Wellbeing - Talk to Yourself Like a Friend
| Category: | Wellbeing |
|---|---|
| Notes: | Works for Cub Scouts and older Scouts. Good after a disappointment, a failed attempt at something, or during a stretch when Scouts are being hard on themselves. Part of a Wellbeing series - see the other minutes in this category. |
A Scout is kind. We say it every week. We try to be kind to our friends, our families, younger Scouts, even animals. But there's one person a lot of us forget to be kind to.
Ourselves.
Think about the voice in your head when you mess up. You drop the ball in the game. You fail the swim test. You get a bad grade. What does that voice say? For a lot of people, it says things like, "You're so stupid." "You always mess up." "Everyone else can do this but you."
Now imagine your best friend messed up the exact same way. Would you say those things to them? Of course not. You'd say, "Hey, it's okay. Everybody has bad days. You'll get it next time."
So here's a challenge. Next time you catch yourself being mean to yourself, stop and ask, "Would I say this to a friend?" If the answer is no, then don't say it to you either. Try what you'd tell a friend instead. "That was hard. I'm still learning. I'll try again."
This isn't about pretending you're perfect, or that mistakes don't matter. It's about the fact that people learn faster and try harder when they're encouraged, not when they're beaten down. That's true when the encouragement comes from a coach, a leader, or a friend. And it's true when it comes from you.
A Scout is kind. To everyone. Including the Scout in the mirror.