We finished up a yearlong resilience class based on the book Onward by Elena Aguilar last week.
Two participants shared in their reflection of the year that they became more aware of when their anxiety was present.
“I feel like everyone is coming at me. Asking me to do more. Finish this paperwork. Support this student.”
Through resilience work, the teachers realized when their anxiety levels began to rise, it was their responsibility to pause and respond in a meaningful way that aligned with their values.
Maybe they were able to remain calm in the moment and then go home at night, cry and feel their feelings. Maybe they reacted, noticed their reaction in the moment, and repaired with the student or adult.
Exactly how they responded isn’t the point. The point is that they noticed what was happening in their nervous system and became aware of their patterns.
One teacher commented,
“This was my second year taking this class. I took it last year too and each year I got something different out of it. I did different exercises this year and learned more about myself. What this has really taught me is that I have to continue to do the work. It never ends.”
That realization is worth celebrating.
Resilience isn’t something we learn once and master forever. It’s not a checklist we complete or a workshop we attend. It’s a practice.
A lifelong practice of noticing, learning, adjusting, and beginning again.
Two educators discussing this openly in front of the group made my heart sing and reminded me why I do this work. If just one educator walks away with this learning, it is worth it.
Being an educator is hard work. It’s challenging mentally, physically and emotionally. If you have chosen to do this work, it’s likely because you care deeply about helping students.
But helping students starts with helping yourself.
The gift of resilience work is not that it removes stress, anxiety or difficult days. The gift is awareness.
When we become aware of our thoughts, emotions and nervous system responses, we gain the ability to choose how we respond. We stop being pulled in every direction by every demand, every crisis, every difficult interaction, and every expectation placed on us.
Instead, we pause and ask: “What response aligns with my values?”
That pause is where our power lives.
This week, notice one moment when you feel stress, frustration, or anxiety rising. Pause and ask yourself:
What response aligns with my values?
You don’t have to do it perfectly. Just notice.
If you realize that resilience is a journey you’re embracing and you’d like support along the way, I’d love to help. My coaching program focuses on building resilience, emotional regulation and nervous system awareness so that you can respond to challenges in a way that aligns with your values.
Comment, “I’m in” below and I’ll send you more information.
Thanks for reading and we are almost to the finish line! You can do it!