Have you ever tried and tried to master something, but you just could not seem to get it right? Have you felt like you would never make a friend, or never feel better, or never pass a math test? Have you had days or weeks where there was one disappointment after another? These and other experiences can leave us feeling discouraged.
- How would you describe what it feels like when you are discouraged? (Answers will vary: Like no one cares, like nothing else matters, like there is no hope; I feel sad, scared, alone, etc.)
- How do you usually act when you feel discouraged? (Answers will vary but may include: Cry, become impatient, have a short temper, feel grouchy, depressed, quiet, stay away from other people, etc.)
Coco, a young contestant on MasterChef Junior, wanted to do well in the cooking competition. The tests were strenuous, where children had to cook foods that some adults struggle to make, and they had to cook them under the pressure of a time limit. Coco knew the judges were deciding which junior chefs would advance in the competition based on appearance, texture, and taste of the food they cooked.
Share the following video [:46]:
Gordon Comforts Coco | Season 2 Ep. 1 | MASTERCHEF JUNIOR
Coco’s response to discouragement was to say, through her tears, “I can’t do it.”
- What are some examples of situations when you became so discouraged that you either wanted to give up or decided “I can’t do it”? (Answers will vary.)
- Coco’s discouragement was short lived. What does it usually take for your discouragement to go away? (Answers will vary.)
Sometimes, regardless of how minor or dire the situation, we become discouraged because the circumstances seem too big for us to handle or because things are not going the way we think they should. Let’s see what lifted the spirits of a man who was in a very discouraging situation for 38 years.
