Have you ever caught yourself saying, “I can’t do this!” during a tough maths problem or before speaking in front of the class? Everyone feels that way sometimes, but what if you could swap “I can’t” with “I’ll try”? This simple change in self-talk is called having a growth mindset—and it can make all the difference.A growth mindset means believing your abilities can improve with effort. It’s not about being the best right away. Instead, it’s about being open to learning and not giving up when things get hard. Imagine you’re struggling to play a new song on the keyboard. Instead of thinking, “I’ll never get this right,” try telling yourself, “I can get better if I keep practising.”Tiny changes in your self-talk can help your brain learn faster and boost your confidence. When you say “I’ll try,” you give yourself permission to make mistakes and learn from them. Even top athletes and famous inventors faced failure, but they kept going by reminding themselves that effort leads to improvement.Next time you hit a wall—whether it’s with homework, sports, or friendships—pause and notice what you’re saying to yourself. Challenge that inner critic. Replace “I can’t do this” with “I’ll try my best.” Over time, these little swaps turn into big changes, and you’ll find yourself doing things you once thought were impossible.Remember: Nobody is perfect from the start. It’s not about being flawless—it’s about trying, growing, and giving yourself the chance to succeed. Brains grow strongerScientists have found that your brain actually grows new connections when you practise and learn new things, just like muscles get stronger with exercise.Famous failuresWalt Disney was once told he “lacked imagination” and was fired from a job, but he kept trying and created Mickey Mouse! Power of “yet” Adding the word “yet” to “I can’t do this” (“I can’t do this yet”) is a powerful way to remind yourself you’re still learning.
Have you ever caught yourself saying, “I can’t do this!” during a tough maths problem or before speaking in front of the class? Everyone feels that way sometimes, but what if you could swap “I can’t” with “I’ll try”? This simple change in self-talk is called having a growth mindset—and it can make all the difference.A growth mindset means believing your abilities can improve with effort. It’s not about being the best right away. Instead, it’s about being open to learning and not giving up when things get hard. Imagine you’re struggling to play a new song on the keyboard. Instead of thinking, “I’ll never get this right,” try telling yourself, “I can get better if I keep practising.”Tiny changes in your self-talk can help your brain learn faster and boost your confidence. When you say “I’ll try,” you give yourself permission to make mistakes and learn from them. Even top athletes and famous inventors faced failure, but they kept going by reminding themselves that effort leads to improvement.Next time you hit a wall—whether it’s with homework, sports, or friendships—pause and notice what you’re saying to yourself. Challenge that inner critic. Replace “I can’t do this” with “I’ll try my best.” Over time, these little swaps turn into big changes, and you’ll find yourself doing things you once thought were impossible.Remember: Nobody is perfect from the start. It’s not about being flawless—it’s about trying, growing, and giving yourself the chance to succeed. Brains grow strongerScientists have found that your brain actually grows new connections when you practise and learn new things, just like muscles get stronger with exercise.Famous failuresWalt Disney was once told he “lacked imagination” and was fired from a job, but he kept trying and created Mickey Mouse! Power of “yet” Adding the word “yet” to “I can’t do this” (“I can’t do this yet”) is a powerful way to remind yourself you’re still learning.
