
Leading with Heart: A 50-Year Journey of Impact
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2-min. read
I sat at my classroom desk, tears of frustration streaming down my face. My classroom looked like a tornado hit it: chairs misplaced and papers with unsolved math problems strewn everywhere. It was only 2:30 in the afternoon.
I felt exhausted, defeated, and disconnected.
Sound familiar?
It may be cold comfort, but you are definitely not alone. It can feel like a such a lonely journey as you rally yourself once again to meet the never-ending demands of the day.
As teachers, we are accustomed to putting our students first, and those students will always be at the heart of why we do what we do. It seems almost selfish to extend that loving kindness to ourselves as well.
But researcher Dr. Kristin Neff, author of Self-Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself believes that self-compassion is not selfish. Rather, it’s an essential component of being human, and being human means it’s OK to struggle, and we are not alone in that struggle. Neff references three components of self-compassion: self-kindness, mindfulness, and common humanity.
Starting today, try this simple mindfulness exercise to give yourself a moment of self-kindness whenever you need it. It's easy—and you already know how to do it! Just breathe.
During moments of chaos, stop whatever you are doing, and:
Check out former educator and human connection expert Danielle Sullivan's paper, The Connection Cure: Why Educators Need Balance, Laughter, and Community More Than Ever.
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