Reframing Our Mindset to Spark Growth
In speaking with a friend recently, we reflected on the ups and downs of 2020. It’s been an interesting year, to say the least. There are countless memes out there from dumpster fires to what people look like pre and post the year, 2020. The memes are totally relatable as this year has presented numerous challenges. Many of us have experienced a wide range of emotions and I think that by the close of 2020, all of us will have experienced some sort of change.
Although many cannot wait to wish 2020 goodbye, I believe that if we look carefully enough, we will come to realize that there has been some good- really, there has been! I’m not denying the struggles or negative happenings, but mindset is so important. It’s okay to experience emotions and honor that you feel sad, angry, exhausted, or stressed, but then do what you need to care for yourself. Living in negative emotions isn’t healthy. We don’t want to ignore them, but we also don’t want to remain there. It can be beneficial to reflect on the good that has taken place (even if it feels rare) and consider what you’ve learned from experiences. For me, it’s instrumental to look at each opportunity as a chance to learn and take a step back to challenge myself on why I’m feeling the way I do. It helps me to identify the source of my emotion and what I can do to work through it. *With that said, I want to honor the fact that some of us may struggle with mental health and may benefit from greater support.
Our gym owner and wellness coach, Heather Maio, posted this graphic recently from Nedra Tawwab, writer and therapist.
I talk daily to one of my closest friends, and throughout 2020 we would share our heartaches and frustrations, but always turned to what we learned from each experience. We both accept the fact that emotions are normal, but are resilient because we embrace a healthy mindset. We’d also celebrate each other’s wins and would share the highlights of our days. As I read through these 9 Questions to Ponder Before You Wrap Up 2020, I think that throughout the year my friend and I likely discussed each of these at different points in connection with what we experienced. Pondering these questions places us in the position to explore what we’ve learned so that we can grow from 2020, rather than simply throwing shade at the year.
I’ve experienced more personal growth in 2020 than I ever anticipated, yet I’m forever learning and growing. I’m constantly re-examining my goals and connecting with new passions. I’ve learned to appreciate what’s right before me and not take one day for granted. 2020 has taught all of us that we cannot control everything around us, but we can choose to find the good- even when it feels impossible. In fact, friend and fellow educator Annick Rauch recently blogged on Finding the Joy Amidst the Struggles. If we get lost within all the negatives that happen, we just might overlook something magnificent that’s right before us. My goal is to take the next couple of weeks and dig deeper in reflection using the questions shared by Nedra. From there, I want to create some goals for 2021 that will help me focus my time and energy.
In past years, it was habit to write down big goals in connection with professional growth. Writing goals down is highly effective for me. If I write it down, it’s like saying a vow of commitment. In reflection, I’m not sure that I focused enough on creating goals around my own self-development. Personally speaking, I think it’s possible that self-development might be even more important than growing professionally. Perhaps it’s even about finding a better balance between the two. Either way, I know that I want to continue to develop my self to be the best me I can be.
If you’re an administrator or instructional coach, these questions might be beneficial to use with staff as we soon transition to 2021. 2021 is not going to flip a switch and bring everything back to the way it was pre-Covid-19, but it can certainly be an opportunity for us to look at it as a fresh start for personal growth.
As educators, we can also create a modified list for students that might include:
- What did 2020 teach me about myself?
- How have I grown throughout 2020?
- What’s one thing I learned this year that helped me during remote learning?
- How did I cope with stress? How might I improve on this?
- What will I do in 2021 to take better care of myself?
- How can I make 2021 the best year possible?
- What am I most grateful for in life?
Reflection and determining our mindset is essential. We can support both staff and students to reframe their thinking of 2020 by reflecting on all we’ve learned so that we can head into 2021, even stronger. It’s never about glossing over real emotion, but learning how to demonstrate resilience amidst challenging times. My hope is that you’ll also take time to ponder the questions by Nedra and explore how you’ve grown or how you can continue to learn and grow to really thrive.