The Road to Powerful Healing...

This weekend I have taken upon myself to begin healing. This year has been difficult, to say the least, and it has taken a toll on my health, emotions, and family. In all my years of teaching, I have not experienced the stress that I have this year, and ironically, it is not from all the work, the students, the testing (although that is annoying at best), but rather from the environment that has been created by members of the staff. This includes everyone, myself included, I imagine.

So this weekend, after hitting bottom on Friday, I realized that it is time...there is no place to go but up. After all, "rock bottom is a great place to rebuild yourself." With only eleven days left in the year, I realized that if I don't begin now, I will not be healed and ready for next year. In order to be able to go forward, I am going have to begin now...so I did some research on healing and this is what I am going to do.

1. Be open to the magnificent.

Hidden truth: You already have everything you need to create the life you desire; you just need to tap into it.

This is fabulous news...since I already have everything I need, I don't need to seek the knowledge elsewhere. What I want is a life that I love living. I want to bounce out of bed (ok..maybe not bounce since we all know I don't love mornings, but at least not crawl) in the mornings, ready for what the day brings me. I want to be able to get to work early to prepare for my day rather than barely get there on time, or most days late. I want to be able to love my students and genuinely feel like I am able to teach them, teach them about themselves, teach them to love learning...

2. Learn what you are here to learn.

Hidden truth: The universe is always unfolding exactly as it should be. The experience you are having at the moment is the one you need, simply because you are having it.

I must admit that I don't know what I am supposed to learn from this entire experience, but what I am admitting is that I am open to learning what I am supposed to learn. Years ago, my father gave me some painful advice when I was getting ready to leave my teaching job in California, "Do you really think that you are irreplaceable? That there is no one that could step into your job?" It hurt because I wanted to believe that I was a special and unique teacher. I am special and unique, but someone else who brings their own brand of special and uniqueness could come into my job too. So I am here...open to the lesson I am to learn. I don't know what it is, but I am ready whenever it reveals itself to me...

3. Be present for yourself and others.

Hidden truth: When you are physically in one place but mentally in another, you are missing your life. And not just missing it, but missing it at warp speed.

This is an area where I struggle. My mind is often going five directions at once. One of the areas I have been working on is focusing my mind, being in the space that I am at the time I am there. I will continue to work in this area...

4. Bring passion to all that you do.

Hidden truth: You have to have passion in order to feel passionate.

I feel that finding my passion is something I am good at. I am passionate about teaching, my students, their learning. I am also passionate about my friends, family. I need to continue to focus that passion so that I can feel it deep within my soul. I cannot let others things derail my passion nor can I let others derail me.

5. Give love abundantly.

Hidden truth: If you cultivate compassion and gratitude, you will never be alone and always in love.

I am making a commitment to give love abundantly regardless if it is returned to me. Giving love abundantly allows me to be free. The alternate is to be afraid and I refuse to live in a space where fear will rule who I am and what I desire to be.

6. Revere life.

Hidden truth: Be kind, even to those who are unkind to you.

To revere is to have love, awe, and respect for another. This is an area where I have struggled. I have not revered others for who they are, but rather have wanted them to be something else. Mother Theresa once said,"People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered. Forgive them anyway. If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway." I am going to strive to be kind to all those, even when I am struggling. I can honor and be kind because of what they bring to this planet. They are life here and for that deserve to be revered.

7. Embrace connection.

Hidden truth: The same pain, joy, love, and wisdom that runs through you, runs through everyone you come in contact with.

Even though we may not feel this to be true, we are all connected to one another. Because of that connection, we must honor and embrace. I am working on this truth as well.

This weekend I am making a choice to embrace those around me, even if they have been unkind or hurtful. I cannot be an agent of change if I am feeling bitter and angry or I will just project bitterness and anger. In order to bring my passion and love to the world, I must be passionate and loving.

These seven truths is where my focus will lie. It is where I begin. I know that the road to healing is not a short one, but if I don't step on the path, I will not begin at all. It has to start somewhere...

It is starting here...it is starting today...

"You are more than your body, your mind, your personality, and your ego. You are a great soul with infinite wisdom, creativity, love and prosperity, which has access to these hidden truths whenever you need them."

(reference: www.tinybuddha.com)