By Susan Smith Nash, Ph.D.

We all have them. They are the stories we tell ourselves, the automatic thoughts that flood our minds in response to certain situations, and the "I know how this will end!" fortune-telling — all of which happen so quickly we may not even be fully aware of what is happening. Do we tell each other about our thoughts? Absolutely not. Sometimes we don't even acknowledge our own thoughts. We don't listen to ourselves. But, we do have emotional responses to the things we tell ourselves, and this can be either positive or negative.

Part of developing a positive self-concept and a healthy "I can do it!" attitude involves discovering one's own beliefs and attitudes with respect to education, learning, and ability. If we can uncover the weak points and negative attitudes that we have, we can start to correct our own thoughts and attitudes. Positive beliefs often translate into positive actions.

Place a check next to the statements you agree with. At the end of each one, you'll see an "N" (for negative) or a "P" (for positive). After you've read all the statements, please tally the statements you've placed a check next to, and add up the Ps and the Ns. If the Ps outnumber the Ns, you're in good shape. Your positive "secret beliefs" will help you succeed. If you find that negative beliefs predominate, please take a close look at yourself. Start maintaining a log or journal of your thoughts. Address the automatic thoughts and beliefs by writing down how you can replace a negative thought or belief with a positive one.

Beliefs About Yourself

• "I am bad at math." N
• "I like writing." P
• "I am good at things that involve working with other people." P
• "I am a good person." P
• "I am a hard-working person." P
• "I am kind of a slacker, and I always miss deadlines." N
• "I am a disorganized mess." N
• "I am easy-going and a good listener." P
• "Stupid people make me angry. There are a lot of stupid people in the world." N

Beliefs About Others

• "No one will help me." N
• "They will see I don't really know what I'm doing and will laugh." N
• "People are generally kind and helpful." P
• "People respond well to "win-win" situations." P

Beliefs About Technology

• "New developments in computers and the Internet have made learning much easier." P
• "Technology is always changing and I'm always behind the curve. It's hopeless to try to catch up or keep up." N
• "Technology and technological innovations are the new frontier. I must continue to invest in myself." P

Belief About Attitudes

• "I had better not get too over-confident. I will jinx myself if I get too cocky. I know all about hubris." N
• "When I'm having a bad day, I try to turn myself around with an 'I can do it!' attitude." P
• "Good attitudes are good to share. I try to be positive and uplifting to my classmates." P
• "Attitudes do not make any difference. In fact, I think that it's a waste of time to get involved in pop psychology and self-help goofiness." N

Beliefs About the Way I Relate to Others

• "People tend to understand what I'm saying and relate to me in a positive and helpful way." P
• "They're out to get me. I can feel it." N
• "I have to keep my cards close to my chest. Otherwise, I'm too open and people take advantage of me." N
• "I am a joiner. I love being a part of things, and keeping up to date and staying informed." P
• "I am a loner. I relate to myself, but when I try to explain myself to others, I feel uncomfortable." N
• "Everyone loves me. All kinds of people are secretly in love with me." N

Beliefs About How Others Perceive Me

• "The first impression people have of me is that I'm balanced and fair." P
• "When people meet me for the first time, they say I'm friendly and easy to get along with." P
• "People invariably say that I'm smart." P
• "People disrespect me because I'm not a part of the dominant group." N
• "If I'm not careful, people will start treating me badly." N

Beliefs About Educational Organizations

• "They're really there to help me. I really appreciate online colleges and universities. Otherwise I would not be able to have a degree." P
• "Some universities are elitist." N
• "Most educational institutions don't care that they are getting to be unaffordable. What will that do to us as citizens of the world? Help!" N

Beliefs About Instructors

• "My instructor is helpful and wants to help me succeed." P
• "My instructor is trying to trick me." N
• "Instructors care about their students and will do what they can to help them." P
• "Instructors are humble and focus on how to be helpful." P
• "Instructors are on a power trip." P

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