“Our fatigue is often caused not by work, but by worry, frustration, and resentment.” – Dale Carnegie
“The calm and balanced mind is the strong and great mind; the hurried and agitated mind is the weak one.” – Wallace D. Wattles
The four sectors of the compass model -Mind, Spirit, Strength and Heart- not only contribute to our overall wellness, but also provide guidance on strategies to help build our compassion resilience. Before delving in further, you may want to take a self-assessment of your current wellness practices (attached). Hold onto this and notice if any that you marked as “this never occurred to me” change as you encounter the next four sections of the toolkit.
Mind is the first sector we will explore. Being resilient in this area is exemplified by being well-organized, engaging in meaningful work, and being fully present in the moment. As we learned in Section 1, mindful self-awareness is a contemplative practice of being intentionally aware in the present moment. We have practiced strategies to enhance our mindfulness in various sections of the toolkit. Mindful self-awareness is a key skill for the Mind Section area as well as those that follow: Spirit, Strength, and Heart.
Key Activity
Appreciative Inquiry Reflection on Competence (15 mins-45 mins)
Wellness Practice
Wellness Compass Practices Assessment
Circle Agenda
Staff Circle Agenda, Section Eight
Core Content Visual to Display in Common Staff Areas
Mindsets – Use this Visual and Display in Staff Break Areas
Posting this visual in common staff areas will serve as a reminder of content covered to staff and perhaps serve as a future conversation started for deeper reflection among staff members.
Supplementary Activities/Handouts
Power of the Positive Word (15 minutes-30 minutes)
Practicing Mindfulness – The Body Scan and Pause (3-10 minutes)
Links Specifically for Leadership
Name and Celebrate Staff Competence
Showing appreciation to your staff and fellow co-workers is a part of a healthy, productive, and encouraging work culture. Here are some options to encourage appreciation and focus on the specific competencies of staff or staff teams that combine to produce your school’s positive outcomes.
- Create a process where staff can nominate each other for staff appreciation
- Create and maintain an ongoing list of assets of your team or workplace — Something everyone can add to and see in the teachers’ common gathering space
- Develop a gratitude board, or employ other strategies to foster a workplace attitude of gratitude, such as the ideas provided here
Additional Resources
Link to resources, videos, and tools to learn more about and develop a growth mindset.
Short video on using mindfulness in teaching practice.
