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ADHD stands for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. But, as my guest Coach Lara Dawn helps us understand today, that label is somewhat of a misnomer.  The truth is that ADHD is neither a deficit of attention (actually, people with ADHD have an abundance of attention), nor a disorder. In fact, some people consider ADHD to be a superpower. Lara is the founder of the wonderful ADHD Village, a community that offers brain-based, science-backed support for families raising children with ADHD. She supports moms in learning how to eliminate stress while navigating their children’s ADHD, so that they are calm, confident and deeply connected to their children. ADHD is often misunderstood by the general public. Kids with ADHD are not lazy, or stupid, or slow, or bad.  And, ADHD is not a result of poor parenting. It is simply a brain difference - a neurological diversity.    Today, Lara shares some of the intricacies of ADHD in the brain, and some insights into what it is like to live with it - about which she has first-hand knowledge. She also shares some tips for parents and educators (again, from her own first-hand experience parenting her 2 boys, who also have ADHD, and her 20+ years as an educator & Special Education Resource Teacher). Lara also shares details about her upcoming FREE 8-day virtual event, featuring 35+ ADHD experts, Calming the ADHD Family (March 21-28, 2022). This summit will: Provide the tools and strategies to stop the fighting and quiet the yelling​Restore your confidence as a parent ​Strengthen your connection as a familyRegister through the link below. I am honoured to be part of this event! My interview  will be air on March 22nd. I look forward to seeing you there. Register for the FREE Calming the ADHD Family Summit LINKS Connect with Lara here: https://theadhdvillage.com/ Join the ADHD Village Facebook Group Connect directly with Lara via email: [email protected] Teaching Little Brains private Facebook Group Teaching Little Brains Instagram 

If you've ever felt discomfort over a decision you've had to make, tried to justify a choice you've made, or regretted something you've done because you thought to yourself "I don't know why I did that, that's not me!" you have likely experienced cognitive dissonance. Cognitive Dissonance Theory was presented by a social psychologist, named Leon Festinger, in 1957. Cognitive dissonance is a term for the state of mental or psychological discomfort we feel when two or more modes of thought (beliefs, values, or attitudes) contradict each other - when our modes of thought are out of Alignment.   We are averse to inconsistencies within our own mind. It’s not comfortable to be at odds, to feel resistance.  Our brain does not like  discomfort. It feels threatened by it.  So, when we experience this dissonance, our brain goes to work to try to adjust when our thoughts, words, or behaviours seem to clash with each other. In this episode, we learn about how exactly our brains work to restore alignment, and you'll experience this for yourself in real time as we play with it a bit. Enjoy! CONNECT WITH ME HERE: Join my BECOMING LIGHTS ON Program! (with Julia Black) Coaching with Sarah Nykoruk Instagram Join my private Facebook Group:  Facebook Page

What does "play" mean to you? Do you consider yourself a playful person?   Do you engage in play on a regular basis, or are you resistant to play? Many of us understand that play is good for children's development, but do you know how, or why? Do you know that play is also good for adults? Play reduces stress, helps strengthen relationships and trust, enhances imagination, develops social skills, and even increases productivity and creativity. And, it doesn't have to be extensive or extravagant, simple things like putting on a silly hat, making goofy faces, playing fetch with the dog, turning your child's sock into a puppet, sending a funny meme to a coworker, playing charades, or having a laugh with your friend all count as play, and can offer many of the benefits listed above. Find out more inside today's episode! LINKS Follow me on Instagram Join my Facebook Group

What expectations do you have of your students? Of your partner? Your family? Your friends? Yourself? I expect my kids to be polite. I expect my students to listen to me. I expect my partner to remember my birthday. I expect my friends to be on time. Sound familiar? What happens when your expectations are not met? How do you feel? The problem with having expectations is that they are all about other people. They often originate from a place of wounding, fear, and lack. We impose expectations because we think they will prevent us from being let down. But, in so doing, we relinquish our power to another person. We hand them our happiness and hope they don't drop it. And, while awaiting the outcome of the expectation, we put ourselves in emotional limbo.  "If you meet my expectation, I'll be happy. But, if you don't, I'll be disappointed. In the meantime, I'll sit here in limbo, not knowing what to feel."  It doesn't make much sense, does it? But, if we don't have expectations of people, won't they walk all over us?  Today, as always, I invite you to examine the stories and beliefs you have about expectations, and I offer you an alternative. I invite you to play around with it, try it on, see how it fits.  And, if you like it, and/or find it helpful, please consider leaving a review, to help share it with others who might find it helpful as well. LINKS Writers' Workshop Masterclass Teaching Little Brains Facebook Group Coaching with Sarah Nykoruk - Book your free 20 minute Discovery Call

