Ever feel stuck? Like you have been waiting forever for something? Not sure whether you’ve missed a turn or are on the right course? Constantly questioning where you are and what you should be doing differently? The middle zone! Anybody?! Or is it just me? I recently read an article by Donna Pisani that really spoke to me about this middle, and its value in our lives: "The Power of Not Yet." She says, “What if we all looked at the wait consistently as a Not Yet Zone, rather than through the eyes of whether we pass or fail? (speaking to all the perfectionists!) How would that change everything? Not only would your faith grow to the next level, but you’d become smarter, because that’s how God designed the process.” She references the growth mindset - which I love and is so exciting to me (again, back to my dorky neuroscience days)! Last year, Ms. Jean Lamar, the instructional strategies coach for Nassau County, touched on this concept in our monthly principals meeting as a strategy in the classroom. Developed by psychologist Carol Dweck, the concept explains that people possess a self-perception that it can either be fixed or growth-oriented. Dr. Dweck notes that people with a growth mindset "believe that their most basic abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work - brains and talents are just the starting point. This view creates a love of learning and a resilience that is essential for great accomplishment. Students who embrace growth mindsets may learn more, learn it more quickly, and view challenges and failures as opportunities to improve their learning and skills.” So good - and a great way to explain and assign value to this "middle" that many of us find ourselves in. I hope it encourages you as much as it did me. READ THE REST OF THE ARTICLE HERE!