UPower Presentations – Sara Westbrook

Nervous but Choosing Courage

Linda Westbrook — Wed, 06 May 2026 13:11:12 +0000

Helping kids face fear can show up in simple, everyday moments. Their heart starts to race. Their thoughts get louder. And then the butterflies show up. They can feel them before school, before speaking up, before trying something new. And we feel them too – before appointments, conversations – anything that stretches us. I remember […]

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Are you proud of yourself?

Linda Westbrook — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 18:06:54 +0000

We often say to kids ‘good job’ or ‘I’m proud of you.’ Those words matter, but they can train kids to look outward for validation instead of inward for recognition. A simple question shifts that focus: ‘Are you proud of yourself?’ It sounds small, but it changes where the reflection happens. Instead of waiting for […]

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How to Confidently Be Yourself

Linda Westbrook — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 00:21:16 +0000

There’s a quiet pressure that shows up for both kids and adults.Fit in. Don’t stand out too much. Be liked. A child stays quiet instead of sharing their idea.A teen laughs along, even when it doesn’t feel right.An adult holds back their opinion in a meeting. Not because they don’t have something to offer…but because […]

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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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