This week, I was invited onto the Create a Life You Love video podcast hosted by the amazing Chantal Cox. Chantal is a fellow educator and Master NeuroCoachTM, an author, a friend, and a wonderful human being doing great things in the world. We had a delightful conversation about creating a life we love, and collaborating on an incredible project! Enjoy! LINKS Complete the application to join the Create a Life You Love Coaching Program Free RRT tapping resource - PDF Teaching Little Brains Facebook Community Teaching Little Brains Instagram Sarah Nykoruk Coaching Create a Life You Love with Chantal Cox

Wait, what?!  Positivity is toxic? It can be. Positivity can become toxic when it is used to mask, suppress, avoid, or cover up negative emotions. It's the belief that no matter how dire or difficult a situation is, people should maintain a positive mindset, or put a positive spin on all experiences. It's a "good vibes only" approach to life. Toxic positivity denies people the authentic support that they need to cope with what they are facing. It paints negative emotions as a failure or weakness. The problem is that denying certain emotions doesn’t make them go away. In fact, it just causes them to fester and clog up our system - like on a cellular level - causing pain, discomfort, illness, disease, etc.  Persistent reminders to reflect on ‘how good we have it’ in the midst of strife and struggle don’t make sadness, fear or anxiety dissipate. They discourage, stress out, and piss us off. They make us feel like something is wrong with us because we can’t keep a positive outlook, when (it seems like) everyone else can. The way that we’re treated gets played out in the way we treat others (for the most part). For example, when educators are being told to have patience and grace and understanding for their students, but that’s not what is being extended to them, they subconsciously perpetuate the false toxic positivity that they are being offered themselves. Or are you slapping on a happy face, and what for? AND how’s it working for you? Some tips  include: Manage your negative emotions, but don't deny them. Remember, the only dangerous emotion is a suppressed emotion.Your feelings provide important information that can lead to beneficial changes in your life.Be realistic about what you should feel. When you are facing a stressful situation, it’s normal to feel stressed, worried, or even fearful. Don’t expect too much from yourself. Focus on self-love and taking steps that can help improve your situation.It’s okay to feel more than one thing. If you are facing a challenge, it’s possible to feel nervous about the future and also hopeful that you will succeed. Your human emotions are complex Focus on listening to others and showing support. When someone expresses a difficult emotion, don’t shut them down with toxic platitudes. Instead, let them know that what they are feeling is normal and that you are there to listen. Notice how you feel. Following “positive” social media accounts can sometimes serve as a source of inspiration, but pay attention to how you feel after you view and interact with such content. If you are left with a sense of shame or guilt after seeing “uplifting” posts, maybe consider limiting your social media consumption - at least from those accounts.LINKS Teaching Little Brains Instagram Join my Facebook Group Connect with me about Coaching opportunities Join the Hey U Human Community RRT Tapping Masterclass

What makes you angry?  What really makes your blood boil? How do you feel about anger itself? What do you do when you feel angry? We’re taught to avoid, is anger. We learn that anger is bad. It’s scary. It’s destructive. But, the truth is, that anger is just an emotion, like any other we experience as humans. It’s a vibration in our body. It’s neither good, nor bad. It’s just energy in motion. I talk a lot about feelings and emotions in my coaching, and here on the podcast because feelings are what drive us to do all the things we do in life, to want all the things we want, and to be all the things we want to be. Today, I talk about anger. Mahatma Gandhi saw anger as a good thing, as “the fuel for change”, but that takes maturity and wisdom... and  is up against the intoxicating allure of the immediate gratification we get from lashing out violently and mindlessly. Anger feels powerful, and so we often choose it over guilt, shame, insecurity, jealousy, or vulnerability.  In her book, The Way of Integrity, Martha Beck offers some fascinating insights into anger that I share in this episode. LINKS FREE 20 minute Discovery Call RRT Tapping Masterclass Teaching Little Brains Facebook Group Teaching Little Brains Instagram Sarah Nykoruk - website Hey Ü Human Facebook Community

