Living with Grace Ep. 88

October 30, 2024 by Inspired Together Teachers Leave a Comment

Living With Grace Season 6 Episode 88

Check out this episode to learn how to combat tension and divisiveness by living with grace for yourself and others.

Show Notes:

Episode Summary:

In this episode:

The following notes are key concepts from the episode, not a word for word transcript. We generally start with key points and then give examples and stories to illustrate the ideas. For the best experience, we recommend that you listen to the episode.

Introduction:

As this episode drops, it is just before the presidential election and our country, and the world in general seems extremely divisive. People are pitted against each other and anger and hurt are escalated. We are constantly surrounded by news and social media that allows fear and worry and shame to enter our daily thoughts.

People are hurting, and as a society we are recognizing the need to support mental health.

In this arena, there is support and comfort in living with grace. Stay tuned to today’s episode as we discuss living with grace. Why do we need it? What does it look like? And most importantly, how can you level up your own life by choosing to live with grace.

What do we mean when we use the phrase “living with grace”?

When we talk about living with grace, we aren’t talking about being graceful, like a ballerina, though that might also be a worthy goal.

Living with grace is about choosing to be a better person.

It means showing kindness, or understanding or forgiveness.

It means having an open mind and being accepting of others’ beliefs and values.

Grace is a refinement- it is the absence of difficulty and instead feeling ease. It means making moments less serious, severe or difficult. Living with grace means being thoughtful, rather than overreacting. It means having common courtesy, which sometimes doesn’t seem all that common.

Michele: I remember a situation with a person who I had know for a long time but often struggled with. I felt judged by her and didn’t think she really liked me. We had a large holiday party and she was there. My daughter, who was four or five at the time, came running up to me crying and then proceeded to vomit all over everything- including herself, the floor, and the furniture. This person jumped in immediately and told me to go take care of my daughter and she would take care of everything. She’d find the paper towels and clean it all up. I was surprised by her kindness, and I remember it clearly to this day. I see that as an act of grace from one mom to another.

Paula: I think of grace in a teaching situation. We all know those students who it would be easy to be angry or upset with. But when we step back and look at them through a lens of understanding or kindness, that is giving them grace. They come in and they are angry or upset and if you feed into their anger you make them even more angry or upset.

When you say something like, “It sounds like you’re having a rough day. Can you tell me what’s going on, I’d love to be able to help,” you’re showing grace to that student. We all know when we’ve said something like that, their whole demeanor can change. Sometimes we don’t give each other enough credit for giving grace to students. It can be difficult to give grace to others.

Let’s look at some ways we might work on living with grace.

Give yourself grace.

Sometimes, we hijack our own brains. We’re hard on ourselves and sometimes unforgiving.

That leads to a lot of personal doubt, the feelings that I’m not worthy enough, or I’m not good enough.

We tend to overemphasize our mistakes and let them drive our feelings about ourselves.

What would happen if we gave ourselves more grace? We could forgive ourselves.

Recognize that what is over is done. You can’t go back, so you need to move forward.

Think of this through the lens of how you would treat a friend. Treat yourself like you would treat a friend. What would you tell a friend? You would speak kindly. We give grace to our friends. When they are in a rough time, we’d say things like, “It’s okay, you’re in a rough time, you’re doing the best you can at this time.”

How often do we talk to ourselves like that? Not often. That playlist in our mind to ourselves rarely includes giving ourselves grace. If we added that into our internal conversation, wouldn’t that be wonderful? It is a goal for so many of us, we’ve thought about it, but we don’t think of it as giving ourselves grace. ” That’s okay. It’s alright. You’re doing the best you can.”

Why is it so hard for us to say that to ourselves?

It is like the well-known phrase from Maya Angelou, “Do the best you can until you know better. Then, when you know better, you do better.” That is the truth of it, you’re probably doing the best you can at the time.

Give yourself grace as you are learning and doing better.

Extend grace to others.

This one can be difficult. Sometimes it is easy to judge others. But you don’t know the whole story. You don’t know what they might be going through.

Paula: I was once working with a coach and having a difficult time with someone. The coach asked me, “What would change if you looked at it through the lens of someone who is…” and she proceeded to tell me the things this person was going through.

I immediately understood. She said, “Imagine extending that grace to her. Although she is not the best colleague, this is what she is going through in her life that makes her not her best.”

I think about that often. What if I assumed the best of her? Maybe she’s having a bad day because of what she is going through. People around us are struggling all the time, with an illness or a problem with a loved one- things that we don’t know.

What if I saw her through the lens of this? My first thought is that I would give her grace. We need to extend grace to others.

What would be the worst thing that would happen if you always assume the best of others?

Michele: Sometimes I find it easy to take offense. If the clerk at the grocery store is rude to me, I feel it. I also assume it is about me, even though intellectually, I don’t even know that person and I know it isn’t about me. I have to remind myself to brush it off and let it go. I don’t know what is going on with her, but it is not about me.

Another way to live with grace is to respect diverse beliefs and perspectives.

Respect diverse beliefs and perspectives.

There would be a lot fewer problems in the world if we could all learn to respect other people’s beliefs and perspectives. That also might mean being open to learning about them. We’re educators, we should be open to learning.

We tend to fear something we don’t understand. When we don’t know or understand something about someone else that seems strange or different to us it’s easy to be fearful of them.

Michele: I observed a group of Muslim men praying at the airport. A clock had started chiming, and their tradition is to pray five times a day by dropping to your knees while facing Mecca. They were very reverent. I wish that everyone could observe acts such as these. It diminishes the fear and helps you see people in a fuller, more humanistic way.

The stereotype is that all Muslims are extremists and terrorists. You can pick them out from central casting displayed in almost every American movie about violence. If you don’t know anything about their lives or their culture, it is easy to be fearful of the unknown.

There is also a Muslim tradition to make the words “ God is good” the first words they speak to a new baby.

If people could see this kind of practice and understand it, they would not be afraid of someone just because they are Muslim.

Paula: In Uganda, I had to learn to give people grace. I saw a little baby crawling in a village with no adult supervising. I was quick to judge. Where is the mother? How could a baby be crawling around without a mother? This was an example of “It takes a village to raise a child.” Everyone needed to know that child in case something happened to the mother and she was not able to take care of it.

The mother was actually being a good mother by allowing her child to be independent and go out and seek others. In our culture here, if a baby was crawling around outside it would be very different. I had to give that mother grace. How difficult it must have been for her to let the baby go crawling around, knowing that it would find its way home or someone would turn it around towards home.

Wouldn’t the world be a better place, if we could all respect each other’s beliefs and perspectives? And then give a little grace once we’ve learned about it?

Try to see the good in the world.

There is certainly negativity and evil in the world. Bad things happen. News and social media feed the negativity.

It can be overwhelming, and if you let it, it can change your viewpoint towards the negative.

What if we believed that life is essentially good and that people are essentially good?

There would be less to worry about. There would be less fear.

