STRATEGIES TO THRIVE
Strategies for Promoting Well-being in Beginning Teachers
Based on prior research and themes that emerged in a focus group study I conducted , feelings of self-doubt , overwhelm , disempowerment , and otherness are common in the transition to teaching . To counter these tendencies and foster resilience in the transition to teaching , teacher education and induction programs would do well to identify and implement strategies that cultivate adaptive beliefs , mindsets , and orientations toward teaching . Additionally , to help teachers respond more thoughtfully , compassionately , and mindfully to the needs of their students and the demands of their classrooms , programs can bring a heightened focus to the psychological and emotional development of the early career teachers they serve by offering trainings , practices , time , and resources designed to promote well-being and SECs .
Here , I offer three overarching strategies for supporting the psychological and emotional dimensions of teachers ’ lives in the transition to teaching .
Strategy # 1 : Cultivating a Self-Compassionate Orientation Toward Teaching
“... feelings of selfdoubt , overwhelm , disempowerment , and otherness are common in the transition to teaching .”
Self-compassion is defined as a kind-hearted awareness of and nonjudgmental caring toward one ’ s own suffering ( Neff )— sometimes described as a countervailing force to the reflexive , negative self-evaluations triggered by failure and perceived imperfections ( Dahm et al .). Training in self-compassion and engaging in self-compassion practices can offer a supportive means for understanding and relating to one ’ s suffering .
There are three components of holding a selfcompassionate orientation . The first involves the recognition that worries , uncertainties , and disappointments are normal and that all humans are imperfect . Secondly , self-compassion involves the capacity to see situations from a balanced perspective and acknowledge that situations are temporary . Through mindful awareness , one can step back and approach a situation from a place of greater clarity without being overly identified with it . Thirdly , self-compassion is characterized by taking a kind and understanding orientation toward oneself , as opposed to being harshly self-critical . One practices self-kindness — as opposed to self-judgment — by treating oneself how one would treat a close friend in a time of suffering or need ( Neff ).
High levels of self-compassion are associated with resilience , healthy psychological functioning , and well-being ( Leary et al .; Neff ; Neff et al ., “ Self-Compassion and Adaptive ”). Selfcompassionate individuals are usually higher in terms of self-efficacy , sustained intrinsic
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CSEE Connections Fall 2022 Page 21