

When faced with a choice, I want my son to think beyond the emotions he is experiencing. I want him to consider the consequences of his actions. Rather than doing or saying what feels ‘good’ in the moment, I want him to make choices that demonstrate respect for himself and others, determination to pursue his goals, kindness towards those around him and responsibility for the consequences of his actions.

This is what I know: When you give a specific character trait for your child to base their choice on, it helps them move beyond their immediate emotions and concentrate on the person they aspire to be.

Until next time,

1 May 2024

How to Help a Child Overcome Loss

As children travel through life’s various challenges, they will inevitably need help to overcome loss.

Whether it’s in sports, extracurricular activities, relationships, or in everyday life, shielding kids from experiencing loss deprives them of the potential for personal growth and resilience.

Helping children overcome loss is vital for their development.

Be there for them as they confront and process the loss. Instead of trying to fix or change their emotions, listen to their thoughts and emotions with compassion and understanding.

Whether they are feeling sad, disappointed, angry or frustrated, create a space where they feel safe to express themselves. By recognizing and accepting their feelings, you teach them that it’s okay to experience a range of emotions and that they are not alone in their struggles.

Help them recognize that within every loss, there are often hidden opportunities or alternative paths waiting to be discovered. By reframing their perceptive on loss, they can often uncover hidden silver linings and find renewed hope and optimism.

Watch the video to learn one parent’s approach to his child losing her best friend.

Until next time…

18 Apr 2024

How Powerful is Self-Talk in Shaping a Child’s Resilience?

Recently, I had a conversation with my 11-year-old son about his self-talk during challenging moments—whether on the ice or in everyday life.

I asked him, “What do you tell yourself when things don’t go as planned? How do you bounce back?”

His response was simple yet powerful: “I tell myself, ‘I got this.’ And I keep repeating it.”

When his self talk is, “I got this,” it not only impacts his confidence and determination but also influences the path he will choose to take.

Whenever your child is facing a challenging time, the words they repeat matters. It’s the difference between perseverance and belief in themselves or self-doubt and defeat.

I encourage you to ask your child what they could tell themselves that would give them the power and confidence to bounce back from mistakes, misplays and challenging circumstances.

Here’s What I Know: In teaching them the power of self-talk, you will equip them with a valuable tool for navigating life’s inevitable challenges with courage and resilience.

Until next time…