We can choose to flip the script and assume that people is good and that life is good. As Mr. Rogers famously said, in any bad situation, “ look for the helpers.” The helpers are the good in the world. That is an example of seeing the good in the world. There may be helpers out in the world but we miss them because we aren’t looking for them.

Michele: I am currently loving a CBS Morning Segment called Kindness 101 with Steve Hartman and his children. It is available at CBS website or YouTube. They find a story of someone who has done something kind and they explore that kindness. They interview the person and the kids ask questions. Now they have just rolled out an initiative for schools with lessons and materials. It always makes me feel good! I am also rewarded by knowing that there is good in the world.

Paula: I love the show what Would You Do? by John Quinones. People are put into a situation that is challenging. They don’t know it is a fake situation. For example, it might be a bakery and the clerk refuses to serve someone because of their race or gender. Then they stand by and watch what people will do. Often, people will step up and ask the person what they wanted to order and offer to order it. Then they interview the people afterwards to find out why they chose to step in. So many times it is because they saw the injustice and wanted to make the world a better place.

I also remember learning about silver linings when I was taking a class for my Masters’ program and it has stuck with me. For every cloud, there is a silver lining and the silver lining is actually the beauty in the cloud. If you only look at the dark cloud, you will only see the dark cloud. If you see the silver lining, the shiny part, that is the good in the world. That’s the beauty, the bright spot peaking through.

Even in a bad situation there is a silver lining, that’s the beauty.

We’re not glossing over this and saying that everything is rosy all the time. We know that there are lots of issues and challenges in our world. But you can also see beyond them, or behind them, or in them see possibilities and opportunities to change things. That is the silver lining.

Yes, there is something bad, but I can step in, I can do something or I can say something. That’s hard. it takes a lot of courage but that is the silver lining, knowing that something can be better.

When a person is on the receiving side of grace, they are more likely to reciprocate.

We can do that in our world. We’re more powerful than we think.

Conclusion:

We end today with this quote from author and teacher Caroline Myss,

“Grace is a power that comes in and transforms a moment into something better.”

If you want to make the world better, make the moments better.

Recap:

Living with grace can help us to be kinder and better people and to impact the world in positive ways. You can start by giving yourself grace. You can also give grace to others. Grace is fueled when we respect others’ beliefs and perspectives, and when we try to see the good in the world.

Did you know that we have a free resource called The Inspired Teacher’s guide to Taking Back Your life? Get it here.

Quote:

“Do the best you can until you know better. Then, when you know better, you do better.”

Maya Angelou

“Grace is a power that comes in and transforms a moment into something better.”

Caroline Myss

Connect with the Inspired Together Teachers Community:

Download our FREE resource: The Inspired Teachers Guide to Taking Back Your Life.

Website: https:www.inspiredtogetherteachers.com

Instagram: Inspired-Together-Teachers

Facebook: Inspired Together Teachers

Inspired Together Teachers Network Facebook Group

Linked In: Inspired Together Learning

More About Inspired Together Teachers:

Are you a teacher struggling to balance your best work with your best life?

If you are dedicated and caring but often overwhelmed and exhausted, join us at Inspired Together Teachers. We’ll give you inspiration, strategies and tips that help you navigate life’s challenges as a stronger, more confident, and more joy filled person, both in and out of the classroom.

Inspired Together Teachers will give you practical tools to experience more of what matters most in your life.

Co-hosts Paula Schmidt and Michele Vosberg are award winning educators with the experience and skills to help teachers thrive in life and work. They’ve taught at all levels, worked with thousands of teachers, and conducted workshops around the world. They are also the authors of the #1 best-selling book The Inspired Teachers Journal: A Weekly Guide to Becoming Your Best Self.

Paula and Michele would love to have you to join them on their quest to lived inspired lives.

Who Are You When You’re Teaching at Your Best? A Fun, Insightful Activity

October 23, 2024 by Inspired Together Teachers Leave a Comment

Who Are You When You’re Teaching at Your Best? A Fun, Insightful Activity

Season 6 Episode 87

Listen to this episode to learn a fun, quick strategy that will give you insight to who you are when you are teaching at your best!

Show Notes:

Episode Summary:

Who are you when you’re teaching at your best?

Today’s episode is an exploration of who we are as teachers, and what this means for our lives in and out of the classroom. Together we will complete an activity that is inspired by an exercise from the book, The Courage to Teach, by one of our favorite educators of all time, Parker Palmer.

We’re sharing a fun and reflective activity what will get you diving deep into who you are as a teacher.

You might laugh, you might cry, but at the very minimum we guarantee that 20 minutes from now, you will see yourself as a teacher and a person in a whole new way… and we will have some fun in the process.

In this episode:

The following show notes are a summary of key points in the episode. To get all of the examples and stories we share, listen to the podcast.

Introduction:

If you have listened to any of our podcast episodes, you know we love talking about teaching. We especially like talking about teaching when we can make connections between who we are as teachers and who we are in our lives outside of school…. because there are definitely connections. Today, we are going to share with you an activity what we love to facilitate because, besides being fun, it is insightful into who we are as teachers and as people.

First, we need to give credit where credit is due. Several years ago, we read about this activity in the book The Courage to Teach by Parker Palmer. Even though this activity was only talked about in 2 and a half pages of the 200 page book, we loved it so much that we took his premise, changed it up a bit, and expanded upon it.

So without further delay, let’s get started.

First, here is what you don’t need- You don’t need a pen or paper. You don’t need self-doubt or judgement. There is no room for any of that in this activity.

You do need- to come into this activity with an open mind and an honest heart. We will both share our examples with you, and we will share the examples of two teachers who completed this activity with us in the past, just to give you context. We will call them Becky and Charlie. Your responses will be different than any of us, they will be unique to you. That is part of what makes this so fun and insightful.

This activity involves a series of questions about who you are as a teacher but as you will see, you will learn about yourself as well.

Question #1- How would you complete this sentence?

Say the first thing that comes to your mind to complete this sentence. Don’t overthink. Just answer.

“When I am teaching at my best, I am like a _____________________.”

Because this idea was inspired by Parker Palmer, we will share his metaphor first and then share our examples. Parker said, “When I am teaching at my best, I am like a sheepdog- not the large, shaggy, lovable kind, but the all-business Border collies one sees working the flocks in sheep country.“ He goes on to say that sheep dogs maintain the space for the sheep to graze, holds them together and brings back strays, protects them and moves them to other places when the grazing ground is depleted. He feels he does that when he is teaching at his best.

Paula: When I am teaching at my best, I am like a great hostess at a gathering of friends. I am the “Hostess with the mostest.” The great hostess weaves through the crowd flowing in and out of conversations, making sure people are getting out of the party what they came for, making sure the environment and conversation are engaging, creating a safe place with all the amenities to make it a charged environment that no one wants to leave when it is over. That is exactly what I feel like when I am teaching at my best.

