by Cortney Holles
Dear Teachers with Heart
There is so much to process in the world right now, and I hope you’re taking good care of your mind, heart, and body. Lately, I’ve been tuning in to the self-talk that creeps in when I am anxious or fearful . You might be feeling frustrated and overwhelmed at times as I do, so I wanted to share a little of my internal dialogue with you from the past weeks.
Working on my internal mindset and self-talk is such an interesting journey because it is so simple to apply this advice to others. “Just believe in yourself,” we might say to a friend or loved one: “You’ve got this!” When I see my daughter struggle, I never see her as “stupid” or “worthless,” but that’s what her internal dialogue might be screaming at her.
I have several negative stories about myself that have persisted through my life, and one of them plaguing me recently is the phrase “I am so behind.” What is the impact of having a constant mindset of working from a deficit? Am I not “right where I am supposed to be”? It certainly amps up my anxiety to hold onto thoughts of struggle and failure, but turning that into an affirmation can reinforce my intentions and my purpose and chase away the harmful chatter in my brain.
Martha Beck recently talked with Mel Robbins on her podcast and describes a brilliant way to begin to move beyond stuckness, to get out of the loop of unhelpful, repetitive thoughts. She encourages us to create an opposite statement for any stuck feelings of negativity that are holding us back. You can view the clip in the link above and I’ll post the whole podcast link below–one of the best I’ve ever listened to 🙂
I know that my mindset has a powerful impact on my teaching, so I want to keep working on this, noticing when my thoughts turn negative and trying to reverse course. Too often, we carry old patterns, limiting beliefs, and unhelpful habits into our classrooms, unconsciously allowing them to define our experiences. But what if we chose to rewrite these stories? What if we approached each challenge with curiosity instead of resistance and each student with renewed optimism rather than past frustration?
Here’s how we can begin:
- Recognize the Narrative: Identify any recurring negative thoughts about your teaching, students, or personal capabilities. Awareness is the first step to transformation.
- Rewrite the Story: Shift your perspective—replace frustration with patience, judgment with empathy, and doubt with confidence.
- Model Growth for Students: Our ability to embrace change and adapt positively influences our students. Show them the power of resilience by practicing it yourself.
- Cultivate a Supportive Mindset: Engage in conversations with peers about innovative approaches, challenges, and victories. A supportive teaching community fosters inspiration.
- Celebrate Progress: Acknowledge even small wins—whether it’s trying a new teaching strategy, connecting with a student, or simply embracing a new outlook on a difficult situation.
Let me know how this lands and what affirmations are most helpful to you in your life and in your teaching? What story will you choose to write today?
Take good care, ~Cortney
Mel Robbins Podcast with Martha Beck