1. A Lesson on how to handle The Struggle.
“The Struggle is Real!”
A Lesson on how to handle The Struggle.

2. Long Division
Solve these problems
using mental math.

3. Thoughts?

4. Feelings?

7. The Pit Is a Good Place to Be….. But It’s Not Always Fun….
and you will get Dirty!!!

8. A.N.T.’s Automatic Negative Thoughts
Have you ever been on a picnic and felt something crawling on your leg? You look down and, sure enough, it is an ant. Annoying little thing. If there are enough of them on you or your blanket you will probably move to another location to avoid the bothersome creatures. Or
maybe you are working in the yard and suddenly fire ants begin stinging you in unison as if one of them had sounded an alarm, “Sting the giant!”
Another type of pesky critter that often bothers or stings us is also called an ANT; Automatic Negative Thoughts.
Do you ever experience these? Seemingly, without even thinking about it, you have a negative thought.

9. LIAR
LIAR
Unless you think about your thoughts they are automatic or "they just happen." Since they just happen, they are not necessarily correct. Your thoughts do not always tell the truth. Sometimes they even lie to you. I once treated a college student who thought he was stupid, because he didn't do well on tests. When his IQ (intelligence level) was tested, however, we discovered that he was close to a genius! You don't have to believe every thought that goes through your head. It's important to think about your thoughts to see if they help you or they hurt you. Unfortunately, if you never challenge your thoughts you just "believe them" as if they were true.

10. #2 Focusing on the #4 Mind Reading NEGATIVE #1 Always/ Never Thinking
Everybody/ Nobody
Always #3
Fortune
Telling
#5 Thinking with our
FEELINGS
ANT 1: “Always/never” thinking.
This happens when you think something that happened will “always” repeat itself or that you will “never” get what you want. One might
say “I am never satisfied” implying that they will never be satisfied. All-or-nothing words like “always, never, no one, every one, every time, and everything” are usually wrong. Here are some examples of “always/never” thinking:
“I always fail TAKS practices.”
“I never get the summary questions right.”
“My teacher never lets me get on the computer.”
“Everybody always chooses me last”
“Nobody will help me with my homework.”
“Always/never” ANTs are very common. If you catch yourself thinking in these absolutes, stop
and make yourself recall examples that disprove this kind of thinking.

11. #6 Guilt Trips #8 Personalization #7 Labeling #9 Blame
ANT #5: "Thinking With Your Feelings"
This occurs when you believe your negative feelings without ever questioning them. Feelings are very complex, and, often based on powerful memories from the past. Feelings sometimes lie to you. Feelings are not about truth. They are about feelings. But many people believe their feelings even though they have no evidence for them. "Thinking with your feelings" thoughts usually start with the words "I feel." For example, "I feel like you don't love me. I feel stupid. I feel like a failure. I feel nobody will ever trust me." Whenever you have a strong negative feeling, check it out. Look for the evidence behind the feeling. Do you have real reasons to feel that way? Or, are you feelings based on events or things from the past?
#9 Blame

12. Summary of A.N.T. Species Let’s Review . . .
1. "Always" thinking: thinking in words like always, never, no one, every one, every time, everything.
2. Focusing on the negative: only seeing the bad in a situation.
3. Fortune telling: predicting the worst possible outcome to a situation.
4. Mind reading: believing that you know what another person is thinking, even though they haven't told you.
5. Thinking with your feelings: believing negative feelings without ever questioning them.
6. Guilt beatings: thinking in words like "should, must, ought or have to."
7. Labeling: attaching a negative label to yourself or to someone else.
8. Personalization: innocuous events are taken to have personal meaning.
9. Blame: blaming someone else for your own problems.
Summary of A.N.T. Species
1. "Always" thinking: thinking in words like always, never, no one, every one, every time, everything.
2. Focusing on the negative: only seeing the bad in a situation.
3. Fortune telling: predicting the worst possible outcome to a situation.
4. Mind reading: believing that you know what another person is thinking, even though they haven't told you.
5. Thinking with your feelings: believing negative feelings without ever questioning them.
6. Guilt beatings: thinking in words like "should, must, ought or have to."
7. Labeling: attaching a negative label to yourself or to someone else.
8. Personalization: innocuous events are taken to have personal meaning.
9. Blame: blaming someone else for your own problems.

13. Talk back to those ANT’s!
Whenever you notice an ANT entering your mind, train yourself to recognize it and write it down. When you write down automatic negative thoughts (ANTs) and talk back to them, you begin to take away their power and gain control over your moods. Kill the ANTs by feeding
your emotional anteater.
Whenever you notice an ANT entering your mind, train yourself to recognize it and write it down. When you write down automatic negative thoughts (ANTs) and talk back to them, you begin to take away their power and gain control over your moods. Kill the ANTs by feeding
your emotional anteater.

15. HARD WORK IS DONE IN THE PIT!!
GRIT
Remember…..
HARD WORK IS DONE IN THE PIT!!
PREPARE TO GET GRITTY!

16. Remember that your brain is a muscle.
Don’t be afraid to make a mistake. Mistakes are proof you are trying.
Don’t Give Up! Take breaks when needed.
Set a small goal and make a plan.
Make a Plan B
Make a Plan C……
Use what you are good at.
Ask a Buddy.
Use resources. (google, parents, etc.)
Go back to square 1, “what are you learning?”
Hit the Pause Button.
Believe in Yourself.

17. Go On and JUMP IN
The Pit!!!!

18. What to Do When You Don’t Know What To Do… (BRICKS)
Conquering The Pit
What to Do When You Don’t Know What To Do… (BRICKS)