Michele: When I am teaching at my best I am like an interior designer. I make the environment warm and welcoming and a good place for learning. People will feel comfortable and safe, and know that they are welcomed and that they will be heard. My space could be beautiful, but it also functions well, with room for all kinds of activities. It’s is fun and pleasant but if I’ve done it well, you don’t necessarily notice all the elements in the room but it somehow works well for you. It meets the needs and activities of the people who are there.

Here are some examples of teachers we worked with:

Charles: Charles is one of our favorite teachers on this planet. He said, “When I am teaching at my best, I am like a unicorn, I make the classroom a magical place.” We just want to add that we have seen Charles teach and it really is like watching magic.

Another teacher we worked with is Becky. Becky said, “When I am teaching at my best, I am like a tour guide. I am leading my students on a journey. I am guiding them through an amazing tour of all of their learning”.

So what is your metaphor? When I am teaching at my best I am like a ….

Once you have this question answered you are ready to move on to the next questions. However, if you have not answered this question yet, do not move on yet because the rest of the activity is based on your answer to this.

Question #2- What are the “strengths” you have related to this metaphor?

Now, list the strengths of the metaphor you listed. Don’t be humble here. Be honest. You chose your metaphor for a reason. Let’s say you said, “When I am teaching at my best I am like a rainbow” then start listing your favorite things about a rainbow (colorful, hopeful, awe-inspiring, bright). If they match you, own those verbs, adverbs, or adjectives with pride.

Paula: Because it is easy to Google “the strengths of a good hostess” I did and here is what I got- The strengths of a good hostess that mirror my strengths- friendly, personable, welcoming, outgoing, confident, composed, team spirit, willing to learn, and sets a positive tone. The crazy thing about this is that I have kept a note on my desk for my WHOLE teaching career, and I still have it there that says, “I set the tone” and tone setting is literally one of the top ten things I read about good hostesses when I did an online search. I know I picked a good metaphor.

Michele: Paula, that is amazing. I have seen those sticky notes in various colors in your office through the years. The traits of an interior designer I selected are creating a calm, welcoming, safe, comfortable, space. A good interior designer also knows to understand the people and who will be in the space and what they need to be comfortable.

In the example of our teacher friend who is a Unicorn, he is magical and captivating, full of personality and rare as teachers go, which he is! Our tour guide teacher, Becky, is charismatic, genuine, energetic all words to describe a tour guide.

Now take a second to think of your strengths that align to your metaphor.

Question #3- What are the “Bright Spots” that happen in your classroom related to this metaphor?

Think of specific bright spots that have happened in your classroom in the past related to your metaphor. They may be general feelings or specific events that have brightened your day.

For example, we said Charles is like a unicorn when he is teaching at his best. He does unique activities that other teachers may be too afraid to do. He dresses up. He sings. The students are totally under his spell like a magical power that he has over them. The parents of his students talk about how their elementary students love him, which is a magical thing. Every day he walks into the classroom dressed up as another historical figure, he has created magical learning that will never be forgotten.

That is not for everyone. Not all of us can be magical. We don’t all dress up as characters, that is his gift.

Becky talked about how she, as a tour guide when she was teaching at her best, could expose her students to information they would never have had exposure to. As a world traveler herself, she brought back artifacts from around the world that students could hold in their hands to experience foreign places in ways that could never be replicated with just a book. She animatedly told them about people and places that they then aspired to learn about.

A good teacher does help to open up the world to students, helping them understand other people, places, and experiences they have never had. Both of these teachers are great teachers. They are also different from each other but they are teaching with their gifts.

Paula: When I am like a hostess, I know that students feel comfortable in my classroom. I make sure there is a sense of community, making sure everyone has a chance to talk to different people and hear different perspectives, just like a hostess would make sure people were doing at her party.

I welcome my students with excitement and truly enjoy their presence which students will tell me years later that they appreciated about me and my classroom. They tell me years later, “We always thought you loved teaching our class. ” That is because I did. They also tell me, ” We felt that you loved us as individuals,” and that’s because I do.

Michele: That is who you are as a teacher. This is not a stretch to say these things, it is who are you. In my interior designer magical home or bright spots, I think of the people who will be in the space and the exquisite conversations that will take place there. I love setting up the right chairs, a fire in the fireplace,scented candles, maybe some soft music and in my home, often with a glass of wine.

Everyone is engaged in the conversation, they are listening and sometimes even arguing. They are all wrapped up in the discussion and it goes on and on, until someone says, “oh look at the time, we have to get going!” No one wants it to end.

I love it when that happens in a classroom and you have those exquisite conversations. You are walking towards the hallway after class and everyone is still talking. Those are the golden moments for me.”

Isn’t it amazing how each of our unique teaching and personal characteristic are already clear in just these few questions based off our metaphors?

We could expand upon our bright spots for sure, but we will keep it short for the sake of this podcast. Now think about yourself. Take time to pause this if you need to. List bright spots that happen in your classroom related to your metaphor. You can dive as deep into this as you want. You can keep your list short like we did, or sit and think on it for a long time. The longer you think, the more bright spots you will come up with and you will think of many if you give yourself the time.

You will also get the warm and fuzzy feeling as you bask in these good memories.

Question #4- What are the “Shadows” of your metaphor that may apply to you?

While it is fun to look at the bright spots, we also need to explore the not so wonderful traits. Parker Palmer calls them the “shadows” of your metaphor.

What are the potentially negative parts of your metaphor? Google if you want or just list them from your memory or experiences.

Paula: For example, hostesses can get way to pre-occupied with details and forget the real reason they are there, for the people. I do that for sure. They can become indifferent to the needs of their guest if they decide they need to stick too closely to a predetermined party plan or get to focused on the logistics. I can work on that.

Our unicorn teacher friend worried that other teachers might not take him seriously, that unicorns are often perceived as fun but unrealistic. Unicorns are also seen as a fantasy vs being the real thing and he wanted to be taken seriously as a teacher because he really knew how to teach.

Charles is a really phenomenal teacher. He has serious teaching skills and content knowledge, and he also does things in a playful way. We’ve all know those teachers who are all flash and no substance. He didn’t want that.

Michele: My shadow is that interior design might feel very superficial. I know a lot of people couldn’t care less about how their environment looks. They don’t pay attention to how it feels. Some people think I am obsessed, then they turn around and ask me to help with their house!

I also worry about being thought of as all flash and no substance. If you pay attention though, there is substance and function. There are reasons for why things are the way they are. It is about how the space makes you feel and how it helps you to understand yourself and how you are in the world. It’s actually pretty deep.

Parker Palmer noticed the irony in his “sheepdog” metaphor, that he could potentially just see his students as sheep who follow and not notice them as individuals.

What are the shadows of your metaphor? This isn’t meant to make you feel bad. It is meant to draw awareness.

Question 5#- What are the “Darker Spots” that happen in your classroom related to this metaphor?

Think about how the shadows of the metaphor could play out in your classroom, causing darker spots in the day or the environment. Like the bright spots you may be able to come up with generalizations or specific instances of darker spots in your classroom related to your metaphor.

