UPower Presentations – Sara Westbrook

When a Child Replays Mistakes

Linda Westbrook — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 16:57:38 +0000

If your child replays mistakes or challenges and is hard on themselves, you’re not alone. They might walk away and start tearing themselves apart in their own thoughts: “Everyone must think I’m silly.”“I can’t believe I messed up.”“I don’t get why I did that.” They can keep going over and over it, turning one small […]

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The Year I Forgot the Words…

Linda Westbrook — Wed, 04 Mar 2026 23:03:32 +0000

At 15, I entered the Rotary Music Festival again, determined to finally win gold after placing second two years in a row. I had practiced for months. Memorized every note. Imagined the applause when I nailed my performance. And then, in the second verse, I forgot the words. Panic set in. Embarrassed? Absolutely. But I […]

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Kids Need to Love Themselves Every Day

Linda Westbrook — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 22:39:53 +0000

Many people celebrate Valentine’s Day – a day to appreciate the people you love. But there’s a celebration we often miss: teaching kids to love themselves. Loving themselves isn’t about arrogance or thinking they’re better than others. It’s about knowing they still matter: It’s a powerful, unwavering belief that who they are is enough. As parents and […]

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Resilience Isn’t What You Think

Linda Westbrook — Wed, 04 Feb 2026 01:37:52 +0000

Resilience isn’t just about bouncing back from what happened. It’s about bouncing back from how it made your child feel. When kids face challenges – a friend is unkind, a game is lost, or a mistake is made – the hardest part to manage is often their emotional reaction, not the event itself. If a […]

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Emotions Impact Mental Health

Linda Westbrook — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 02:44:26 +0000

Talking about mental health is essential. It is impacted by the emotions we experience. We often don’t realize how much emotions impact mental health. Our experiences might look different, but we’ve all felt anger, sadness, worry, frustration, disappointment, and overwhelm. And still, when someone asks, “How are you doing?” many of us reply, “I’m fine.” […]

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Mindset Phrases for Kids That Work

Linda Westbrook — Thu, 11 Dec 2025 00:52:20 +0000

We all want our kids to feel confident and capable. Sometimes we tell them things like believe in yourself, try harder, or be more determined and they’re left thinking, OK… but how do I actually do that? That’s where mindset phrases for kids come in – simple, usable words that help strengthen their inner voice when they need it most. […]

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Naming ‘the elephant’ Builds Connection

Linda Westbrook — Wed, 26 Nov 2025 03:18:53 +0000

Last week, I walked into my presentation with a bandage on my forehead. Before I started, I told the students what happened: I had tripped, hit my forehead, and ended up with a small cut. Why did I start there? Because otherwise it would have been the elephant in the room and kids always notice […]

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‘It wasn’t me – it was them.’

Linda Westbrook — Wed, 12 Nov 2025 03:41:50 +0000

We’ve all heard those words. Taking responsibility isn’t always easy for kids. It can stir up uncomfortable emotions — shame, frustration, embarrassment, sadness, and sometimes even pride. It’s much easier for kids to point the finger somewhere else. Here’s the truth: When kids take responsibility, they also take back their power — the power to […]

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Gratitude in the Unexpected

Linda Westbrook — Thu, 30 Oct 2025 17:15:29 +0000

When you choose to only focus on what you expected to achieve or what you wanted to occur, a mindset shift for gratitude helps you notice the learning and opportunities that can come from life’s detours. When I was travelling to BC, I expected that my holiday would be stress free – a time to […]

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More Than Just Trophies

Linda Westbrook — Wed, 15 Oct 2025 23:36:53 +0000

In my last newsletter, I wrote about celebrating small wins for adults – those little moments that make life feel lighter, more meaningful, and remind us we’re making progress. I began to wonder how kids see wins in their own lives, so I asked my son about small wins. He looked at me and said, […]

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