Lean Into Discomfort; It’s Ok to Not Be Ok

Mindset

Let’s be completely real here! I am big on leaning into discomfort! I’m always speaking with others to encourage leaning into the discomfort and being ok with not being ok. Why? Because I know what it feels like to not be ok, not accept discomfort, and not be ok with not being ok. This results in TEACHER BURNOUT and TEACHER ATTRITION .

I consistently discuss with educational leaders that we have collectively encountered trauma due to COVID-19 and the policing of black bodies being played on a loop in the media. If you’re not familiar with collective trauma here are some things to support your understanding.

Collective Trauma is:

traumatic experience that affects and involves entire groups of people, communities, or societies.

Collective Trauma is not:

always equal.

While we all may have experienced the trauma together we all have a different narrative for the impact of the trauma. This collective trauma was not planned nor did we all know how this trauma would and will impact us in the long game; it has created disturbances in all facets of life. Margaret J. Wheatley discusses in “Willingness to be Disturbed” that we can create change if we are willing to be disturbed: have beliefs and ideas challenged by others. I state this because we have the opportunity to make changes within us and with others because of the disturbances we have all collectively encountered.

But first we have to admit: That it is ok to not be ok!

Three ways that I deal and encourage educators to deal with disturbances:

Lean into community

Encourage safe spaces to discuss reality and support one another. Provide educators and scholars multiple opportunities to unpack and have conversations.

Speak with a therapist

Provide spaces for educators and scholars to speak with a therapist or a counselor if needed. We have to de-stigmatize the idea that speaking with a professional is a “bad” thing. Outside perspective from a licensed professional can provide the tools needed to deal with trauma.

Find a creative outlet

Encouraging the arts allows for expression. The art of storytelling and resistance can be done through various art forms and physical activity. Spoken word and yoga are two of my favorite forms of expression and resistance. Both educators and scholars can engage in these activities together, in groups, and/or isolation.

It’s ok to not be ok, but it’s absolute chaos not to learn and lean into the moment to better understand and take care of self.

To be the educator that we strive to be we have to have the mindset that: It’s ok to not be ok! We are human and if we don’t take care of ourselves we will struggle to be there for others.

How are you dealing with the disturbances? What are some ways you’re leaning into discomfort?