Michele: For me, it is when someone doesn’t connect to my environment. I have failed to bring them into my world, my environment didn’t work for them.

Paula: Like a good party planner, I like to plan. When I come up with a great plan or activity, I am excited to see how it plays out in the classroom. If it starts to bomb, I go into full “hostess mode” trying to make it all right again, trying to salvage it so everyone is still happy and engaged. Because of this, I can leave a bad lesson feeling worse than other teachers who might be able to shrug it off. For me it can feel like I personally failed to plan and implement the plan right.

Our tour guide friend mentioned tour guides already know the material so they want to move on to the next thing and get bored easily, even when the people on the tour aren’t always ready to move on. She mentioned that she can get impatient when there are one or two students who aren’t ready to move on with her and the class to the next topic. She worried that students could sense her impatience.

What are the darker spots that happen in your classroom related to your metaphor? Again, this is not meant to make you feel bad, but instead to increase your awareness so you can be on the lookout for it in the future.

Question #6- How does this metaphor play out in other areas of your life?

This is an interesting concept. We regularly talk about “Work Life. Home Life. Best Life.” So many of the things that we discover about ourselves as teachers can help us in our home life, and vice versa.

What does your metaphor tell you about who you are outside of work?

What about our tour guide teacher, Becky. No matter the situation she lead those around her on a journey….and people follow. It is her gift and it can work no matter the life situation.

Paula: I love to act as the hostess in a group. I can do well in a crowd of people I don’t know and like to introduce people so no one feels left out. That plays out in my life as I attend my husband’s work events when he is more introverted, it is the reason my children’s friends feel so welcome at my house.

Michele: I have the same example. My house is the one everyone wants to come to. I have the baby showers and graduations. All the kids hung out at my house. People feel comfortable there.

How well does your metaphor align with other areas of your life? We are guessing it does. What examples can you think of?

Question #7- How can your metaphor strengthen you and make you more resilient?

Palmer suggests that the guidance you need in tough times can be found in your metaphor.

For example, when Charles is struggling at school or at work, he could ask himself, “What would a unicorn do in this situation?” Probably spread the magic! And that is a quality that he could use no matter where he is in his life.

What about our tour guide teacher, Becky, no matter the situation she lead those around her on a journey….and people follow. It is her gift and she can call on it to work no matter the life situation.

Paula: My hostess comes in to help me be more resilient. I have a friend who just passed away from cancer and yesterday I sent her college aged daughter a Venmo with a message to get a coffee on me, that I loved her and to have a good day. My only goal was to brighten her day and to make sure she felt noticed and loved. It’s what a hostess does. A few days before her mom passed, I told her mom not to worry, that she would be well looked after. It was the same thing I said when that little girl was dropped off at slumber parties we hosted at our house as an early elementary schooler, and when she got dropped of at our house for the get-ready-for-prom-girl-gatherings, all of which I loved to host at our house. I am glad to still be able to look out for her from afar and set a tone for her day. It helps me to be more resilient and helps with loss.

Michele: When I thought of this one, yes, interior designers can make a room special, but I can also make people feel valued and special. I know I have achieved that when I have very long standing relationships for many, many years. People who have been out of my life, such as students from my early years, have come back into my life. They’ll tell me, ” you always noticed me, you always made me feel special, like I belonged.” That’s the bigger picture I can take away from creating spaces.

There are so many different questions you could ask yourself to expand upon your metaphor. We hope you explore a few.

In his book, Parker Palmer suggests to do this activity with colleagues you feel confident with. He suggests, “…the pay-off in self-understanding can be considerable.” We agree. So grab a friend and a cup of coffee. Sit down and explore your “Teaching at my Best” metaphors together. It will one of your vest conversations!

Recap:

The “Teaching at Your Best” activity helped us to explore who we are as teachers. It is important to remember that our teaching metaphors also have implications for our lives out of the classroom. Even though it started as a fun little game, a simple metaphor, you likely saw yourself as a teacher, and a person, in a whole new way.

If you would like more help in living with intention, check out our book, The Inspired Teachers Journal: A Weekly Guide to Becoming Your Best Self. We set you up with some insight and then give you journal prompts and amazing advice from other teachers who are on a journey to live their inspired lives.

Connect with the Inspired Together Teachers Community:

Download our FREE resource: The Inspired Teachers Guide to Taking Back Your Life.

Website: https:www.inspiredtogetherteachers.com

Instagram: Inspired-Together-Teachers

Facebook: Inspired Together Teachers

Inspired Together Teachers Network Facebook Group

Linked In: Inspired Together Learning

More About Inspired Together Teachers:

Are you a teacher struggling to balance your best work with your best life?

Inspired Together Teachers will give you practical tools to experience more of what matters most in your life.

Paula and Michele would love to have you to join them on their quest to lived inspired lives.

This post may use affiliate links. If you purchase an item through our link, we will receive a small portion of the profit with no extra cost to you. This helps us to pay for the costs of bringing this free podcast to our community.

Be Brilliant, Gorgeous, Talented, and Fabulous Ep. 85

October 9, 2024 by Inspired Together Teachers Leave a Comment

Listen to this episode to be inspired and learn how you can use your unique gifts and talents to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous!

Show Notes:

Episode Summary:

Today we are diving into positive territory with a topic that we think will grab your attention- How to Be Brilliant, Gorgeous, Talented and Fabulous!

We didn’t make up that description, it comes from author, teacher and political activist Marianne Williamson. If it seems like a tall order, or an impossible achievement- stick around as we share how you can not only be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous, but how you can help others to shine their own light brightly.

In this episode:

This following is a summary of the key points in the podcast. In the podcast we often add stories or personal examples. For the full experience, please listen to the podcast.

Introduction:

Be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous- we’ll have some of that- how about you?

Who wouldn’t want to be described as brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?

Let’s start by sharing the source of this phrase. It’s one you might have heard or read before, a poem made famous by Marianne Williamson in her best- selling book A Return to Love which is at its essence, a book about living from love not fear.

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.

Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.

It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us.

We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?

Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God.

Your playing small doesn’t serve the world.

There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you.

We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.

It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone.

And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.

As we’re liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

Wow. There is a lot of power to unpack there. This is more than just being brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous. It also speaks to us as role models and how when we step into our own light, we allow others to step into their light as well.

This poem offers a lot of promise and a positive message for all of us, and educators specifically.

An Example for Educators

Michele: I first remember hearing this poem in the movie Akeela and The Bee, which came out in 2006. It stars a very young Keke Palmer with Laurence Fishburne as Dr. Larabee, her coach.

Akeelah is a gifted eleven-year-old in inner-city Los Angeles. She doesn’t understand her talents, or believe that she can learn or that she has any control in her future. She is headed down a troubled path, she’s failing and truant which requires her to attend summer school.

The school district wants to improve their status by winning the National Spelling Bee. They bribe Akeelah into trying to win the spelling bee by getting her out of summer school. They engage Dr. Larabee to coach her.

