JumpStart National Napping Day (3/11/24)

It’s also the first day of fasting for the Muslim holy month of Ramadan (started last night), although this might change by a day in some parts of the world depending on the sighting of the new moon since Ramadan is determined by the Islamic lunar calendar.   Muslims believe that Ramadan is the month in which the first verses of the Quran were revealed to the Prophet Muhammed more than 1400 years ago.  Each year, this holiday is celebrated by fasting (including drinking) from just before sunrise to sunset.  You can wish someone a ‘Happy Ramadan’ by saying, “Ramadan Mubarak!” SOURCE

Big Idea:  Why does it seem like some people are brimming with self-confidence while others are not?
Self-confidence is a comfort you feel with yourself, your instincts, and your self-efficacy - a belief in your own abilities, knowledge, and judgment.
Jay Shetty talks about 7 characteristics of a self-confident person:  In his opinion, a self-confident person:

1. Has worked through their past. One can’t be haunted by demons and be fully confident.
2. Develops a high-value skill.  It’s not the skill that matters, but the journey to develop it.
3. Constantly learns new skills.  Keeping up with change and navigating change can boost self-confidence.
4. Has compassion for themselves and others. The more compassion you feel, the wider your world-view can be, and the better able you are to see yourself in it.
5. Responds slowly vs. reacting quickly.  We often react quickly out of fear rather than taking the time to fully research an answer, which takes confidence that everything will work out.
6. Knows their motivation; self-awareness is confidence.  Self-awareness is the key to A LOT of things, including your confidence.
7. Always plans, adapts, and visualizes.  Similar to #3.

Here are 5 strategies you can use to build your own self-confidence:

1. Be specific:  It can be overwhelming to have the goal of ‘be more self-confident.’  What, specifically, do you want to be able to DO?  Then figure out how to get there.
2. Stop comparisons:  Each of us is unique, so comparing yourself to others is futile, because you will never be them!
3. Reflect on wins:  We tend to focus on what’s missing rather than what’s there.  What skills/characteristics do you already possess that other people admire? At the end of the day, celebrate everything you accomplished rather than what’s still on your list.
4. Step out of your comfort zone: When you expand your horizons, what used to be unusual becomes mundane due to a shift in perspective.
5. Be curious:  When you’re curious, judgments become hypotheses and decisions become experiments.

This week, try this:  Feeling low on self-confidence this time of year?  Try looking back over the last 2 - 6 months and itemize everything you have accomplished.  I’ll bet it’s a lot!  Too often, we look at everything we still have to do rather than everything we’ve done.

Quote of the Week:  "I was always looking outside myself for strength and confidence but it comes from within.  It is there all the time."  ~Anne Freud

Educator Resource:  Free Suicide Prevention Training with PD credits: Deadline Extended, New Option for Bulk Registrations
I posted this a couple weeks ago, and if you didn’t register, good news!  The registration deadline for the Illinois Department of Public Health’s free suicide prevention training courses designed specifically for educators has been extended to March 22 to offer additional opportunities for educators and school personnel to participate. Additionally, district leaders can opt for bulk registration, streamlining the process for districtwide participation.
Two courses are offered:

• Question, Persuade, Refer Training, a one-credit hour course, is open to all school personnel. 
• Assessing and Measuring Suicide Risk Training, a 6.5-credit hour course, is targeted at school support personnel, including school social workers, counselors, psychologists, and nurses.  

NEW!! Districts or schools interested in bulk registration may contact [email protected]. For all other questions, contact [email protected].

Dad Joke:  The population of Ireland's capital is really growing.  In fact, it's Dublin.