“I am not bound to win; I am bound to be true. I am not bound to succeed, but I am bound to live up to the light I have.”
~ Abraham Lincoln
It’s that time of year again. The time when the Jewish high holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur arrive to remind us to say goodbye to the old year, reflect and revise for the new one, atone for our sins, and receive the gift of a ‘do-over’ to be better and do better in the new year to come.
It’s also that time of year when so many educators have dragged their tired and tested selves back to brick-and-mortar buildings after two-plus long and unimaginably exhausting years of pandemic education. They long for just one more day at the beach, one more day of sleeping in, one more day of no responsibilities.
That’s when the challenge really comes to the fore. How do we embrace our authentic selves wishing we were refreshed, ready and focused on the opportunities a new year presents? When in fact, the initial rush is over and we must face the reality of ‘pull yourself up from your bootstraps time’ to lead the charge of learning? This newsletter provides the answer. Read on …
The goal for us is to internalize, believe in, and exude trust, enthusiasm, love, purpose, joy, passion, and the spirit to live, work, and lead at a high level. It challenges us to overcome adversity, to share contagious energy with employees and colleagues, to bring out the best in ourselves and others, to overcome negative energy sources.
This is not to suggest that you dig out your old cheerleading outfit and turn into a rah-rah, “Do we have spirit? Yes, we do!” pep rally organizer. Quite the opposite. It suggests that you become your own ‘Chief Energy Officer’, focusing on shining brightly rather than exuding a very subtle barely discernible light. It means intentionally modeling and facilitating those energy skills throughout your team or organization. Your positive energy and vision must be greater than everyone’s doubt.
So how do you strengthen your positive energy? Schedule things to do that restore you. Connect with people who make you smile. Find the value in yourself and in others. Revisit your purpose and ‘compelling why’ on a daily basis. Visualize your best self often. Elite athletes do it before every event because it works. We should be doing it too. It flows right into the law of attraction.
The word “enthusiasm” comes from the Greek word ‘entheos’, which means to be inspired or filled with the divine. Let’s embrace the divine in us and inspire ourselves and everyone around us. It’s the new year. The time is now.
~Fran
‘Chief Energy Officer’ 5 Reflective Questions:
- What is your vision for your life, your work, your relationships?
- Who increases your energy?
- Which projects energize you?
- How can you recognize people and let them feel that they are loved?
- How can you put joy into each day?
5 of My Favorite Positive Energy Resources:
- Leading with Soul: An Uncommon Journey of Spirit, by Lee Bolman and Terrence Deal
- Energy Addict: 101 Physical, Mental and Spiritual Ways to Energize your Life, by Jon Gordon
- The HeartMath Institute, a non-profit committed to providing solutions for activating the heart of humanity
- The Energy Bus: 10 Rules to Fuel Your Life, Work, and Team with Positive Energy, by Jon Gordon
- Positively Energizing Leadership: Virtuous Actions and Relationships That Create High Performance, by Kim Cameron
5 of My Favorite Happy Songs:
According to research done by Harvard Medical School, music can have a myriad of positive effects on the brain, from keeping people relaxed during medical procedures to improving exercise endurance. In short, when you’re feeling blue, a happy song can work wonders, infusing joy into your day.
- Happy, Pharrell Williams
- Let’s Go Crazy, The Artist Formerly Known as Prince
- Walking on Sunshine, Katrina and the Waves
- I Got You (I Feel Good), James Brown
- Uptown Funk, Bruno Mars
October 2022
October 3, 2022
Aspiring Principals Training. Virginia Beach City Public Schools, VA
October 4, 2022
Communication Skills Training. AAIE Administrators worldwide
October 5, 2022
Yom Kippur, The Day of Atonement
October 6-7, 2022
AAIE Board of Trustees Retreat. Washington, DC
October 10-14, 2022
Systems Thinking and Trust Building. Bavarian International School, Munich Germany
October 18, 2022
Women in Leadership Training. Columbus, Ohio State Administrators Association
October 24-30, 2022
EARCOS Annual Leadership Conference. Keynote and breakout sessions. Bangkok, Thailand