Reflecting after a Rough Season.

How are you? No really. If I am being honest the 2020-21 school year was deflating and unstable at times. Just when I thought I had my footing something changed, a new regulation came into place, or balancing between being a pandemic principal and parent fell apart. I wish I could say that this will be the last of it, smooth sailing from here on out.

We all know that dark seasons, rough patches, and tough times will always be a part of life. How we choose to lead through it is where growth and leadership occur. 

Jessica cabeen

Check Your Mindset. If we aren’t careful we can awfulize everything, and when things are going well that can lead to higher rates of anxiety, depression, and unhappiness. By leaning into a growth mindset instead of a fixed one you can reframe situations and circumstances and learn from them, instead of wallowing in them. 

Sit With The Situation.  If you are anything like me, you try just to power through things until they are over. COVID-19 proved that was not a healthy, or realistic way to work through challenging times. During the course of the year, I took short sabbaticals and reflected on questions such as:

• What has happened?
• What can I learn from it?
• What skills have I developed from this time?
• How am I taking care of myself in this season?
• Who can I reach out to for help, or to help me stay accountable?

These short sabbaticals helped me recharge, refocus, and rejuvenate my purpose in work and life. Even if you can just step away for 90 minutes and go for a walk or spend time outside (and offline) and write responses to questions like this it may open up opportunities for learning and growth that will advance your skills further past this season. 

Reach Out and Thank Someone.

When being interviewed for a recent podcast the question came up: who supports you? During that podcast, I spent time highlighting my teenage boys and spouse who were critical support people at home during this year. 

I can also name at least five educator friends that I leaned on during the course of the year more frequently than before for help, advice, and support. Taking time to reflect on who has helped you and sharing your gratitude with them is another step towards becoming more resilient in the face of adversity and hardship. In a recent blog post by Dr. Amit Sood, he reinforces this practice by stating: Once your brain fills with these uplifting feelings, fear and anger slowly fade. They are still there, but no longer dominate your thought flow.

With repeated practice, the feelings you nurture start multiplying. Thus, the more you focus on compassion, gratitude and meaning, the bigger space they occupy in your brain’s real estate.

So will hard seasons come again, yes. But hopefully with a new challenge comes an opportunity to continue to see growth in circumstances and find ways to learn through it. 

Dream Big, Live Colorfully and Lead Boldly My Friends,

Jessica