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Thursday, September 22, 2011

SELF-EFFICACY, The Little Red Engine That Could & Personal Empowerment

Dawn Balloon Ride Over Albuquerque




As we enter this second decade of the 21st century, we face the facts of lives lived in a struggling economy under the constant shadow of terrorism in a world where many nations are engaged in war.  It is hard to keep on trying, and it is difficult to have a positive view of the world and a positive attitude about our personal lives.

I work at not surrendering to negativity.  I think of how I can help myself, and what story I could tell you that might give a glimmer of light in a dark world.

Others think as I think.  CNN is recognizing some unsung heroes, nominated and voted upon by the internet public as individuals who are making a difference in their immediate world.  Until this Unsung Heroes Project began, we would never have the opportunity to know the individuals involved.  They would quietly and anonymously go on with their generous acts.  These unsung heroes are good role models for us all.  We can find people who are in better and in worse circumstances than ourselves.  What is important is to learn from one another.  It is beneficial to know about individuals who Think They Can Achieve their goals and who make a difference in the quality of life of others.
In the U.S., there is a very popular children's story, The Little Red Engine That Could.  You may have read this story or have had someone read it to you.  You might have forgotten this popular story.  I have read the story to my children and others in my reading specialist career.  As many children's stories do, the story is applicable to the adult world.  I would recommend your re-reading this story, or reading it for the first time - for yourself.  It is found in most public libraries and bookstores.  If you are in a bookstore, you can read it in the bookstore.  It is a quck read with a long impact on the psyche. You might like to share this story.  Pass it on to a child, because children are always open to learning from stories.  You could tell the story as well as read it.  Pass it on to an adult, because adults need to be reminded of the benefits of storytelling - their stories and other people's stories.

The plot of  The Little Red Engine That Could goes like this.  There is a small, red train engine that has to go up a steep, steep hill.  The little engine wonders, if he can make it up the steep incline.  He keeps himself going by repeating the phrase, "I think I can. I think I can. I think I can.  I can"  Because he believes in his abilities, he does make it up the incline - he conquers the hill.  This story could be a parable for all of us.  We need to believe that we have the capacity to accomplish what needs to be done.  That is not so easy in 2010.  It takes constant 'self-talk" based on what we believe about ourselves.  This belief in our personal capability is called SELF EFFICACY.

Self efficacy is quite different from self-confidence.  Don't confuse the two.

Self-efficacy is the internal belief system that we are capable of achieving our goals and objectives.

Self-confidence is the feeling we have about ourselves as the result of the messages the external world, people, and organizations, gives us. The optimal situation is for an individual to have both self-efficacy and self-confidence but in reality that does not always happen.  A person who has been laid off of  her/his job and has been actively looking for a job for two years could have a basis for losing self-confidence after many job interviews that were unsuccessful.  Some people who share this experience can handle "interview trauma" better than some others because they have a strong sense of self-efficacy.  We have all heard the adage, "Nothing succeeds like success."  A person who can experience success in some area of her/his life is more likely to have self-efficacy.

In these hard times, belief in one's capabilities is essential.  It is an avenue to personal empowerment.  Empowerment does not always imply riches or a high standard of living.  For me, empowerment means I have the right to make my own decisions and the responsibility to live with the outcomes of my decisions.  I live in a democracy and I can determine my attitude towards life's pluses and minuses.

What stories can you tell to help yourself and/or some one else to believe that what needs to be done can be done?

I frequently quote Cesar Chavez' statement, Si, su puede! Yes, it can be done!  I don't know, if Cesar ever heard or read the story of the Little Red Engine That Could.  Cesar is just one example of a person who believed he could make a difference -- and he did.  Just ask anyone in the United Farmworkers of America.

What are your stories? How do you develop your self-efficacy?

Mantras (chants) can make a difference.  Echo the Little Red Engine and say to yourself, "I think I can. I think I can.  I can....
How powerful are you feeling?  What are You Doing About your personal empowerment?

