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FOCUS: Fostering Our Children's Uniqueness & Spirit |
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According to email responses and follow-up conversations, October's newsletter stirred many readers. I have appreciated you taking the time to process your thoughts, practices, beliefs with me. I value all viewpoints. Some of you
were dismayed with my view of educators. I'm guessing my perspective
on habitual practices of coercion may have been interpreted as pinning
a "bully" label on my colleagues. Although I am disheartened
Teachers fulfill
countless roles and wear a repertoire of hats on a daily basis:
counselor, mediator, nurturer, caregiver, parent, student, designer,
advocate, interior decorator, organizer, guide, accountant, drill
sergeant, comedian, judge, jury, decision maker, coach, nurse, janitor,
artist, lifesaver, chef, punching bag, musician, In addition to the multi-dimensional demands, there are innumerable conditions which compound the unique perplexities of teaching: excessive useless meetings; expectations for optimal learning with minimal resources and/or essential supplies; competition and contempt among colleagues; blaming, shaming and threats from media, parents, administrators, society; recurring changes and enforcement of policies, practices, philosophies without teacher input or agreement; failure to view educators as knowledgeable, creative professionals; scripted, dry, meaningless and non-engaging curriculum; and these are just the tip of the iceberg. Over time, often sooner than later, the wear and tear of these conditions eventually does its damage and educators fail to thrive. As we gradually disengage from our heart's calling, our passion, purpose and joy, educators begin to believe we no longer make a difference and fall into a lull of boredom, apathy, routines and habitual patterns - our livelihood becomes lifeless. As our awareness of the widening division between who we are and what we do grows, there is more inclination to become cynical, resentful, sarcastic, distracted, unproductive, inefficient, ineffective or indifferent and wind up feeling - under-acknowledged, under-appreciated, and under-valued. What typically happens next is the escalating teacher's lounge competition for the "worst kid, worst parent, worst classroom" award where no one wins because the true needs for empathic listening, compassion and support simply don't exist. OR educators become workaholics and develop an "I can't wait until Friday" attitude (starting with Monday morning), striving for a break from this painful existence. This vicious cycle is usually the impetus for educators finally waving good-bye to their career. Parker Palmer,
author of the inspirational book The Courage to Teach, suggests
educators look beyond Late last spring,
near the end of school year, after my canine companion passed away
and I was grieving the losses of several friends, I found little
solace in anything. At the same time, I noticed my life's work becoming
increasingly less satisfying. I would routinely go home in tears,
frustrated and dissatisfied with my inability to connect with students
and my lack of teaching presence. I blamed the system, the curriculum,
the principal, As I withdrew
inward and immersed myself in solitude and deep self-inquiry (and
still do!), I was eventually able to hear anew my soul's sweet song
of grace and beauty longing to be expressed uniquely as me. I perceived More awakened to my true essence, I am now experiencing greater joy in living from the inside out, releasing what no longer serves life, and viewing myself and others with compassionately greater acuity. My heart is growing and glowing with the realization that the most important relationship is the one I have with myself. When I am loving, compassionate, nurturing and accepting of myself, I view and treat others from the same reference point. When I am not, well, you know what the results are, don't you? An affinity with the eternal sacredness of life is our heart's deepest longing, even at work - especially at work. Every moment invites us to connect with our inner compass, our internal guide for soul-full living. It is no longer possible to check our soul at the door and enter into half-hearted relationships with ourselves, children, colleagues or existing learning systems. Disconnecting from our soul will only last so long before something happens that awakens or forces us to pay attention to our innermost desires and yearnings. Our lives are
a blank canvas wherein we have the capacity to paint whatever masterpiece
we decide in an instant. When our actions are the purest expression
of our selfhood and giftedness, each day becomes Who we are and what we do is not reducible to a set of out-dated teaching techniques or scripted curriculums. We are far greater than our circumstances, more benevolent than our history or our stories. Our personal vocational pilgrimage is just that - personal and distinctively ours. We have all stumbled and bumbled through many phases and aspects of our careers. Yet, our soul's whispers (sometimes shoutings) and nudges for fulfillment, meaning, purpose and wholeness, insist that we stop betraying our true nature. When we comply or acquiesce to harmful or hurtful practices, we compromise our values, visions and the promptings of our heart. When we are not in communion with our deepest truths, we are disloyal to our soul's desires. Educators do
not need to endure survival mode nor live a livelihood of quiet
desperation. And there is no union Parker Palmer states that "vocation is the place where our deep gladness and the world's deep needs meet." If you sense you have temporarily journeyed away from your deep gladness, it's OK, you'll come back. Your gifts are always being called forth into expression somehow, someway so you can't travel too far before the Universal GPS responds. Reflecting on the inquiries below has lovingly and gently guided me to what is true and what is important. If you notice you are complaining more than celebrating or anger persists over joy, I hope your personal introspections will invoke a fresh vitality, a renewed spirit and a clearer sense of your livelihood as sacred. Before beginning
your inner inquisition, employ meditation, silence, solitude or
a nature walk to align with your internal life force that knows
no limitations or boundaries. Repeat any of the questions as often
as needed so that you peel away layers of uncertainty, fears or
judgments revealing hidden or undiscovered treasures. Allow
Too many educators
have adopted victim thinking, beliefs and behaviors by disengaging
from their heart's Remember
who you are. May you always
know yourself as Spirit knows you… PS.
I am stimulated by my own newsletter to respond to my inner stirrings.
And so, instead of writing an "obligatory" monthly newsletter,
I prefer to write solely from inspiration. I'm not exactly certain
what will evolve from my heart's promptings, whether it manifests
as a monthly, bi-monthly or quarterly newsletter or more Copyright
© 2006 Adrian Reznik |
