resilience Archives - UPower Presentations - Sara Westbrook

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

Linda Westbrook — Wed, 01 Oct 2025 15:42:16 +0000

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 […]

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Kids: Talking Back or Speaking Up?

Linda Westbrook — Wed, 28 May 2025 15:58:27 +0000

We say we want our kids to be resilient.To have confidence.To take a stand. But what happens when they talk back, disagree or express frustration to us, our first reaction might be: “That’s disrespectful!” What if it’s not talking back…what if it’s speaking up? Since they’re still learning how to express themselves, their words won’t always […]

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Guiding Children’s Choices

Linda Westbrook — Wed, 06 Nov 2024 19:10:52 +0000

Just like a GPS needs a destination to guide us, our brain also works best when it focuses on a specific end result. Similarly, having a clear destination can guide children’s choices, helping them navigate challenges with confidence and purpose. In life, a child’s ‘GPS destination’ needs to be rooted in their character. This gives […]

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Riding the Waves of Life with Determination

Linda Westbrook — Thu, 11 Jan 2024 23:06:18 +0000

Every challenge you have faced and the choices you have chosen to make has created who you are today. Picture yourself as the captain of a ship. Sometimes the water is calm and the choices are easy. Other times, the calm waters give way to crashing waves, intensifying the difficulty of your choices Knowing your […]

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Parenting with Love Through Life’s Boundaries

Linda Westbrook — Thu, 07 Dec 2023 02:23:23 +0000

In our ongoing endeavour to establish healthy boundaries that nurture the mental and emotional well-being of our children, there are three challenges that often come up to test our efforts: 1. Desire to be liked: You may worry your children won’t like you when enforcing boundaries and consequences. While it isn’t pleasant to hear your […]

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Helping Kids Get Excited about their Unique Beauty

Linda Westbrook — Thu, 23 Nov 2023 18:12:15 +0000

We talk a lot about the issue of ‘bullying others’, even dedicating an entire week to it. However, it’s crucial to acknowledge that kids also ‘bully themselves’, creating negative self-talk that can have a lasting impact on their mental and emotional well-being, as well as their confidence. I’d like to share a personal experience when […]

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How to Handle Kids’ Disappointments and Strengthen Bonds

Linda Westbrook — Thu, 12 Oct 2023 00:32:55 +0000

Life is a series of ups and downs and it’s natural for children to face disappointment along the way. When my son confides in me about a disappointment, my natural instinct is to think of solutions and ways to fix it, especially if he is feeling sad and dejected. Disappointments are valuable life lessons that […]

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Building Emotional Connection, One ‘Refresh’ at a Time

Linda Westbrook — Thu, 28 Sep 2023 20:16:41 +0000

Emotions run high. Meltdowns occur. Tantrums happen. You can’t have conflict resolution without first facing conflict. You can’t have redirection without first creating connection. When you have moments of despair, they need repair. One effective strategy for enhancing conflict resolution, fostering connection, and facilitating repair is to incorporate ‘refresh’ into your resource toolbox, much like […]

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The Importance of Giving Kids a Voice

Linda Westbrook — Thu, 01 Jun 2023 23:28:36 +0000

Kids learn confidence by having their own voice. Here are 4 ways they can learn to speak for themselves: 1. Give them a say in decisions about their lives. This doesn’t always mean they get what they want. It means they can participate in the discussion, voice their opinions and be heard. 2. Encourage them […]

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