So often at the start of a school year we find ourselves surrounded by negative comments. As a teacher the faculty room can be filled with stories about the problem child or the administration. As parents, we often find our social circles talking about how we wish our kid got that teacher instead of this one. And for our students, the talk may be about how much they hate school and wish it was still summer.
So much of our well-being stems from our emotional selves. We need to strive towards living in a world of positive emotion. This article Focus on Your Well-Being for You and Your Students is a great reminder of the importance of this. The article also shares how a teacher’s well-being looks at positive emotion, engagement, relationships, meaning, and accomplishments. While reading this I thought about a statement made in Onward: “Do you see how the source of resilience lies in how you interpret events? How you might unlock the door to resilience by recognizing your thoughts, ridding yourself of those that don’t serve you, and creating new thoughts? Can you glimpse the freedom behind empowering stories?”
Work on flipping your script. Make it your intention to tell empowering stories, and watch what happens when you do. It might feel awkward at first, but when disrupt the negative energy, you and those around you will start to build a culture that everyone wants to be a part of.