Lesson 1 Self-Soothing
6
“Never give up” is a phrase to hold onto during hard moments. What feels hard at first can become easier with
practice—just like learning to tie your shoes. It takes persistence and the courage to work through worry. Over time,
confidence grows as you do hard things one step at a time. That is why the skills in Mind Matters matter: they help
you stay steady, keep trying, and move forward even when life feels challenging.
Ask: Can you think of people or characters in movies who choose to do difficult things? What were the long-
term benefits of their hard work and sacrifices?
Waiting and You
Let’s explore the challenges of waiting and making hard choices. Waiting can be tough, especially when you’re feeling
hungry, angry, lonely, or tired (HALT). These feelings can weaken self-control, making hard tasks—and patience—
more difficult.
There are moments in life when quick decisions are made without much thought about the consequences.
Ask: Can you recall a time when you wished you had made a different choice or waited before acting?
Conversely, can you think of a time when you waited and did the hard thing?
People Can Learn to Wait and Choose to Do Hard Things
As we talk about doing hard things and learning to wait, it might sound like people who struggle are headed for a
harder life. That is not true. The good news is that these skills can be strengthened at any time. Many of us want the
life of people who wait patiently and tackle challenges. These individuals are often perceived as smarter, earn more
money, have lasting relationships, and are happier.
As Viktor Frankl, a Holocaust survivor, said, “Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our
power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and freedom.” In simple terms, we all have the power
to decide how we react to life’s events, and this choice can greatly affect our lives.
Here is an image to illustrate this idea:
Stimulus
Stimulus
Space
Response
Response
In the space between stimulus and response, individuals can choose how to respond rather than react, leading to
different outcomes.
Ask: So, what’s the difference between reacting and responding?
6
“Never give up” is a phrase to hold onto during hard moments. What feels hard at first can become easier with
practice—just like learning to tie your shoes. It takes persistence and the courage to work through worry. Over time,
confidence grows as you do hard things one step at a time. That is why the skills in Mind Matters matter: they help
you stay steady, keep trying, and move forward even when life feels challenging.
Ask: Can you think of people or characters in movies who choose to do difficult things? What were the long-
term benefits of their hard work and sacrifices?
Waiting and You
Let’s explore the challenges of waiting and making hard choices. Waiting can be tough, especially when you’re feeling
hungry, angry, lonely, or tired (HALT). These feelings can weaken self-control, making hard tasks—and patience—
more difficult.
There are moments in life when quick decisions are made without much thought about the consequences.
Ask: Can you recall a time when you wished you had made a different choice or waited before acting?
Conversely, can you think of a time when you waited and did the hard thing?
People Can Learn to Wait and Choose to Do Hard Things
As we talk about doing hard things and learning to wait, it might sound like people who struggle are headed for a
harder life. That is not true. The good news is that these skills can be strengthened at any time. Many of us want the
life of people who wait patiently and tackle challenges. These individuals are often perceived as smarter, earn more
money, have lasting relationships, and are happier.
As Viktor Frankl, a Holocaust survivor, said, “Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our
power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and freedom.” In simple terms, we all have the power
to decide how we react to life’s events, and this choice can greatly affect our lives.
Here is an image to illustrate this idea:
Stimulus
Stimulus
Space
Response
Response
In the space between stimulus and response, individuals can choose how to respond rather than react, leading to
different outcomes.
Ask: So, what’s the difference between reacting and responding?