Akeelah is very resistant, she thought she could just show up and get out of summer school without doing anything. In a moment of frustration, Dr. Larabee asks her to read the poem out loud. Then he quizzes her.

Dr. Larabee: Does that mean anything to you?

Akeelah: I don’t know.

Dr. Larabee: It’s written in plain English. What does it mean?

Akeelah: That I’m not supposed to be afraid?

Dr. Larabee: Afraid of what?

Akeelah: (she hesitates, then speaks softly) Afraid of… me?

At that moment, she begins to understand that she has something to share and that she could be powerful. It is a turning point in her life.

Akeelah starts to take her learning seriously and becomes surprised at what she doesn’t know, but aware that she can learn it.

That is not unlike all of us-we might be afraid of putting ourselves out there and achieving something big. Once we believe we can accomplish something, we are far more likely to go after it.

How can you believe that you can be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?

You might be someone who already believes in yourself. You have a lot of confidence and are not afraid to go after what you want and what you believe that you can have, and that you believe you deserve.

For some of us, this requires more understanding and some practice. We’ve got a couple of tips that can help.

Understand how your thoughts work.

The science and understanding of our thoughts and how they work has grown in the past few years.

Our thoughts are essentially patterns of neural activity in the brain. When we think about performing an action, specific neural pathways are activated, which can then lead us to take that action.
Our thoughts, which are how we interpret a situation, determine the emotions we experience, which also influence our actions. So, our thoughts and the emotions behind them become our actions.
Repeated thoughts and actions can create neural pathways that become ingrained as habits, turning certain behaviors into automatic responses.
Actions can also influence our thoughts; for example, performing a positive action can shift our mindset to a more positive outlook. The more we act in positive ways, the more we will continue to act in positive ways.

In short, what we think, then act on, becomes our habits which in turn create our reality.

So, how we take this knowledge and apply it?

How can we apply positive thoughts in real life?

Change your thoughts and your feelings and actions will change.

For example, at the beginning of a yoga class, laying on a mat on the hard floor is not very comfortable. But by the end, it can feel like the most comfortable mat ever. It is in the difference of perspective of your mind and body from the beginning of the class to the end.

Let’s look at the be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous language and translate that into thoughts.

Be brilliant.

What do you think about your intelligence? What do you say to yourself?

Do you say things like:

I’m not smart enough to do that, or

I don’t have a good enough education,or

I don’t know how to do that,

you are telling yourself that you can’t know or learn or do something. You are stopping your brilliance from coming through.

Look at the opposite:

I am smart, I have figured out lots of things so I can figure this out as well.

Which kind of statement is likely to result in your taking action towards something that could end up showing your brilliance?

It is an example of the Henry Ford quote, “whether you think you can or think you can’t, you’re right.”

Are you allowing negative thoughts about your intelligence to prevent you from speaking out, learning something new, or being open to growth?

Be gorgeous.

Here is an example we have all experienced. You’re late, and don’t have time to get ready for the day. The outfit you wanted to wear is dirty. You start out the day feeling unready and frumpy.

How is your day going to go? Are you going to speak up in a meeting and share your idea or solution? Probably not. When you don’t look your best, you usually don’t act like your best either.

We’re not talking about being a supermodel here. You can look at feel gorgeous any day – confidence in yourself makes you gorgeous.

Consider what makes you look and feel gorgeous- then make an attempt to feel that way every day.

This is the old “act as if” idea. Act as if something is true and it often becomes true.

Be Talented.

Akeelah didn’t understand that she was talented. Therefore, she never did anything that showed her talents. She could have been an A+ student, but she was failing. She needed others to help her see her talents.

You might already understand your talents. Then next question is, how are you using them?

Are you hiding your light to make others feel better about themselves or to keep from seeming like you are special? Or are you trying to fit in by acting like everyone else?

If you aren’t using your talents, where could you use them in your life?

Paula: We have all had those students who did not do well in school, because the structure of school did not work well for them. However, once they were beyond the confines of the K-12 system they became great welders, mechanics, dancers, parents and the list goes on and on. Their talents did not lie in sitting in a desk and completing standardized tests but when they got into fields where they could express their talents, they became successful in a way that many of their more academic-minded peers could not.

Michele: I have worked with some talented educators who are great leaders in their schools. When I suggest that they would be a great principal, they are often shocked. They say things like, “But, I don’t know how to be a leader”. I can instantly tell them multiple things that they are already doing that show me they are a leader. It is often eye-opening to them. If you aren’t seeing your talents, ask people who know you well what your talents are. You’ll be surprised at what others see in you.

Be Fabulous.

The word fabulous is a great word. It can pretty much mean anything you believe it means. What is fabulousness? It can mean good, or exceptional, or remarkable, or memorable. It can mean that you are fun or lively. It can mean that you admire someone or appreciate their gifts.

Being fabulous is a compliment. It shows that you are putting yourself out there and doing something good.

Being fabulous is also a state of mind. You are constantly putting signals out into the universe. What kind of signal are you sending?

I’m poor, downtrodden, and pitiful? Nothing ever turns out for me. I can’t do anything right.

You are announcing that you are angry and bitter. Life sucks. It is unfair.

We’ve know people who act like that and they are difficult to be around.

Think of the opposite. What do you think when you hear positive things?

Michele: One of my husband’s regular comments when something isn’t going well or it’s not going the way we hoped is, “things have a way of working out.” What does that statement lead you to believe about him and how he might handle a frustration?

Paula: I think of the quote I heard once by Coco Chanel. I couldn’t remember the exact quote but knew it had the word fabulous in it so I looked it up to share. Here it is, “A girl should be two things: classy and fabulous.” Those nine little words, describe how she lived her life. It is no wonder, with a life motto like that, that she was named to Time Magazine’s list of the 100 most influential people of the 20^th century. She believed she should be fabulous and she made it happen, she lived it.

What would it look like if you felt fabulous and put out those kinds of signals?

Acting on your thoughts in a positive way can send out positive and consistent messages. Keep doing this every day and your thoughts become your reality. Change your thoughts and you can change your life.

Conclusion:

Even better, when you are sending out positive thoughts and actions into the world, you are opening the doors for others.

In the words of Marianne Williamson,

“And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.

As we’re liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

Recap:

Our thoughts are very powerful. We can live from fear, hiding our light. We can ask, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous? Or we can recognize our gifts and our worth and use them in the betterment of ourselves and others.

Quote:

“Whether you think you can or think you can’t, you’re right.”

Henry Ford

“A girl should be two things: classy and fabulous.”

Coco Chanel

Connect with the Inspired Together Teachers Community:

Download our FREE resource: The Inspired Teachers Guide to Taking Back Your Life.

Website: https:www.inspiredtogetherteachers.com

Instagram: Inspired-Together-Teachers

Facebook: Inspired Together Teachers

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Linked In: Inspired Together Learning

More About Inspired Together Teachers:

Are you a teacher struggling to balance your best work with your best life?

Inspired Together Teachers will give you practical tools to experience more of what matters most in your life.

