Lessons Learned From Middle School Motivation

This week start the beginning of school here in Kansas. My older son is embarking on his middle school journey starting this week. He's a naturally confident kid, social, and incredibly kind.

He's also understandably nervous.

It's a new step, new school, new teachers, new kids, and new pressures.

So, as I'm surrounded by some of the best people in the world, a post was shared with me written by a woman named Brooke Romney that shared "The 11 Things Every New Middle Schooler Should Know."

I loved these so much that I printed them out so my son had them on his desk to remind him when things get tricky.

Then, as I'm reading them again with him, it dawned on me that these are all things we should be doing, realizing, and reminding ourselves of as adults as well.

1. Everyone is nervous, even if they say they aren’t - 80% of adults struggle with imposter syndrome, so yes, we're nervous and trying to figure it out.

2. You don’t have to be cool to enjoy middle school - The focus here was around spending time and energy on people who DO want you around vs. chasing anything. Stop trying to fit in and surround yourself with people who love you for you.

3. Take care of yourself physically - 75% of Americans don't meet physical fitness standards and 1/3 of us don't sleep enough. We have to take better care of ourselves.

4. It’s time to step up - We hesitate to seize opportunities far too often. Focus on what you want in life and make the changes to go after them properly.

5. Work hard - Effort = success. When we stay ready we don't have to get ready.

6. Be kind - I can't stress this one enough. In a world that's quick to judge, be snarky, or downright awful, we need more kindness.

7. Don’t burn bridges - You never know when a coworker, acquaintance, or friend will come back into your life at some point. Treat people well, don't talk negatively about people, and always be kind.

8. Tame your tech - Show up in real life if you want to stay ahead.

9. Talk to your parents - Substitute friends, colleagues, loved ones. Don't be afraid of honest, transparent, vulnerable conversations. Don't be afraid to ask for help. Nobody can read minds, so it's up to you to speak up.

10. Stay true to your values - There will always be pressure to alter who you are, to follow when you should lead, and you will put pressure on yourself to think being like others will improve your path. Stay focused on who you are.

11. Try it all - Life is to be experienced. If we don't say "Why not?" more often, we miss out on potential core memories being created.

I'd love to hear how this resonates with you. Is there something on this list you want to be better at? Drop me a note at rich@richbracken.com.