Hello Teacher Brain!  Good news: I'm Open For Business! Do you believe in signs, or nudges from the universe - or God, or whatever you might call it? Oprah calls them whispers from the universe. She says that, for example, when we have an idea, or desire on our heart, first, we may hear a whisper of that idea or desire. She says, when we ignore that little whisper, which we often do, the universe then starts speaking more loudly to us. And this is when we may start to get little “nudges” (that feeling that I should do a certain thing and you don't know why), or we experience “synchronicities” (which are sort of like coincidences, but from the position that there are no coincidences, but rather hints that things are all lining up for us to make that thing that we want to happen happen).  We get more clues. Patterns start showing up.  Have you ever had that experience where like you hear someone’s name somewhere, and then you hear it again from someone else, then maybe you have a dream about that person, or you run into them somewhere? That’s what I’m talking about - synchronicities.   I’ve been noticing lately, is this question: Now what?! And, I've learned that when I notice these things - repeated words and messages, etc, I should pay attention. Because when I ignore them, especially the nudges, the universe tends to then deliver a big ol' slap in the face.  And I don't particularly enjoy being slapped in the face. So, when I heard the question "Now what" in those words, from a bunch of different people, in a bunch of different contexts, I looked inward. What's my "now what?" Today I talk about moving out of, what Dr. Joe Dispenza calls, the familiar past, and into a new desirable future - and, as always, it starts with a thought. If you want something you've never had, you have to think something (possible) you've never thought (possible). Mine is (are): I am a sought-after coach. I take action. There are people  who want my help, who are waiting for me to invite them into my coaching programs. I am open for business! Here is how you can get in touch with me to book your FREE 30 minute consultation call, to find out if and how I can support you, coach you, collaborate with you, to finally start getting this out and into schools and classrooms! https://sarahnykoruk.com/ Sign up for my Free RRT Tapping Masterclass HERE Join my free Facebook Group Take the Lights On quiz - Find out what kind of learner your child is, and what lights them up! 

Hello Teacher Brain! If I told you I'd give you $1000 to work out every day for a year,  do you think you'd do it? The answer might surprise you! Studies show that external rewards (like money), can actually have negative effects on motivation! Not only that, but they squelch creativity, encourage cheating and can result in exploitation of the reward-based system. Like most things, the answers are within. Intrinsic motivation is long-lasting, and has positive benefits to self-esteem, resilience, achievement, and engagement. In the 1940s, Professor Harry F. Harlow discovered intrinsic motivation while he was studying rhesus monkeys.  Up until then, it was believed there were only 2 types of motivation, and external rewards were believed to offer the greatest motivation for behaviour. Harlow proved that untrue. However, his discovery didn't become validated until 2 decades later when Edward Deci picked up where Harlow left off.  He discovered that not only did extrinsic reward not increase motivation, it actually decreased it.  In 2011, Daniel H. Pink published the book, Drive, on the matter. In it he identified  the 3 pillars of intrinsic motivation as: Autonomy MasteryPurposeToday we dive in!! LINKS Coaching with Sarah Nykoruk   Instagram  Facebook Group Facebook Page  LIGHTS ON. - Be the Boss of Your Brain Modern Classrooms Project - Self Paced Learning Series