Paula and Michele would love to have you to join them on their quest to lived inspired lives.

Being Seen, Heard, and Understood: The Power of Validation Ep. 82

September 18, 2024 by Inspired Together Teachers Leave a Comment

Being Seen, Heard, and Understood: The Power of Validation

Season 6 Episode 82

Listen to this episode to learn how you can use validation to acknowledge and bring out the best in yourself and others.

Show Notes:

Episode Summary:

Have you ever had a moment when you truly felt seen and heard…when you realized your thoughts and feelings were recognized as worthwhile? That validation, when we give it or receive it from others can be life-changing. The validation we give ourselves can be just as important as the validation we receive from others.

In this episode we explore why validation from others and ourselves matters and how you can increase the validation you experience and give in your life. Stick around as we explore the topic of validation in today’s inspiring episode.

Introduction:

Validation. It is a topic we have addressed indirectly several times in our 80+ podcast episodes, but this is the first time we have dedicated a full episode to it, the first time we have named giving and receiving validation as an essential component in living your best personal and professional life. Today we want to explicitly name and explore it, what validation is and is not, and we will also discuss why we all need to give and receive validation.

What prompted us to give real thought to validation was reading the transcript of Oprah’s commencement speech at Harvard in 2013. Her words, when she talked about validation at that commencement speech, are important to us as teachers, parents, friends, and family members. Instead of paraphrasing, we will read you Oprah’s powerful words.

I have to say that the single most important lesson I learned in 25 years talking every single day to people, was that there is a common denominator in our human experience. Most of us, I tell you we don’t want to be divided. What we want, the common denominator that I found in every single interview, is we want to be validated. We want to be understood. I have done over 35,000 interviews in my career and as soon as that camera shuts off everyone always turns to me and inevitably in their own way asks this question “Was that okay?” I heard it from President Bush, I heard it from President Obama. I’ve heard it from heroes and from housewives. I’ve heard it from victims and perpetrators of crimes. I even heard it from Beyonce and all of her Beyonceness. She finishes performing, hands me the microphone and says, “Was that okay?” Friends and family, yours, enemies, strangers in every argument in every encounter, every exchange I will tell you, they all want to know one thing: was that okay? Did you hear me? Do you see me? Did what I say mean anything to you?

Wow! Those are powerful words, aren’t they? Presidents and Beyonce are asking for validation? Those are people we think of as powerful, confident, and self-assured and they are asking for validation. Truly, we all want to be understood, to be acknowledged, to be heard….all of these are a part of being validated.

Validation- What it is and is not

By definition, validation is the recognition or affirmation that a person, their feelings, or their opinions are valid or worthwhile. It is the feeling you get when others recognize that you are right or good enough.

When we feel validated we truly feel like someone has heard us, they saw us, and they thought we, or our contributions, were useful or were good.

This is a good time to clarify that there is a difference between recognition and validation. Validation is honoring the person or their ideas. Recognition on the other hand, is more of an acknowledgement of something that a person did. For example, if you win the race, you get the recognition with a trophy. Recognition is based on your achievement. Validation is a stronger and more meaning connection than just recognition. Validation doesn’t require an accomplishment. Validation appreciates the person behind the accomplishment.

Validation is implicit in building relationships and recognizing the strengths in ourselves and others. Many times, when we think we are validating that a kid is a good kid, we are actually recognizing an accomplishment and we’re hoping that they make the connection that we are also validating them. Not all kids, or even all adults, are able to make that natural connection. That is why it is so important that we aren’t just recognizing people, but we make sure that we are validating them as people.

Here is a good example of the difference between recognition and validation. We have both won teaching awards. An external entity determined that we were good teachers and recognized us with awards. We like our awards, don’t get us wrong. They hang on our office walls. However, the validation we have didn’t come from external reviewers. The validation came when a student said we made a difference in their life, when a parent said they felt we really took the time to care and love their child, when our teaching partner hugged us and thanked us for helping her through a tough time. That is validation. See the difference? The recognition is good. But the validation drives us and can be life-changing.

There are two different types of validation we need in our lives- validation from others and validation from ourselves.

A lot of teachers recognizing the validation from kids. They have those notes and drawings that remind them that arey are making a difference.

Validation from Others

Whether we like to admit it or not, we seek validation from other people. This DOES NOT mean that you should be a people pleaser all the time or that you should do things only for others to tell you that you are right. However, it is important for all of us to know that someone sees, hears and finds us worthy.

Validation creates positive feelings. Validation can make us feel a sense of harmony with others or with our environment. As teachers, you have seen that look on a child’s face when you tell them they matter or their thoughts are legitimate and valuable. Their whole presence and body language changes when you validate them or their feelings. You also know that student is now more likely to share future ideas and be vulnerable with you. You build trust with them through validation. The same is true in our families, friend groups and communities.

Paula: I was in a work situation once, where there was a lot of tough work to do for a project. It was work I really liked to do. It played into my skill set and I did it well. I felt successful at what I was doing. When the task was done, several colleagues pulled me aside and told me that things went so well with the project because of what I brought to the group. They specifically mentioned my ability to see the big picture and still be able to complete the details. I felt like they really saw me, they saw what I was capable of and willing to do. In turn, I validated them. I truly felt validated and I still have a bond with those work colleagues from years ago.

Michele: Those times when we hear validation are so important to our mental attitude and our sense of self-worth. I can also speak to the opposite of that- when you don’t get validation for something you have worked really hard on, or when you sense a lack of appreciation or even that someone doesn’t even notice you. That is hurtful. I remember a time when not only was my work and the resulting achievement not acknowledged, another person took credit it for it. That changed my relationship with that person forever. There was no validation whatsoever for me, and it was hurtful.

We need validation to feel a sense of belonging with others. Why would you want to stay working at a place where you never felt validated? That isn’t a positive environment. Would you want to teach in a classroom where the kids don’t trust you or each other because they never feel validated? Of course not. We want to be in a environment where we feel a sense of belonging with others.

Validation does not mean that everyone has to agree or approve. You can still have a different opinion and communicate acceptance of the other person’s feelings. That is true acceptance.

It is our right and responsibility to give and receive validation from others. Our ability to give validation is a part of a two way communication in which both parties feel their point of view was heard and acknowledged. It is what solid and positive relationships are made of.

Look for opportunities, at work and at home, to offer more than just recognition. Offer validation to make sure that co-workers, students, friends and family know that you see and understand them. It’s not just saying, “good job.” It is in recognizing something specific in another person and making sure they know you see them and understand them.

Validation from yourself

While it is necessary to get that external validation, we also have to learn to accept our own thoughts, feelings, experiences and ways of being as valid. That means we have to self-reflect and observe ourselves and our feelings without judgement.

We have talked frequently about building self-confidence and a big part of this is validating that your thoughts and feelings are real and meaningful.

Self-talk or having a mantra can help a lot with this. Analyzing and naming your feelings can help you to validate that your feelings and reactions are understandable. Just like you have to be observant to validate others, you need to sit back and be non-judgmental in observing yourself as well.

