The school bell rang, and Inse’s palms felt sweaty. His teacher was handing back their math tests. His heart pounded as he flipped his paper over.
A C. His lowest grade ever.
His stomach tightened. You’re not smart enough. You’ll never be good at this, the Voice of Insecurity whispered.
Curity leaned closer. “Hey, I see that look. What’s up?”
Inse sighed. “I got a C… I tried, but maybe I’m just not good at math.”
Curity shook her head. “That’s the Voice of Insecurity talking. And guess what? You don’t have to listen. You can still act despite it.”
Inse frowned. “How? I don’t feel like I can do better.”
Curity pointed to a rock outside the window. “See that big rock? Imagine it’s blocking a tiny stream. If the water stopped because of the rock, it would dry up. But does it stop?”
Inse thought for a second. “No… it keeps moving.”
Curity nodded. “Exactly. It pushes around the rock, little by little. That’s what you have to do. Even when doubt tries to block you, you act anyway. You study, ask for help, and push through. That’s what 4 TFM is all about.”
Inse took a deep breath. “Okay… I’ll try.”
Over the next week, even when he felt unsure, Inse asked his teacher for extra help. He practiced at home. He kept going, even when his doubts told him to quit.
The next test day came. He still felt nervous, but this time, he focused on what he had learned and gave it his best shot.
When the teacher handed back the tests, Inse’s heart raced. A B. He grinned.
“I actually improved!” he said.
Curity gave him a high five. “That’s because you didn’t let your Voice of Insecurity stop you. You took action anyway—and that’s what makes the difference.”
As they walked home, Inse felt a new kind of confidence. He still had doubts, but now he knew: he didn’t have to listen to them. He just had to keep moving.
The End.
This story focuses on 4 TFM – Act Despite the Voice of Insecurity, teaching Inse to push through doubt by taking action! 😊
