Staying positive in the midst of change
Change. To some people, that word evokes many different types of emotions: excitement, fear, anxiety, and anticipation.
For me, this word is extremely relevant to my upcoming school year. From new standards, to new staff, to an all new administrative team: change is happening quickly, but what matters is how we respond to it. I would be lying if I said that I did not come into the school year a bit apprehensive to all of the changes that are happening, but I am choosing to stay positive, optimistic, and open in the midst of all of the new changes. The first way I can stay positive in the midst of change is to have a positive outlook. My Spiritual leader, Apostle Townsend, always says, "If you can't change the state you are in, change the state you are in." It is important for us to choose to have a positive mindset. In my situation, the standards are changing as well as the personnel. There is nothing I can do to change those facts; however, I can make a decision to stay in the positive lane. Each day, I can choose to show up and be the best person I can be. Attitudes are contagious - if I choose to be positive, others will hopefully follow suit. The second way that I can remain positive is to embrace the change. From my time in the military, we consistently used the phrase, "Adapt and overcome". Change is inevitable, so we should try to adapt to the change and to overcome it. This school of thought is very different from simply saying "get over it", but it acknowledges the fact that we will have to adapt by changing the way we think and do, while also overcoming any potential hurdles that we may face as a result of the change. I also believe that we have to respect how other people process changes. Others may not be so quick to adapt as you may be - just be empathetic to their feelings. Finally, I have decided that everything that I speak out of my mouth with regard to the upcoming changes will be positive words. I believe wholeheartedly that we can have whatever we say that we have. If we believe that change will not be good, it probably won't be, but if we say "this will work", and "it will work out for our good in the end", it most certainly will. The changes we are faced with, all of which we are experiencing as I write this piece, are necessary to my students' growth, necessary to my growth as an educator, and necessary in an educational system built on change. By maintaining a positive attitude, embracing the change, and speaking positively, you can remain positive in the center of change. Just remember that everything works together for good in the end - stay in the positive lane!