Michele: This one is really powerful for me. I have often been the person who sits back, listens and observes and then creates plans or programs or takes action. I know how to fly under the radar and still do work that is impactful. Flying under the radar means that you don’t always get noticed. Your validation comes from within when you recognize your contributions and have a strong sense that what you are doing matters. Your work or the way you show up in your life aligns with your values and it allows you to live out your beliefs. For me, that understanding has been a driving force in my life. I would not be able to do what I do without that self-validation.

Paula: For me, journaling has really helped with this self validation piece. So has mediation. When I sit and observe my feelings, and name them in journaling or mediation, I then have some internal dialogue that goes something like, “Yes, those are exactly what you are feeling. And your reasons for those feelings are all valid reasons. Any reasonable person would feel the same in the same situation. You are doing great with what you have. Way to go.” It’s silly, I know, but that self-talk after journaling or mediation provides a great validation for me.

Both of us gave an example that shows how we were able to answer the question in the Oprah story, “was I okay?” You don’t have to wait for someone else to tell you the answer, you can answer it for yourself.

In order to validate others and to give ourselves self-validation, we need to be present, to listen, to recognize and to legitimize the feelings and experiences that shape a person.

When we do these things, and offer validation, the person feels cared for, supported and accepted. Relationships are built and harmony becomes a way of living. Who doesn’t want that in their work and personal life?

We end with this quote from Grammy nominated singer and songwriter Mary Gauthier, “When you see validation for a life’s work and dedication, it’s a beautiful day.”

Recap:

We all deserve to be truly feel seen and heard. We all need moments in our lives when our thoughts and feelings are recognized as worthwhile. That validation, when we give or receive it from others can be life-changing. The validation we give ourselves can be just as important as the validation we receive from others. Validation only requires that we be present, listen, and recognize the feelings and experiences that shape a person. We all have the power to do that.

Quote:

“When you see validation for a life’s work and dedication, it’s a beautiful day.”

Mary Gauthier

Related Episodes/Blog Posts:

The Enneagram for Educators

The Enneagram Types 8,9, and 1

The Enneagram Types 2, 3 and 4

The Enneagram Types 5, 6 and 7

The Enneagram Harmony Triads

Connect with the Inspired Together Teachers Community:

Download our FREE resource: The Inspired Teachers Guide to Taking Back Your Life.

Website: https:www.inspiredtogetherteachers.com

Instagram: Inspired-Together-Teachers

Facebook: Inspired Together Teachers

Inspired Together Teachers Network Facebook Group

Linked In: Inspired Together Learning

More About Inspired Together Teachers:

Are you a teacher struggling to balance your best work with your best life?

Inspired Together Teachers will give you practical tools to experience more of what matters most in your life.

Paula and Michele would love to have you to join them on their quest to lived inspired lives.

8 Nonfiction Books that Can Change Your Life Ep.75

July 31, 2024 by Inspired Together Teachers Leave a Comment

8 Nonfiction Books that Can Change Your Life S. 5 E.75

Listen to this episode to hear about some of our favorite nonfiction books that can change your life.

Show Notes:

Episode Summary:

Are you a reader? It’s no secret we love to read. We also love to share the best of the books that we read. Let’s talk about nonfiction books that can change your life!

Fiction is fun and relaxing and enjoyable, but nonfiction books allow you to learn and grow. They help you understand the world in a wider way, and build knowledge. Nonfiction books also grow your vocabulary, make you think, help you solve problems, and allow you to dig into interests.

Today we are going to share the best of the nonfiction books that we have read. Believe us when we say that these are nonfiction books that can change your life!

In this episode:

If you are a reader, we already know that even if we haven’t met, we are connected by the power of books. We both love to talk about books, to get new ideas from books, and to share the things we‘ve read.

This summer we’ve shared some of our favorite recent fiction books. We’ve also shared life lessons from some of our favorite children’s books, and children’s books with fabulous teachers.

Today we get to talk about some of our favorite nonfiction books.

Why do we read nonfiction books?

Michele: I read non-fiction in the morning. It motivates me, gets my brain working and gives me lots of ideas and inspiration. I always get ideas when I read informational text and get really excited when I can apply the ideas to my life or work.

Paula: I listen to fiction on audio but really appreciate non-fiction in a text form. I like to highlight and put notes all over in the margins. I usually have a non-fiction book or two that I am in the middle of in my purse, car or bookbag.

We are excited to share some of our favorite nonfiction books with you. While most of these books are carefully “researched” and many of them are written by scholars, none of them is overly scholarly, too stuffy or difficult to read.

Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking by Susan Cain

If you are an introvert, Susan Cain is speaking your language. Susan Cain helps you understand what it means to be an introvert, and more importantly, how it can be a strength.

If you are an extrovert, this book will help you relate better to an introverted spouse, child, friend or coworker. Michele recommended this to her sister who said it totally changed her relationship with her introverted son. This is a child who was surrounded by the extroverts in their family. After reading this, she understood her son’s strengths and learned how to help him be successful in his own way.

This is powerful, relationship building stuff!

DRIVE: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us by Daniel Pink

Drive explains motivation in a way that makes it easy to read and digest. Basically, everything you think you know about motivation is either true of an era in the past or just plain wrong.

If you want to understand what motivates you or others, this book will tell you and give you many examples of motivation that works today.

Teachers need to read this book. When you understand how motivate works, and you know which techniques to use. Even more importantly, which ones not to use.

Though this book starts out like a business book, don’t give up. All of the motivation ideas work for anyone. Pink also relates it to teachers and even has a full section on what it means for classrooms.

Worthy: How to Believe You are Enough and Transform Your Life by Jamie Kern Lima

Jamie Kern Lima is a highly successful entrepreneur and the founder of IT Cosmetics. She shares her personal journey, especially how she felt a lack of confidence in her life. When she started to be successful, she met Oprah, who offered to help her. Oprah gave Jamie her personal phone number and told her to call. Jamie held on to that number for years, but never called. She didn’t believe she was worthy of having Oprah mentor her.

When we conduct workshops, teachers often tell us about their lack of confidence. People, especially women, label themselves with words like failure, unattractive, too old or too young. They see themselves as damaged, or not smart enough, or not good enough. They feel like they are imposters, and worry that someone is going to call them out.

If any of this rings true for you, Jamie Kern Lima will take you on a journey to help you understand why you think the way you do. Worthy will help you transform your thinking and actions so that you can let yourself shine.

Here is a favorite quote from the book: “In life, you don’t soar to the level of your hopes and dreams, you stay stuck at the level of your self-worth. You don’t rise to what you believe is possible, you fall to what you believe you’re worthy of.”

Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol Dweck

Mindset is not another book with success tips or habits. What Dweck presents here is a whole new way of thinking. It is a shift in understanding our mindset. Dweck’s concept is that there are two different mindsets, a fixed mindset or a growth mindset. Having a growth mindset is the path towards fulfilling your potential.

