As each new year begins you spend many hours and days thinking about how you will cultivate your new “crop” of students.
How about spending some time thinking about doing the same for you?
This can be done by answering the thinking honestly and taking action when we find our lives falling short of what we need to be growing into a “SUPER TEACHER”.
Reading for information (not about teaching) and pleasure?
Trying at least one new thing in your personal life?
Super Teachers cultivate life beyond the classoom.
Cherish
What is it about you that you love and cherish?
Are YOU a good friend?
Are YOU a faithful and supportive spouse?
Are YOU a great parent?
Are YOU a loving daughter/son?
Are YOU joyful?
Are YOU funny?
Are YOU kind?
Are YOU generous?
Are YOU willing?
Are YOU encouraging?
Multiply these things in your life by appreciating the gifts they give to you and to others.
Cherish yourself as you do others.
A wise man once said “love others as you love yourself”.
The only problem is that we often read the “love others” part and take it seriously, but miss the “love yourself” command.
Keep a list of ways you can love and cherish yourself and then when your well feels like it is drained and you are running low on love for yourself, draw from that well.
Develop
Learn something new every day or week – you set your own goals.
I find that when I intentionally strive to grow my mind and to share that learning with others, my self-esteem takes a leap.
What was the last new thing you learned?
Support
This means to uphold.
You cannot hold yourself up when you are tearing yourself down.
Our inner negative voices are our worst enemies.
Practice daily affirming you.
Research continues to support the old adage “as a man thinks in his heart, so is he”.
I appreciate the affirmation that Michael Anthony suggests in us free e-book; I AM ALWAYS TRUTHFUL, POSITIVE AND HELPING OTHERS.
It is important that you decide the attributes that you value in life and then keep them in front of you and imbed them in your spirit.
I find that when my personal monsters of self doubt and negativity arise, I simply raise my shield of affirmation and they are vanquished.
Encourage
We as super teachers work very hard to encourage our students and colleagues.
It is important that we spend time encouraging, not praising ourselves.
Encouragement is specific and recognizes what you did well.
If you spend a few minutes each day recognizing you successes, even in small things you will find that they will soon be habituated and more successes will join them.