Do the "Little Brains" in your life love watching, listening to, and/or doing the same thing over and over...and over...and over again? What's up with that? I decided to ask an expert, 6-year-old, Zoey Nykoruk why she loves hearing the same book, same podcast, and watching the same movie over and over... and over again.  She had some interesting things to say about repetition. And then, I did some research and found out even more interesting things about our affinity for repetition.  It turns out, it's not just Little Brains who love it - us big kids love it too. It's how we learn new skills, how our brains seek connection,  what makes songs so catchy, and how we build beliefs... and we're sensitive to it even before we're born! Join me inside to learn more! This week's episode is dedicated to my friend and colleague, Matt Coleman, who posed the focus question that inspired this episode, and whose son, Quinn, shares Zoey's affinity for repetition (whose podcast Zoey likes to listen to... repeatedly!) Special thanks to Claire Gillespie, who sent me lovely encouraging message right when I needed it most! Thank you, Claire! LINKS Instagram  Facebook Group  Facebook Page  Coaching with Sarah Nykoruk The Sprout and Stem Podcast - hosted by Quinn and Matt Coleman

Today we're going to get uncomfortable in the uncomfortable.  We're going to give your brain a workout.  Has someone ever said something to you like “Oh my goodness, thank you so much, that was so helpful!” and you respond with something like “Well, I didn’t do anything!" Or,  “Congratulations on that award! That’s so great!” and you brush it off with a “Oh my gosh! No, So-and-so should have gotten it. I didn’t do anything to deserve it” Or even “Oh my gosh! You totally smashed your goal!” “No, that doesn’t COUNT, I didn’t earn it!” So, what is that? What’s that about? Why do we do that?  Why do we not feel we deserve the praise or acknowledgement people give us?  I mean, we crave it - we tie our worth to IT, but then we don’t ACCEPT it when it comes. Crazy! When we come into the world, all naked and squirmy and giggly (or screaming), we have one frequency. One vibration.  Love. And, that has been scientifically proven by the way, like with tools and gear and gadgets and smart people.  We emerge head first (or in some cases feet or bum first) adorable little bundles of love and wonder. We have no doubts about our capabilities, reservations about our worth, no concerns that we didn’t DO anything to EARN the nourishment that is given to us, that we are not deserving of the love, or clothing, or bath from the people caring for us. That is all learned. And it’s all bull$h!t!   BOTH of these concepts (worth and deservingness) are human constructs.  Do you know what that means? It means, humans made them up. They're completely made up concepts.  So, YES! You are you deserving of everything you want.  And..  NO! No one is deserving of anything, because being deserving is not even a real thing.! WHAAAAAAAAAAT?!?!?!  Join me today as I share some mind-bending perspectives and ideas that will stretch the edges of your comfort zone, and possibly blow your mind wide open! CONNECT WITH ME Coaching with Sarah: https://www.sarahnykoruk.com Teaching Little Brains Facebook Group Follow me on Instagram Teaching Little Brains Facebook Page

Did you know that your handwriting reveals your personality traits, thought patterns, and blocks you have? Did you know that when you fall in love, survive a serious illness, or change careers, your handwriting patterns change? Did you know that letters have energy? It's all connected to your subconscious. Your handwriting is a tool that can rewire your brain, and even help you overcome past trauma. Changing your handwriting can help you get rid of bad habits and limiting beliefs that are holding you back from your fullest potential! Intentionally altering just a few letters, or your signature, can dramatically transform your entire life. Today, I am talking to Misty Cogdill, a certified graphologist and coach who has been analyzing people's handwriting for over a decade, helping them achieve incredible growth and expansion in their personal lives and businesses, by helping them understand how their handwriting is holding them back, and showing them a few tips and tweaks to unlock their power and potential! Misty shares with us a bit about her personal journey, how she got into this work, some of the most common letters that are inhibiting people from their greatest success, and some of the incredible breakthroughs her clients have made simply by adjusting a few pen strokes, or their signature. Get out a pen and some paper for this one! You're going to want to take notes... and then analyze your writing within them! Enjoy! WHERE TO FIND MISTY COGDILL Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mistycogdillsupport Handwriting Soul Academy: https://www.facebook.com/Handwritingsoulacademy Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cogdill_misty/  Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mistycogdill Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.ca/cogdill3464/_saved/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkWLbGEDmQxEMoCns9yjZ5w CONTACT SARAH NYKORUK & TEACHING LITTLE BRAINS Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/TeachingLittleBrains Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teaching.little.brains/ Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.ca/teachinglittlebrains/ Website: https://teachinglittlebrains.com/