Summary from the introduction of Shattering the Perfect Teacher Myth:
When you do important work, it weighs on you when you don’t see the success you hoped for. We must have a response when all of our strategies to meet students’ needs fail to produce the desired results (and not one that involves us beating ourselves up). To THRIVE, we’ll have to do better than avoiding self-criticism. To overcome circumstances that feel defeating, we need to know what gives us life and hope. We cannot afford to miss this.
Resources:
- The Short and Tragic Life of Robert Peace by Jeff Hobbs
- “Exhaustion is Not a Status Symbol” interview with Brené Brown
Questions for reflection:
What do you think about the pace you are moving at right now? What is good about it? What might happen if you slowed down or sped up? What refuels you? Time with others? Time alone? An afternoon with your family? Going somewhere? Staying put?
What do you need to give yourself permission to include in your schedule—not as something separate from your work—but as an essential foundation to your work?
Who or what takes the hit when you hit your exhaustion point? What steps can you take to make sure you are not overextending yourself?