“Love doesn’t make the world go ‘round. Love is what makes the ride worthwhile.” – Franklin P. Jones
Sometimes you have to let go of your worries and all of your stories about what is happening in your life. Take some time to settle into your chair and look around. Notice how life is moving about in all directions. Somehow, life continues in spite of our concerns.
This simple practice is the foundation of meditation, and a wonderful way to reset during a busy day. It is a great relief to recognize that we are not responsible for making life move forward. In many ways, we are passengers on a vehicle that keeps rolling along.
When we take the time to slow down and enjoy the ride, we gain access to more choices about the direction that we are headed. Once we get our bearings, we are in a better place to decide what to do next. If we feel stressed because it seems that we are headed in the wrong direction, then it is wise to relax and assess the situation from an elevated perspective.
In education, we call this being a lifelong learner. It is the willingness to admit that we do not know everything, nor are we expected to. Being a lifelong learner means asking for directions when we need to, and exploring new places and ideas when they present themselves. This keeps our minds young and flexible, full of wonder and curiosity.
One of the keys to working with students in our district is to give them guidance that allows them to relax and trust that they are headed in the right direction. Giving them a plan that they can buy into enables them to put down their guard and collaborate effectively with teachers and peers. Then these young people will come away with an enriched experience and knowledge that they did not have before the journey.
I recently spoke with a parent who was concerned because his son had seen a decline in grades over the past several months. The parent, and the boy’s teacher, were concerned that the young man was going to veer further in the wrong direction. When I spoke to the boy, it was apparent that the worry of the adults was adding to his own worry. As a result he was rebelling even more and accomplishing less.
As we worked together as a team, we were able to recognize that although there was some slight slippage in grades, there was really nothing to worry about. We were able to support this young man in renewing his confidence in his teacher and in himself. As everyone calmed down, the boy’s natural intelligence took over and he went back to achieving his typical excellence.
We are all like children on the inside. When part of us believes that things are not going well, it is easy to panic and take action from that anxious place. We are better off taking some time to calm that inner worry. Some people refer to this as self-love; providing ourselves with the nurturing and encouragement we need to reconnect to our potential and enjoy the process of living.
If you are feeling out of sorts in an area of your life, the first step is to relax. Assess what is really going on. Are there any places inside that could benefit from a little self-love? What would need to happen in order for you to regain your hope and move forward confidently? When you recognize what is required you will likely find that success is not nearly as far off as you suspected. Your well-being is worth the effort, and the results will reflect that.
Edward Biagiotti is the Inclusion Specialist for Culver City Unified School District. He is also co-host of the popular radio show, Funniest Thing! with Darrell and Ed, to find out more go to www.DarrellandEd.com. Visit www.TappingIntoGenius.com for more articles and a free, inspirational parenting download.
