A Meditation For Teachers On Progress

In this short meditation practice for teachers of all levels, ages, and styles, I invite you to take a break from the need for results and reconnect to the love of the process and progress of teaching. Instead of worrying over outcomes, take time with me to rest and reflect on the journey you experience every day with your students. Give yourself permission to listen between classes or when you need a reminder of what it is that you do so well, and replenish your teacher heart.

Transcript

Welcome,

Teacher friends.

It's Beth.

For today's meditation,

Let's explore the idea of things taking shape or making progress.

Before we get started,

Find a space where you can relax,

Release,

Have time to yourself for the next few minutes,

Where you won't be interrupted by others.

As you settle into this space,

Transition by taking a few deep,

Long inhales in through the nose.

And with each exhale,

Begin to notice the shoulders soften.

The elbows drop.

The hips grow heavy toward the earth or into the space where you are resting.

And then allow the eyes to close,

So that you are spending time with only yourself and the breath.

As teachers,

We are always so driven and so intentional working toward outcomes,

Working toward results,

Or to meet standards,

Or to meet expectations.

But these things are products.

These things are outcomes.

The danger of getting too enamored with our results,

With our products,

Is that we often lose those moments of the journey that our students make and the process by which they become something that they were not.

In students,

In relationships,

In projects,

Or any number of things,

There is a desire to see results,

But so little time is spent enjoying,

Luxuriating,

Relishing what we are building and where we are and where our students are in any given moment.

What if,

Instead of worrying so much about the product,

We begin to shift our focus into noticing the process and the progress?

Maybe we can start by noticing how much our students enjoy small moments in the classroom,

Interacting with each other.

Perhaps we become aware of those moments where they show their skill,

Or growth,

Or reveal something about the truth of themselves in conversation,

In relationship.

Perhaps we take time to truly be grateful in those moments where they compliment us,

Telling us how much they enjoy our class,

How much something meant to them,

Or simply be aware of the shifts of energy when words are not shared.

It is so easy to overlook the process and progress of creating students from the humans that we have in our classroom,

But I think that's where we find the most joy in our work.

Where did you notice progress today?

Can you continue that observation of progress into tomorrow and each time that you share your teacher self with others?