I learned something so wonderful from an elementary school counselor I met at a party. She told me that so many children struggle with the “what ifs.” What if nobody likes me? What if I can’t answer a question in class? What if I get sick? What if there’s a spider in the classroom? What if I say something wrong?
She encourages a nervous child to change every negative “what if” to a positive one: What if I find great friends? What if I have a good answer? What if I feel great? What if I feel safe? What if I say something right?
I love her strategy. I’ve been using it every day since I heard it.