Educationally Speaking: No more blaming, time for brain re-training

Our mind is a powerful yet puzzling apparatus, so it’s important to learn how to operate it. As a big filing cabinet, the brain is filled with information to help you survive. Thriving requires extra effort.

When students make what they feel is the “right” choice, it’s often what’s most comfortable, not what’s the best option for successful learning. If the choices students make aren’t getting the results they want, choosing to do something differently can change that outcome. This requires reconditioning the way a student thinks.

It might be time to create a new file in their brain that replaces the old comfortable habits. Take for instance underachievers who have the brain power, but lack the motivation to succeed.

Successful students believe they are in charge of their learning. They not only want good grades, but they choose habits that help them get good grades. They’re committed to maximizing their learning opportunities.

Students who want good grades but don’t make a plan to study much, often get “C’s.” Those that choose to get good grades actually make a decision to study and therefore are more likely to get “B’s.” Those that get “A’s” commit themselves to a higher standard of achievement.

To master skills you have to not only want them, but choose to make the steps necessary to attain them and then really commit to studying for them. This may seem like semantics or splitting hairs, but there is a big difference between wishful thinking and pragmatic planning to achieve a desired goal.

Parents and teachers may not be able to turn underachievers into overachievers, but we can certainly engage in a campaign for their success. Successful students are those that accept responsibility for their learning. Until students take up the mantel of responsibility, parents and teachers can coach them about helpful attitudes and habits.

Those students who do poorly in school often have a victim mentality. School is just something that’s happening to them not something they have control over. Their underdeveloped “responsibility gene” often results in blaming, justifying and complaining rather than owning their part of the problem.

If a child blames someone else like their noisy classmate for not having work done, they’re not taking responsibility. Often they make excuses for why homework isn’t done, and justify this behavior rather than taking care of completing it.

Complaining about the amount the teacher assigns or the lack of time they have to do homework focuses negative energy that doesn’t get the work done either. Poor performing students even blame their parents for taking it out of their backpack.

When underachieving students stop hiding out and start stepping up, their performance is enhanced with better grades. Parents and teachers have to figure out how to give them attention that’s not negative. When students stop needing attention for negative pursuits, they have more energy to lead the campaign for their own learning.

Interrupting their negative thought processes is critical for success. Thoughts lead to feelings. Feelings lead to actions. Actions lead to results. When students are focused on negative thoughts about themselves they end up feeling bad which leads to bad choices.

When they don’t make time to study, the results are poor grades. Turning children’s thinking around so that they’re more positive requires vigilant effort, but the reward is that they feel better about themselves. Positive feelings can lead to better choices like studying more, which can result in higher grades.

Of course a strong sense of humor helps to interrupt their negative cycles of blaming, justifying and complaining. We all do it to some extent. How long can you go without complaining about something? Who likes to be around a constant complainer who blames others?

You can change your mind about how you’re feeling. If you choose to see life from a more positive perspective, others will gravitate to you more. Commit to being responsible for your thoughts and you’re in a place of power. Stop your brain from complaining and making excuses, you’ll be happier and make better choices too. The results are sure to be more to your liking.

You can change your mind, which can change your life. Underachievers have to become believers… in themselves and their abilities. What are you committed to? Are you getting the results you want? Re-train your brain to complain less and you’ll achieve more.