How One Moment Can Shape a Belief
One moment. One question. The spark behind Charlie and the Funky Monkey Challenge.
Beliefs Don’t Always Take Time
Some of the most lasting beliefs we carry were formed in a single moment.
A comment from a teacher. A look from a peer. A misstep when we were trying something new.
Beliefs don’t always emerge from repeated patterns. Sometimes, they crystallize in a flash, especially when we’re young and still forming our sense of self. These moments get tucked away in the corners of our minds and start shaping how we see ourselves, often without us even realizing it.
If you’re curious about how confidence develops, this post about my twins crossing a log in Ellijay offers a sweet, real-life glimpse. It’s a reminder that confidence isn’t something we’re born with—it’s something we grow into, step by step.
The Question That Sparked a Book
I think back to a moment that planted the seed for my own children's book journey. I had the honor of serving on a STEM panel for high school girls. During the Q&A, a student asked a question that stopped me in my tracks:
“What advice would you give to your younger self?”
It was one of those questions that cracked something open.
A Study on Confidence and Belief
I remembered a research study my lab members ran years ago. We were studying spatial reasoning, specifically mental rotation, and we noticed a gender difference.
Not in ability, but in confidence.
When participants were allowed to skip answers, women were more likely than men to opt out. But when everyone was required to respond, women performed just as well as men.
That study revealed something powerful: it wasn’t a matter of capability. It was belief. And belief is incredibly malleable, especially in kids.
From Data to Storytelling
That STEM panel, that one question, brought it all full circle. I wanted to take what I knew from science, from teaching, and from parenting, and channel it into a story that could reach kids early, before limiting beliefs took root.
And so, Charlie and the Funky Monkey Challenge was born.
More Than a Museum Adventure
This story is more than an adventure through a museum. It’s a playful, empowering invitation for kids to believe in themselves, to try something new, and to realize that confidence often follows action, not the other way around.
If you’ve ever had a moment that shaped what you believe about yourself, you know how powerful those moments can be. Now imagine if we could use those moments to build belief instead of shrink it.
That’s the heartbeat behind this book.
And while some beliefs are shaped in a single moment, others take root over time through repetition, uncertainty, or quiet inner stories that limit what we believe is possible.
In my next post, I’ll share how we can help children (and ourselves) move from limiting beliefs to limitless potential by responding to fear with curiosity, and reframing the stories we carry.
And maybe, just maybe, this story can be that moment for a child.
