#Competence

Trusting a Child’s Struggle to Grow Competence

Consequently, parents and teachers can operationalize this principle with simple habits. Prepare the environment with child-sized tools and clear sequences so success is feasible. Observe first, waiting a slow count of ten before intervening; keep hands behind your back to prevent reflexive fixing. When help is needed, offer the smallest nudge—move an obstacle, model once, or ask a focusing question—and then withdraw. Name the child’s effort rather than the outcome: You kept trying different ways until it worked. Over time, these micro-choices cultivate durable confidence and care for work. [...]

Pressure Is Something You Feel When You Don't Know What You're Doing — Chuck Noll

This quotation points to the psychological aspect of performance. Pressure can often be a perception, exacerbated by self-doubt. Many cognitive therapists encourage reframing anxiety as excitement—transforming feelings of being pressured into anticipation—fostering improved outcomes. The difference, as Noll notes, lies in one’s sense of certainty. [...]

To Know What You Can Do, and to Do It, Is the First Step to Success - John Burroughs

John Burroughs, known for his essays and philosophies on nature and life, often emphasized practical and actionable wisdom. This quote reflects his belief in combining self-awareness with proactive effort to achieve meaningful results. [...]