Once you read this, you will never be able to “unread it.” You will see fixed and growth mindsets in people you work with and students you teach.

Many teachers have been exposed to the idea of growth mindset. If you have never actually read the book, you will find it useful, not only for your life at school, but with family, friends, and others that you interact with every day.

Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More than IQ by Daniel Goleman

If you weren’t the valedictorian of your class but found out that you were very successful anyway, this book will explain why. It turns out that intellectual intelligence and life success aren’t particularly connected. Our view of human intelligence is far too narrow. Other abilities such as empathy, self-discipline, self-awareness, resilience, and grit matter more.

These skills have often been dismissed as “soft skills”. Fortunately, today there is a lot of discussion around social and emotional skills. We’re glad these topics are growing in importance.

We wish that every parent who believes that teachers should stay out of teaching any social or emotional skills would read this book.

Hidden Potential: The Science of Achieving Great Things by Adam Grant

Hidden Potential is about how people learn to understand potential in themselves and others, and then use it to do great things.

Grant shares lots of stories in this book. He describes someone who has hidden potential, and how they learn to see it and understand what they are capable of through the help, guidance or mentorship of others. Often, those others are teachers.

He talks about schools in one chapter, but there are connections for teachers all the way through. What would happen if we could see our own hidden potential and bring it out? What could happen if we could see the potential in all of our students and then help to bring it out?

We could absolutely change the world, and that is a powerful thing to strive for.

Braving the Wilderness: The Quest for True Belonging and the Courage to Stand Alone by Brené Brown

Brene Brown was a bit ahead of her time with this book. The world is even more divisive now than it was in 2017 when this book came out. We need it now more than ever.

At its core, this is a book about building relationships. In a divisive world, it is easy to take our ideas and back into a corner where we only seek to be with and understand people who share our vision and positions.

Brown encourages us to open up, to be vulnerable and courageous in being who we are and yet begin open to those who are cultural or ideologically different.

In doing so, we can recognize our true humanity, that at the core we share many things. Brown tells us that it is hard to hate people close up. It is an important idea in a world where there is too much hate.

After reading this book, you’ll understand both why and how to build stronger relationships.

Also by Brene Brown and worth mentioning is The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You are Supposed to be and Embrace Who You Really Are by Brené Brown

The Gifts of Imperfection would also go well with the book Worthy.

Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi

Don’t let the title scare you off. You know the feeling of flow- when everything is working well and when you are performing at your best. You are enjoying your work or activities and time just slips away from you. This is flow, the ultimate self-motivating experience. Who doesn’t want more of that?

This is the most scholarly of the books in this list, though you don’t need a PH.D. in Psychology to understand it.

Michele: This book has been very valuable in helping me understand what I need to do to live a life of intention. This is a book that makes you understand what makes people excited to greet the day and excited to be alive. Where you find flow, you will also find joy and love and happiness and ultimately, self-actualization.

If you struggle with motivation or motivating your students, this book will help you understand how we are motivated on a deep level.

Recap:

Thanks for listening as we shared some of our favorite nonfiction books. We hope you were inspired to read one, or listen to the audio version. Nonfiction books can educate, extend your knowledge base, inspire new ideas and give you suggestions for creating the life you want to live. They are truly nonfiction books that can change your life.

Quote:

“In life, you don’t soar to the level of your hopes and dreams, you stay stuck at the level of your self-worth. You don’t rise to what you believe is possible, you fall to what you believe you’re worthy of.”

Jamie Kern Lima

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Each of the books mentioned is highlighted in the text title.

Related Episodes/Blog Posts:

Inspired Together Teachers Podcast episode 68 Important Life- lessons from Children’s Books

Inspired Together Teachers Podcast episode 69 Our Best Summer Reading Suggestions

Inspired Together Teachers Podcast episode 72 Inspirational Teachers in Children’s Books

Connect with the Inspired Together Teachers Community:

Download our FREE resource: The Inspired Teachers Guide to Taking Back Your Life.

Website: https:www.inspiredtogetherteachers.com

Instagram: Inspired-Together-Teachers

Facebook: Inspired Together Teachers

Facebook Inspired Together Teachers: Inspired Together Teachers Facebook Group

Linked In: Inspired Together Learning

More About Inspired Together Teachers:

Are you a teacher struggling to balance your best work with your best life?

Inspired Together Teachers will give you practical tools to experience more of what matters most in your life.

Co-hosts Paula Schmidt and Michele Vosberg are award winning educators with the experience and skills to help teachers thrive in life and work. They’ve taught at all levels, worked with thousands of teachers, and conducted workshops around the world. They are also the authors of the #1 best-selling book The Inspired Teachers Journal: A Weekly Guide to Becoming Your Best Self.

Paula and Michele would love to have you to join them on their quest to lived inspired lives.

Living With Grace Season 6 Episode 88

Check out this episode to learn how to combat tension and divisiveness by living with grace for yourself and others.

Show Notes:

Episode Summary:

In this episode:

Introduction:

What do we mean when we use the phrase “living with grace”?

Give yourself grace.

Extend grace to others.

Respect diverse beliefs and perspectives.

Try to see the good in the world.

Conclusion:

Recap:

Did you know that we have a free resource called The Inspired Teacher’s guide to Taking Back Your life? Get it here.

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Who Are You When You’re Teaching at Your Best? A Fun, Insightful Activity

Season 6 Episode 87

Listen to this episode to learn a fun, quick strategy that will give you insight to who you are when you are teaching at your best!

Show Notes:

Episode Summary:

In this episode:

Introduction:

Question #1- How would you complete this sentence?

Here are some examples of teachers we worked with:

Question #2- What are the “strengths” you have related to this metaphor?

Question #3- What are the “Bright Spots” that happen in your classroom related to this metaphor?

Question #4- What are the “Shadows” of your metaphor that may apply to you?

Question 5#- What are the “Darker Spots” that happen in your classroom related to this metaphor?

Question #6- How does this metaphor play out in other areas of your life?

Question #7- How can your metaphor strengthen you and make you more resilient?

Recap:

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Listen to this episode to be inspired and learn how you can use your unique gifts and talents to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous!

Show Notes:

Episode Summary:

In this episode:

Introduction:

An Example for Educators

How can you believe that you can be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?

Understand how your thoughts work.

How can we apply positive thoughts in real life?

Be brilliant.

Be gorgeous.

Be Talented.

Be Fabulous.

Conclusion:

Recap:

Quote:

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Being Seen, Heard, and Understood: The Power of Validation

Listen to this episode to learn how you can use validation to acknowledge and bring out the best in yourself and others.

Show Notes:

Episode Summary:

Introduction:

Validation- What it is and is not

Validation from Others

Validation from yourself

Recap:

Quote:

Mary Gauthier

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8 Nonfiction Books that Can Change Your Life S. 5 E.75

Show Notes:

In this episode:

Why do we read nonfiction books?

Hidden Potential: The Science of Achieving Great Things by Adam Grant

Recap:

Quote:

Resources mentioned in this episode:

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