Be a light for yourself and others
Teachers and leaders continue to rebuild many aspects of the academic experience following the pandemic. Many of them can benefit from strategies to combat stress during the instructional day. In 2021, Elizabeth Steiner and Ashley Woo reported findings on teacher job stress. The results indicated that 78 percent of teachers experienced frequent job-related stress and 27 percent had experienced symptoms of depression (Steiner & Woo, 2021). In the article, “Be a Lamp, Not a Mirror: Five Ways to Keep Your Light Shining,” Carol Pelletier Radford discusses how educators can recognize negative thinking and reduce it by seeing themselves as a light rather than a mirror. The mirror refers to mimicking negative behaviors and the lamp refers to positive thinking and energy.
Radford shares the following related to being a lamp and not a mirror:
“Many years ago, when I was frustrated by negative conversations and complaints at my school, a friend shared this phrase: Be a lamp, not a mirror. She explained that when we mirror complaints and negative talk, we just worsen our suffering. When we come from a place of light, we can shift our energy and lighten the power of those around us.” (Radford, 2023, para. 1)
Along with this powerful quote, the author shares five strategies for educators to shift their energy and let their light shine bright:
Listen to your voice. Pay attention to your needs. Ask yourself, “What could I do for myself right now that would shift my mood?” Take two minutes to sit quietly to think about it and then carry it out.
Move your body and stay active. These activities are essential to keeping your lamp illuminated. According to Marie Amaro, “just half an hour a day can make a difference to how you feel, and you know that depression and anxiety can severely impact your ability to teach effectively” (Amaro, 2023, para. 4).
Share your story with fellow peers. It is more likely someone else can relate to or benefit from your experience (Radford, 2023). Iris Connect is an organization that supports teachers in developing expert teaching skills. It believes that sharing is essential to leadership development and peer development. Patzer (2021) states, “Sharing their expertise means having new conversations that open up what they have learned to a new perspective, helping them and others to grow” (para. 5).
Ask for help. This action is a complex concept for many people; but it is necessary for educators to protect their energy in an academic setting. Radford (2023) explains, “Sometimes we just need to ask for guidance to get us through a project, a lesson, or the day. Find a mentor or teacher in your school who can support you (para.5).” Stephanie Jankowski (n.d.) shares that collaboration with peers is an excellent use of time. According to Jankowski, “Asking for help is an important part of growing in any profession, which is why it should be encouraged and not discouraged. Teachers can also be proactive by consistently collaborating and openly communicating with colleagues (para. 8).”
Develop a habit of complimenting others. Radford (2023) gives specifics about sharing compliments. She states, “Be sincere and specific. Then compliment yourself, too. What would you like to be acknowledged for today? What are you doing well? Pat yourself on the back (para. 6).”
If you would like to learn more about these five ways to keep your lamp shining, refer to Carol Pelletier Radford’s work on the Corwin Connect site by clicking here.
References
Amaro, M., & Amaro, M. (2021, October 15). How exercise boosts teacher wellbeing. The highly effective teacher. The Highly Effective Teacher. https://bit.ly/4aUijzt
Jankowski S. (n.d.) When should teachers feel comfortable asking for help? Hey Teach! https://bit.ly/3HeRIzp
Patzer, R. (2023, September 7). Sharing good practice: Strategies to encourage teacher collaboration. Iris Connect. https://blog.irisconnect.com/uk/sharing-and-collaboration-in-schools
Radford, C. P. (2023, December 6). Be a lamp, not a mirror: Five ways to keep your light shining Corwin Connect. https://corwin-connect.com/2023/12/be-a-lamp-not-a-mirror-five-ways-to-keep-your-light-shining/
Steiner, E. D., & Woo, A. (2021, June 14). Job-Related Stress Threatens the Teacher Supply: Key Findings from the 2021 State of the U.S. Teacher Survey. RAND. https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RRA1108-1.html
For more information, contact Amber Butler, ([email protected]), Program Specialist T/TAC at VCU.