# 6 Confidence and self-belief in your ability to learn and study

Dyslexic people can often have low self-esteem around academic learning. They learn differently, but it’s important to recognise the benefits of these differences, and view dyslexia from a strength-orientated perspective.

To encourage this mindset, you need to be aware of:

- your own thinking and way of learning
- the ability of the brain to change and grow throughout the duration of our lives
- your personal strengths and skills, and what a significant role they could play in your surroundings/environment
- the fact that dyslexic students often have a natural aptitude for sharp thinking.

There are many methods for fostering a positive impact on your studies: using metacognition; embracing failure; having a growth mindset; understanding counterintuitive thinking; and realising the benefits of perseverance. Let’s consider a few of these now, beginning with metacognition.

OpenLearn - Understanding dyslexia
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