YOUR INSPIRATIONAL REMINDER #2
Happy Saturday internet family! So today I'm bringing you the official second instalment of the Inspirational Reminder series. I loved your responses to the start of this last week and I'm really excited for this new path. I'm also thinking of turning this into a hashtag on Instagram: #YourInspirationalReminder. That way, we can keep up with how we're all using the reminder and give each other support too.
I decided on this week's reminder as I was having a browse through Pinterest and saw this quote in my feed. I actually thought it described this week perfectly so saved it ready for this post.
On Tuesday, I was asked to go back into my old high school to talk to a group of 14-15 year-old's and deliver a motivational talk about my journey from school to where I am now. Of course, I jumped at the chance. So I told them my journey and made it as aspirational as possible. The great thing about it was that I'd been sat exactly where they were so if they listened to anyone, it'd be great to listen to me.
Then my mum (who works at the school) thought it would be a good idea if I came in to present the same talk to the final year pupils - the 15-16 year-old's, because they're completely unmotivated. I asked her to describe to me what she meant, and I couldn't comprehend what she said.
The school day finishes at 3pm and a lot of pupils are asked to stay behind to attend extra revision classes seeing as their exams start in three weeks. On Wednesday night, one pupil in particular hadn't been staying behind and my mum asked him why, hoping he'd have a good reason. He said he "couldn't be bothered." Then proceeded to lay across the desk not doing anything.
She also told me a story about a pupil who was on a C in his Catering. He'd done a mock exam and was six marks off a B grade. So my mum started to encourage him, saying he was only six marks off a B - that's only six things he has to correct and he can move up a grade.
The pupil said he didn't want a B grade. He was happy with a C because he knew he didn't have to work any harder.
That's something I think a lot of people at school don't realise. The hard work doesn't end. If anything, the work gets harder and you've got to put more effort in. In my presentation on Tuesday, I didn't sugar coat anything. I told them GCSEs where a walk in the park compared to my Masters degree. And if they want the best for themselves, then they're going to have to be prepared to work hard.
But there's something else, isn't there? It doesn't just come down to how intelligent you are or how much work you put in. It comes down to how you think. And that's where the real problem lies.
The pupil I told you about who said he couldn't be bothered staying after school for extra classes, doesn't think he'll pass his exams. He tells himself that he can't do it. So he doesn't think there's any point.
There is a point - but how do you get them to see that?
So when I saw this quote, I thought it was quite a coincidence. I mean, would you rather think negatively, fail at a project and let if affect the rest of your life? Or would you rather think positively, fail at a project, but know you tried your very best and pick yourself back up?
I won't lie to you. There are many days when I think "I can't be bothered." But I don't stop. It's like when that starts happening to me, a switch goes off in my head - the optimism switch. It doesn't say anything, but it makes me feel better. It makes me ready to carry on.
You could be in a situation right now where every day is a dark day. We all have our own problems and ghosts. I know now that if I have a bad day, it's nowhere near as bad as some of the dark days I've had in the past. And that's what I remember. I picked myself up from that. I came out the other side and became a better person because of it. And ever since then, I've vowed to be optimistic, no matter what situation comes up.
If you tell yourself "I can't do this", it'll be easier for you to give up and you'll probably do just that.
But what if you start saying "I can do this." Why not think optimistically?
That's your reminder for this week. To be optimistic. It doesn't have to be a huge thing. It can be something small. Like, "I will finish my to-do list today." "I can keep exercising for one more minute." "I can leave the house today."
Just one optimistic step is all you need. And trust me - you really will feel better.
If you liked this inspirational reminder, check out the rest of the Your Inspirational Reminder series - a weekly blog post where I inspire readers that they can get to where they want to be, even if they don't know where that is yet.
Leave a comment and let me know how you're going to use this reminder this week. Here's to being inspired.