We are all teachers.  If we truly embraced this role, then we’d wholly embrace all of ourselves.  We’d know that leading with our strengths and sharing those gifts with others is what we were meant to do.  We would believe in ourselves, our worth, our knowledge, our wisdom and understand why we are in this classroom of life.  We would see the beauty of awakening every day knowing we get another opportunity to hone our gifts and use them to teach others about the value of individual knowing.  We would monitor and adjust our lessons by tweaking our talents and approaches so more people feel inspired to learn, grow, understand and feel accepted in the class we offer.  We’d be less afraid of failure and be proud to model the virtue of humbleness because it connects us with our students.  Everyone relates to making mistakes and the courage it takes to try and make things right.  Failure is part of learning.  Teachers know that students have to make mistakes to find their answers in a space where falling is embraced.  It’s why good teachers give out pencils with erasers.    

Exercise your skills daily so you remain firmly planted in what you do well.  Embrace all of you and stay disciplined in feeding your own soul and filling your own cup so you have what it takes to share yourself with others.  The world needs all of you to teach us what springs forth from your light. You’re going to need the energy to keep up with the demand.  Be resistant to those who say you are too young, too old, not experienced enough or that your thinking is all wrong.  Just remember what you teach is about making things right based on your experiences and how you see the world.  There is immense value in teaching your truth to those students willing to listen and learn.  At the very least, those not willing to participate in your lesson can’t escape you modeling courage.  Those students who pick up on your lesson and witness you being brave, just earned extra credit points.

Don’t be diverted by unruly students or class clowns.  Give them their opportunity to participate in show and tell too.  Just stay true to your lesson at hand and keep at it. Those who pay attention will experience your story and get inspired by the homework you provide.  The enthusiastic will get excited by all the new learning and revel in the new bridges you helped create in their brains.  Hopefully, their excitement and the acceptance they feel in the classroom will rub off on those who aren’t there yet.  Nonetheless, feel proud about what you taught and how that positively influenced your students.  This is what drives you to get up each day and repeat the process again.  It can be tiring so take advantage of your vacation time.

In forests, old, wise trees tumble to the earth or give up parts of themselves every day.  They shed their prized possessions so their DNA can spill onto the ground and do their thing.  They fertilize the soil so new seeds get some help springing up from the dirt so they can become teachers too.  This is why it’s important to keep your unique gifts dusted off and easily available while maintaining a firm grip on what you know to be true.  Teach with your life by being bravely authentic, sharing your strengths, making mistakes, growing towards the light and embracing the differences in your classroom.  Do it by word, by example, by action, by integrity, by faith and by love. Graft all these things to who you are for they are the branches that grow from your light.  Always remember your students are watching and don’t forget your number two pencils outfitted with decent erasers.  You’ll need them to encourage sharing, making mistakes and sharpening our gifts to let the world in on what we know.

Questions/activities to ponder or good journal prompts!

1. What are your strengths? Do you regularly lead with them? Why or why not?
2. When you live what you do well, people (aka your students) notice. What might people take notice of when it comes to your skills? How do you hone them?
3. You have to fill your own cup to share your gifts with others. How do you do so? What feeds your soul?
4. Have you ever been made to feel you’re not experienced enough to offer your insight? How did that feel? How did you react? What would you have done differently?
5. How has what you know taught something of value to someone else? Do you see the ripple effect that occurred by you sharing your truth, skills or light? Why or why not?