Personal Development
HEALING AND RISING
BY LISA FATIMAH
W pyramid are creating, evaluating
and analyzing. At the base of the
pyramid are remembering and
understanding.
As educators, particularly female
educators, we take on and in a
lot. In many instances we do
so unconsciously, willingly, and
in spite of all the warning signs
that say this is more than an
unhealthy comma moment. We
need a full stop. As educators, it is critical that
we create growth, healing and
financial opportunities outside
of the educational arena. It is
imperative that we diversify our
academic asset portfolios so we
are not dependent upon one (1)
asset class. In order to do this we
must understand where we are
emotionally and physically, and
start moving.
hen we fall, we rest,
reflect, restore and RISE
again and again. We
never rely upon one
product, one client, one country, one
industry, one asset class, or one way
of thinking. Ever. Who are “we?” You
and Me.
For many, teaching is a call to action
and a sacred trust. It resounds
deep within our panoramic core.
We breathe teaching and giving
and continue answering the
adjuration in our minds. Critical
to this call is knowing when our
souls need a respite from the
bureaucratic nonsense, stress and
demands. A greater awareness of
who and where we are and time to
reevaluate why we are doing what
we are doing and for whom, all,
are paramount to robust mental
health. This is especially true when
all around us there are warning
signs that say STOP. LEAVE. NOW.
Unfortunately, I have known
teachers
who’ve
endured
imprudent polemics, teachers
who went on holiday and received
word not to return as the school
was closing, or their position
abruptly eliminated. Devastation?
It depends upon the educator’s
ability to: truthfully comprehend
where they are, what their purpose
is, if they have clear and attainable
goals.
Please remember, only those
educational entities that deserve
you, get you. Or should get you.
As teachers, administrators and
academic village supporters (that
means partners in education), we
give constantly, 24-7-365. We need
not apologize or criticize ourselves
for steadily walking a path until
it turns anomalous. When the
cognitive dissonance we feel is
real, it is more than okay for us to
authoritatively look inside, listen,
and make time to take great care
of ourselves. There comes a time in all of our lives
when we must make a moment to
reevaluate what nurtures our souls
– not just our outward career goals.
We may be progressing mightily
by all outward appearances, but
if we are dying inside, this is not
progress. If the sacrifices of time
and mind away from family are too
great, this is not progress. If we
must earn within an environment of
toxicity and unyielding disrespect,
progress is an anhydrous well. It is
an illusion. It is deleterious.
If you are familiar with Bloom’s
Taxonomy, a classification of
higher-order thinking and mastery
teaching credited to Benjamin
Samuel Bloom, an American
educational psychologist, and
revised by his student Lorin
Anderson, then you know the three
(3) highest orders of thinking in the To all educators new and seasoned,
I urge you to define yourself outside
of your title, degrees and paycheck.
I urge you to frequently check your
soul’s I.Q. I implore you to diversify
your earning portfolio and if you
so choose, move to a place where
money is working harder for you as
opposed to al revés.
When trying to decide if our
chosen professional environment is
healthy, the questions we may want
to ask are: Am I able to teach the
way I love to teach 90% of the time?
Do I have balance in my life? Is the
educational profession loving me
back or suffocating my soul? What
is the return on investment R.O.I?
Does the educational institution
contribute to retirement savings?
Am I beginning or continuing my
career with the end in mind? Am
I putting more into my students
than I am putting into myself and
my family? Have I used the lessons
learned from teaching, academic
rigor and educational investments
to comfortably care for myself
and my family in the present and
future? Do I have other options
available?
If we are working
within an environment of massive
uncertainty, disrespect or toxicity,
is spending another day of our
precious lives in this environment
worth it?
How you choose to answer these
questions is truly personal. What
may be helpful is reading this query
posed by Ilyanla Vanzant, noted
global life coach who asks, “What
is it that would make a creature
as fierce, majestic and powerful
as a LION is, subject itself to the
intimidation of a man, a whip and
a chair? The LION has been taught
to forget [who and] what it is.”
Healing begins with taking
responsibility for our choices—and
our lives. Working with juveniles
does not mean we should make
juvenile choices about our lives.
Are we on a spending spinning
wheel that forces us to endure
toxicity? Asking ourselves critical
questions helps, but our instincts—
our internal voices have always
had the answers. I beseech you
to never forget who, whose and
what you are. Please make healing
a priority and keep in mind, no
needs; no leverage.