Rashda Munawar - Author

Thank you for all the recent reviews for Think Big! But this one especially made my day!

Today I had the opportunity to step into a professional development workshop with a simple prompt: create something around personal growth.

A blank rectangular canvas.
One word in the center.
And a quiet invitation to begin.

I didn’t overthink it, I picked up the brushes and let myself go.

Mountains started to form around the word. Not perfectly planned, not perfectly placed… just built, layer by layer. And above them, a few birds found their way into the sky, moving forward, not in straight lines, but with intention.

And somewhere in the middle of painting, it hit me:

Personal growth looks a lot like this.

It’s not linear.
It’s not polished.
It’s not something you map out perfectly before you begin.

It’s showing up.
It’s trying.
It’s creating, even when you’re unsure of the outcome.

The mountains reminded me that growth takes time and effort.
The birds reminded me that movement matters more than perfection.

I didn’t walk into this thinking I had a clear vision.
But I walked out reminded that sometimes growth happens when you simply allow yourself to start.

And maybe that’s the message we all need a little more of:

You don’t have to have it all figured out.
You just have to begin.

There’s something powerful that happens when you put 100 students in a room and ask them one simple question:

“What does your brain do when something feels hard?”

This week , I had the chance to share Think Big and bring Mr. Big and Mr. Small to life and the responses from students were honest, thoughtful, and real.

They already know what it feels like to doubt themselves.
They already hear that “Mr. Small” voice.

But when they realize they have a choice…
that’s when everything shifts.

Growth mindset isn’t about being positive all the time.
It’s about what you do in the moment things feel hard.

That’s the work I love doing in schools, creating space for students to reflect, participate, and see their own thinking differently.

If you’re an educator or school looking to bring meaningful, engaging author visits to your students, I would love to connect.

Let’s grow some brains together .

(find link in bio to do the bookings)

Teaching growth mindset is something many of us care deeply about.
We read the books, talk about growth vs fixed mindset, and remind kids to keep trying.

But then a child looks at their work and says,
“I can’t do this.”

And in that moment, we’re reminded, this isn’t about the lesson anymore.
It’s about how we respond right then and there.

That’s why I wrote this blog.

Because to teach growth mindset, we have to move beyond one-time lessons and start integrating it into everyday routine. In the small moments. In the struggles. In the conversations that happen naturally throughout the day.

It’s not about doing more.
It’s about being more intentional with what we’re already doing.

In this post, I share a simple framework you can use at home or in the classroom to help kids build confidence, resilience, and a belief that they can grow.

Because growth mindset isn’t taught once.
It’s lived every day.

Read the full blog (link in bio)

I was looking through my shelf today and found this powerful growth mindset book Carol Dweck wrote years ago.

I still remember the first time I read Mindset. It completely shifted how I thought about learning, effort, and the way we speak to ourselves.

That book planted a seed in me.

Over time, that seed became Think Big , my own growth mindset vs fixed mindset book created to bring those ideas to children in a way they could see, feel, and understand through story.

It’s funny how one book can quietly shape the direction of your work.

Grateful for the research that inspired me and for the little readers who now get to meet Mr. Big and Mr. Small. 💙

Still reflecting on Odyssey 2026.

Thank you to every educator who chose to spend their time in my workshop. Your openness, your thoughtful questions, and your honest reflections made the session so meaningful.

One of my favourite moments? Reading your exit tickets. Each note carried insight, vulnerability, and real classroom wisdom. I truly believe when educators gather, we don’t just share strategies — we strengthen each other.

I walked in prepared to facilitate… and walked out inspired by you.

Grateful for the conversations, the connection, and the shared commitment to building resilient learners.

Until next time. 💛