Dr. CW

6 comments:

  1. What I am today is what my mind thought of yesterday...
    I feel very energetic and have a deep thirst for learning the unknown. For my personal empowerment I stay spiritually,physically and emotionally prepared at all times. I maintain a positive persona, even when it don't seem possible...I am a focused student obtaining my educational goal. My self-efficacy is enhanced daily, whenever I learn something I didn't know. My story to help myself and others is "Believe in YOURSELF, put your MIND to it and make it HAPPEN". In this economy, I am appreciative of all things and most thankful to God.

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  2. Hello Tiffany and others,

    I have always had that mentality of the Little Red Engine, I always try to stay positive believing in my abilities ever since I could remember. I believe I do need some help with self-confidence and self-efficacy though....I do believe in myself a lot but I guess I am still weak because I do get doubts. I always try to pick myself up but I am my biggest obstacle because I put myself down also. I do with all my heart believe in the light behind all the darkness and it helps me keep going; that is also the meaning behind my icon as well. I love the moon for that same reason because it is the light that brightens up the darkness so I always look for it. I have a couple of stories that help me feel thing that need to be done can be done, only that they are not in written form when I was introduced to them. One is a movie called "Meet The Robinsons," it is a really good movie about finding things you love in a hard life and just going one day at a time hoping that life will get better later on down the road....you just have to believe, it makes me emotional even though it is a animated kids movie, I found a deeper meaning to it. Also, there is a song from Eminem called "I'm not afraid," it may have some language that is a little rude but it means a lot to me, to me it means to stand up to everything you struggle with and make that huge effort to change yourself to become a better person. The biggest story I have been following for many years now and it is still not over is an anime called NARUTO, I love this show. It has me feel so many different emotions, its wild. Its about friendship, choosing the right path in life, following your dreams, about how we lose people who mean everything to us, and just about everything in between. It means the so much to me and it helps guide me when I just want to give up. Those were the big stories in my life that help me do the needs I need to do when I have doubt. I have very strong feelings for my life and how to change for the better so I just take everyday one step at a time and try to be better than I was the day before. Thank you for everyone who took the time in reading what I had to say, it means a lot to me and sorry I wrote so much. =)

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  3. I am sure we have all experienced that famous line from Bruce Willis in the Die Hard movie," I am feeling pretty unappreciated right now, Pal"! (left out the bad language)I have always felt if you live your life with integrity and moral purpose, good things will come to you. Credibilty in every thing you do builds trust and loyalty. This inturn will bring you self-confidence as people not only trust you, they believe in you. Believe in doing what is right and as an old song from a group called Argent states, Hold your head up, hold your head high" (my dad's old CD collection from the 70's). :)

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  4. My feeling lately have been on an merry-go-round. The depth of my sprirt feel lose as my soul lack understand as I am sadly misundrstood by the one that say I love you the most. Therefore my feeling of hurt have over powerd my being and the inter me is crying "come back Porter come back" Life goes on--So as for this day he empowerment is my higher power which is gripping and holding on to me freom slipping into no man's land a place of no return. Come back Porter--Come back

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  5. I grew up in a home of strong self belief and confidence. My parents always told us we could do anything we set our minds to.
    No mountain was too high no goal unreachable giving up was never an option. The funny little saying quiters never win and winners never quit.
    I believe you are only limited by your own lack of self discipline. I do not allow myself the self indulgence of failure I always do my best it's just who I am does doing my best always make it perfect ; no but I always give 100%.
    Never talk to yourself negativly NEVER.

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  6. Try, Try, Try! How many times can an individual keep going on when bad things keep happening. We do it for our children but sometimes the toll on our physical well being is just to much. We always live to fight another day. In years gone by, things would happen and we would get over them. Nowadays it just seems no matter how hard you try it just keeps getting worse. Will we ever see the light at that tunnel end? I hope so.

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