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Reframe through Self Care


I saw this on Instagram just as I was thinking about a way to get our alumni and early career teachers to think about their challenges in a way that "reframes" the source of their challenge. I noticed a pattern last quarter where the source of the challenges seemed to be other people (mostly the other adults in the school ranging from parents, colleagues, department chairs, mentors, administration).

@authenticallylearning posted this caption with the image above:
Taking a moment to do a self check-in is so important for us as teachers and leaders. It’s truly a form of self care. Celebrate your wins, forgive your mistakes or others, and enjoy your well deserved two days off. Take care of yourself, teacher leaders! Happy Saturday! 💜🙃

What is Sacred

I think taking time to actually finish these starter sentences above helps to reframe our perspective. It allows us to get out our frustration but quickly reframes to a more compassionate and healing space.  I would like to add I thank. . .

Connecting to current or future work

I have another new teacher lab next week, our third quarter meet up and I would like to try this. I am also trying this right now as I prepare to go to the EdD class. I am at the point where I feel like I may not be the right chair to move a student forward and so I needed to go through this self talk and self care this morning. I also sent it to some of my female friends who may also need to be reminded to take care of themselves.

What I learned

As I go through the steps this morning, I realize that I have already been protecting myself this week and working to nurture myself and forgive myself for what started as a rough week. Because of that, I am already in a better space, but this exercise will allow me to be in a better space for others.

I feel like my sense of timing or lack of time management and lagging learning curve made me more aggressive and created extra work for others. #divamoments #don'tyouknowwhoIam?

I need to accept that there are things I have control of and most times, I only have control of myself

I forgive myself, but that is a lie, so I forgive myself for thinking that just saying I forgive, but not living actionable forgiveness is enough. . .I am going to have to keep working on this. Is forgive automatically tied to forget? 

I celebrate the sacrifice my husband continues to make and honor his kindness and capacity to love

I release shame for my behaviors this past week and have a plan to right the ship

I trust (this seems like it should be easy for me and I am sitting here stuck) I live my life on trusting, what I call faith and intentional coincidence. I have been listening to Spotify as I have been writing and Ladysmith Black Mambazo is playing in the background.They were singing in Zulu so it was just background music, and then they started singing in English the same words. . ."Because I love you. . ." See, intentional coincidence. . .I trust in love - I trust in my ability to love deeply. 

I thank the people who continue to come into my life and support me in ways that are both intentional and accidental - there are multitudes and I hope to speak their names as a way to honor them and bring them with me. 
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