For the Love of Challenge: It’s All About Mindset

From the time I was little I loved to challenge myself. Sure, I enjoyed a good coloring session every once in awhile, but I was a maker, dreamer, and loved physical activity. I remember racing others through the streets of the neighborhood on foot and by bicycle. If I got a scraped knee, and I often did, I took care of it and kept going. 

From building forts in the neighboring wooded area to athletic challenges, I was seriously always on the go. Not only did I love the interaction, but I thrived off of seeing myself grow and feeling the sweetness of success every so often; particularly if I outran one of the boys in the neighborhood. I was and still am, very goal driven. In fact, I would say that I thrive by setting and meeting or even exceeding my goals.

We Can Increase Motivation in the Classroom

I see this same tenacity in many learners, but every so often I come across others who really seem to lack motivation or drive. Often, I hear people say that the individual doesn’t care or that they’ve always been unmotivated. Here’s the thing, when learners are engaged in something that matters to them, we shift toward empowerment. Learners, like adults, need to feel invested in their goals to motivate them to persevere through challenges. Additionally, we have to consider how we are infusing an element of fun as well as incremental success which both produce boosts of dopamine. Dopamine is a feel good neurotransmitter in the brain. Understanding aspects of neuroscience helps us to be better educators, because we need to grasp how the brain learns. 

If content is overly simplistic or, on the other hand, too challenging, we risk having kids disengage or perhaps even act out behaviorally. There needs to be a “just right” level of challenge to motivate learning, leading to an increase in drive. By involving learners in the goal setting process, embedded within topics that feel meaningful to them, we are more likely to increase internal drive. Additionally, if we have a culture of collaboration and an understanding that we all add value to the work or project at hand, we create synergy that has the potential to catalyze motivation and lead to top quality results.

Making the Connection

For the past 7 months, I’ve been going to a local gym that I’ve just fallen in love with. Although I attended a traditional gym many years ago, I just didn’t enjoy it because it lacked what I was seeking. I went in, did my thing, then left. I wasn’t motivated to return and didn’t feel connected with anyone there.

Typically speaking, I’m an outside runner, hiker, and enjoy a great Tough Mudder. The idea of going to a gym literally made me cringe for many reasons. I think it’s because in the past, I just didn’t find my groove by connecting with others and perhaps I didn’t know how to independently go about achieving my fitness goals. Also, I realized that when I am driven to workout and take care of my health (without dreading it), there’s usually something connected to it.

For example, when I ran a half marathon, I trained diligently. I had goals every step of the way and crushed my goal of running an 8 minute pace for the Wineglass Half Marathon and ended up running a 7.36 pace. I had to set goals along the way and trained with two fantastic friends who made it fun while also challenging me. During the race though, it was all about mindset. It hurt. There were times I wanted to stop and quit. It would have been so easy to just give up. But, that’s just not me. Instead, I pushed through as a result of the following: watching my pace on my watch, listening to music, and literally talking to myself in my head to push myself on. There’s a parallel when it comes to education as we have so many learners who may enjoy school, but just as many (if not more) who dread it.

Just as learners start the school year with excitement, so do many people who just start the gym. Sure, many kids wish summer would continue, but those same kids will also express excitement for a new school year. It’s a new opportunity filled with promise! This is particularly true of our youngest learners. The older our kids become, some express that they could do without the start of school. I wish that wasn’t the case. It would be awesome to see all kids pumped up for a new school year, wouldn’t it?

Returning to individuals starting the gym, many pay a hefty membership, get snazzy new workout clothing and perhaps even a new pair of sneakers, and get to it. Some continue attending multiple times per week, while others begin finding reasons not to go as often. Over time, many quit. What if I told you that you had to attend, 5 days per week and do whatever the instructor told you without any choice whatsoever? What if the entire gym class consisted of someone telling you what to do and then left you little time to actually dig in and do what you came for? Would you get jazzed for that? Most likely not. 

You see, people thrive with choice, an element of fun, being able to collaborate and communicate with others, and challenging themselves at a level that’s best for their current ability. Although I’ve always loved being an athlete, I haven’t loved the feeling of most gyms. But, I finally found one that makes me want to return in a way that I hope kids want to return to school. 

Why This Experience Feels So Unique

As I my heart rate raced at 168 beats per minute I suddenly made this entire connection to education. You see, at New York Sport and Fitness (and no, this is not promotional) I have tons of options for classes that challenge my inner athlete and each is different from the last. Each class focuses on different muscle groups and many individuals grow close with others as you train like a team. Trainers design workouts that are unique and then demonstrate how we can make modifications so that circuits are more or less challenging, depending on our needs. Additionally, we have options for different weights, alternative size boxes, and more. There’s an option to wear a heart monitor that displays your effort and progress as the class takes place. All of these add choice and an element of challenge, along with feedback. Throughout workouts, it’s common for fellow athletes to give high fives and motivate one another. At the close of each session, the trainer raises their hand as we huddle toward them and on the count of three, we all yell, “better every day!” I leave feeling excited to return the next day. There hasn’t been a day yet where I’ve dreaded going.

Questions to Reflect Upon in Connection with Education

In our classrooms, are we creating opportunities for choice and appropriate levels of challenges? 

How are we making adjustments to meet all unique needs?

Are we uplifting one another and adding value to each other in terms of peers-to-peers, colleagues-to-colleagues, and teachers-to-students? 

In what ways are we supporting learners to set goals and monitor their progress?

In what ways are we celebrating our growth each day and incorporating activities that uplift and add-value?

The bottom line is that my hope is for all learners to feel excited for school, and not just at the beginning of the school year, but year-after-year. Quite frankly, I wouldn’t continue the gym just because someone told me I had to. I make the choice with 100% autonomy. Would all learners make the choice to attend school if they didn’t have to? I believe that we can create environments where learning thrives as we challenge our kids to grow socially, emotionally, and academically.

Yes, Let’s Infuse an Element of Fun. But Please, Include Appropriate Challenge, Too

By reflecting on what motivates us, we can make connections to what motivates learners. Other educators, myself included, have expressed wanting learners to get excited for school in the same way they do Disney World. While I do understand that, reflecting back, I’m not sure I would agree with my past self. While I love a Disney vacation because it’s fun and can heighten both curiosity and creativity, I also want learners to get excited to actively engage in some level of challenge where they can feel growth within themselves as well. In thinking about the gym, it’s not easy by any means. However, the energy of the trainers and the people who surround you are what makes a significant difference. 

We Choose Our Mindset

In our schools, we can create that synergy with colleagues and create opportunities for fun embedded within challenge. If we also incorporate goal setting and celebrate our growth, we inspire ourselves to continue and develop intrinsic motivation. 

This school year, let’s commit to creating a culture where every individual feels valued, is empowered through choice, and together, let’s amplify the success we experience and even the adversity that may have occurred along the way as it helps to shape learning. Personally speaking, I welcome adversity because every single time I’ve faced adversity, I’ve done something pretty significant in my life. Together, let’s make this be the year where we invigorate a genuine joy and appreciation for learning along with the challenges that come along with it.