The Power of Learning about Ourselves and Choosing LOVE.
Today’s post has been inspired by the work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr and the hundreds of conversations I have had with educators in all areas of the teaching profession. This post is dedicated to EVERY educator who has given of themselves to understand, serve, hold space for and work to elevate their communities.
Through this global crisis, educators have remained a constant presence, a symbol of normalcy, a voice of love. It is not prescriptive , formulaic or easy, and on its own, it is not the solution. However, I believe that it is a strong foundation for what our society needs at this time.. The lesson that I most cherish from Dr King’s work is our ability to choose love in times of great turmoil. As we navigate the challenges of a fractured system, commit to making small yet extraordinary changes in our own lives and the lives of those we serve, we must choose love because the alternative is at best, unsustainable. 
The needs of our society have evolved at break-neck speed and we as a collective are experiencing whiplash. Yet, everything remains marked URGENT. So, if you are experiencing burnout, anxiety, overwhelm or numbness - I promise, you are not alone. Experiencing and holding onto stress does NOT make you less of a rockstar educator, it makes you a TIRED educator. This experience has been difficult but it was never meant to be the whole story. The key to making manageable, yet significant changes in our profession is understanding ourselves and embracing our humanness rather than working against it. If we consider great leaders and changemakers of the last century, people who faced unrealistic odds and made an impact on our world, (think Dr. King, Malala, RBG, Sir Ken Robinson, Nelson Mandela - the list goes on and on) they all have 3 things in common:
they believed in making the world a better place,
they saw possibilities where others did not, and
they were deeply, humanly flawed.
The educators I have met in my lifetime have fit this description. To achieve our goals and meet the needs of our society, we must start by owning our humanness. Through our work we are choosing to believe in something greater than ourselves. Yet, the power of belief, while extraordinary, does not make us infinite. Our physical, emotional and spiritual resources, if not replenished will run out. The acceptance of this is the first step towards healing and creating better solutions for ourselves, our students and our communities.
So, where do we start?
"We start by shedding light on our own small corners of the teaching/learning world. SLOW DOWN. Take the time to understand your needs, your resources, and your limitations, so that you may then embrace the possibilities. " - MF
Here are 6 questions to ask yourself that may help move the needle from empty to half full.
(Hey, I'm an optimist, not a magician! lol)
What is a bright spot in your day of teaching, leading and supporting?
Are there any opportunities to make more time for such bright spots?
Do you see the possibilities (in your students, in your school, in your community?) If not, what would you need in order to regain some of that hope?
Who in your school community truly understands you? Believes that you are doing your best & accepts that that is enough? Spend time with those people. Have conversations about what you CAN do, not what you can’t.
What are the things that drain you? Be specific. Use this list to plan your week. Make sure that for every activity that drains you, you have something that replenishes you.
What passions do you have? Go online. Connect with supportive communities of educators who you DON’T work with, but who share your passions, ideals and interests. These folks can become your support outside of work where you can gain fresh perspectives and connect over shared beliefs rather than just daily experiences.
*Check out The Teachers Lounge on FB - https://www.facebook.com/groups/theteacherslounge1
What are your expectations for yourself? Use a critical eye; are your expectations achievable in the current space? It’s ok if they’re not, but if they aren’t then adjust them. Give yourself permission to do YOUR best (this may look different day to day.)
Reflecting on these questions will lead to actionable, achievable next steps that will allow you to step into your humanness with clarity and confidence.
So how do we go from understanding ourselves to choosing love?
The power of our humanity lies within our choices. Educators are making the purposeful choice to serve our communities AND we are struggling. Often regarded in one of two ways: superhero or villain, educators are neither. We are HUMAN (with all the good, the bad and the ugly that comes along with it.)
Some things to note:
There is strength in our capacity to feel things deeply - it is what allows us to connect to others and makes us effective educators.
Having bad days is part of the human experience, assuming otherwise robs us of our ability to be present authentically, a crucial aspect of highly effective teaching.
Our best WILL look different from day to day - it's supposed to because life doesn't ever stand sti
Educators ARE leaders BECAUSE of our ability to see just how much people matter, struggling through challenging times does not make us less effective, it makes us human. - MF
In order to offer some perspective, I’d like to point out that like many greats, Dr. King was a prolific leader AND he too, was human. He made choices, he loved, had moments of indecision and fear, worry and faith. It was his humanness that made him the leader he was. We all go through moments (or periods) of doubt, worry, confusion and wondering if we are up to the task. That is part of being human. However ,the flip side of those feelings also exist within us. They are what allow us to connect, feel powerful, generous and calm. lIt is our humanness that will carry us through the challenges of today. Believing that change is possible & committing to the possibilities, is choosing love. Understanding your own needs and seeing the best in people is choosing love. Being present for yourself and others is choosing love. Giving yourself and your community grace, is choosing love. So, on the days when it feels just a little too much, I encourage you to take a page from the life of Dr King. "I have decided to stick with love, for hate is too large a burden to bear." - MLK
With love and possibilities,
Masha
P.S. - looking for a community of supportive educators? Reach out! Follow my account here or on IG @theperceptiveteacher for weekly blogposts about all things human centered education, reflective practices and the path forward!