Overcoming Life’s Challenges:

Dear parents and friends,

I’ve decided to dedicate this newsletter to the importance of having a positive mindset. I’m sure like me, you've just about had enough of this pandemic. As humans we generally hate challenge in our lives. We like to be comfortable and hate looking silly if we fail or struggle. Unfortunately, life is a journey and often along the journey we hit many bumps in the road. Hopefully with the benefit of experience and the wisdom that has been gathered over time, as adults we are able to accept challenges we face, develop a positive mindset, overcome them and experience success. That’s not to say we won’t have our fair share of frustrations along the way.

It is important to pass a positive mindset on to our children. When faced with difficulties, young people, who are still learning to navigate their place in this world, often express frustration; ‘Why me?’ ‘Why is God allowing this to happen?’ It is our job as parents, carers and teachers to reassure kids that sometimes the world, or the universe, or God, throws great challenges at us. Sometimes they seem too great and they threaten to break us.

The weak mindset is to see these as unfair, to complain or to fall into victim behaviours. A positive mindset is to acknowledge the greatness of the struggle, to take the hit, to seek help if needed, but to strive to overcome in the end.

“The ultimate measure of a person is not where they stand in moments of comfort and convenience, but where they stand at times of challenge and controversy.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.

A positive mindset views challenges as opportunities. A chance to adapt, grow, demonstrate our resilience. A chance to become stronger.

This is probably best explained to kids by asking them to reflect on ‘out of comfort zones experiences’ for example experiencing the discomfort when camping and realising how wonderful it is to be back in their own bed. The panic of being lost and the joy in being reunited with your family. The discomfort of being cold and wet and the appreciation of being able to have a hot shower.

It is true that you do not recognise the good times until you had difficult ones. Hopefully we all learn to more fully appreciate the many great things we have taken for granted as part of life before lockdown. The freedom to gather with friends and family, being able to work out in a gym, enjoy a picnic, watch a movie at the cinema and learn at school. All of the things we have taken for granted in the past will feel much sweeter when this ends.  And it will.

May God continue to bless you.

Mr Simon Abernethy
College Principal