Wanting to Fit In
Inse had always felt a little different from his classmates. He was shy and didn’t always know the right things to say. So, when a group of kids invited him to go skateboarding after school, he felt excited.
But there was a problem. He didn’t know how to skateboard.
As soon as he stepped on the board, he wobbled, slipped, and—THUD!—fell flat on his back. The kids laughed. Inse’s face burned with embarrassment.
“You’ll never be good at anything,” the Voice of Insecurity whispered. “You’ll never fit in.”
But then, he heard another voice—Curity’s voice, steady and strong. “Ignore the Voice of Insecurity,” she reminded him. “You are brave for trying something new!”
Inse took a deep breath. He wanted to believe Curity, but the laughter still stung.
Turning Doubt into Determination
At home, Inse told Curity what had happened. “I feel so embarrassed,” he admitted.
“That’s okay,” Curity said. “But what if you used the Second Transformation—Use the Voice of Insecurity for Amusement and Inspiration?“
Inse frowned. “How?”
“Think about it—falling is part of learning! Even the best skateboarders fall. Instead of getting upset, what if you just laughed and kept going?”
Inse thought about it. Maybe falling was kind of funny. He pictured himself as a wobbly penguin on a skateboard. He laughed.
That night, instead of feeling embarrassed, he felt determined.
Listening to the Right Voice
The next day, Inse grabbed his skateboard and practiced. He fell—a lot. But this time, he smiled and got back up.
Curity watched from the sidewalk. “Now you’re using the Third Transformation—Let the Voice of Security be Your Guide!“
Inse nodded. “The voice of insecurity is still there, but I don’t have to listen to it. I know I can get better.”
And little by little, he did.
A New Challenge
A few days later, his classmates saw him skating in the park.
“Hey, Inse! You’re getting better!” one of them called. “Want to skate with us again?”
Inse hesitated. What if he still wasn’t good enough?
But then he remembered the Fourth Transformation—Act Despite the Voice of Insecurity. He smiled. “Sure!”
This time, he didn’t worry about falling. He just had fun.
Then, one of the kids pulled something out of his pocket. A cigarette.
“Come on, Inse. Just try one,” the boy said.
Inse felt his stomach twist. What should he do?
“If you say no, they won’t like you,” the Voice of Insecurity whispered.
But Curity’s voice was there, too. “You don’t have to do something just to fit in. Make the choice that’s right for you.”
Choosing His Own Path
Inse took a deep breath. “No thanks,” he said. “I don’t smoke.”
The kids looked at him for a second. Then one of them shrugged. “Okay, whatever.”
They kept skating, like nothing had happened.
Inse smiled. He had just used the Fifth Transformation—Befriend Your Inner Voice. He didn’t have to change who he was to be accepted.
And as he skated, feeling the wind in his hair, he knew one thing for sure—he was proud of himself.
This story helps guide kids through all five transformations! 🚀
