8 Ways To Start Being Your Authentic Self
You can finally stop faking it! When we’re young, our survival depends on the approval of others. Most of us grow up looking for ways to fit in, which often means living up to the expectations others have for us—rather than being our authentic selves. In general, the need for approval drops off over the […]
Book: The Beginning Teacher’s Survival Guide
Win-Win Strategies for Success by Dr. Jane Bluestein At the start or your career or at the end of your rope… Get your teaching career off to a winning start—or recharge your passion for your work! The new & revised edition of Dr. Jane Bluestein’s pivotal guide for your teaching career! A great gift for new […]
Finding Consistency in an Inconsistent Life
Moving forward even if I’m doing it wrong I just read this article about successful blogging, and like every similar piece I’ve seen, this one contained a strong word of advice about being consistent. This makes sense: people tuned into a particular person or resource like to be able to count on regular contact, updates, and materials. […]
Presentation: The Perfection Deception
Why trying to be perfect is sabotaging our relationships, making us sick, and holding our happiness hostage Presentation by Dr. Jane Bluestein Perfectionism may sound like a good thing, but it’s entirely different from the more realistic and achievable healthy pursuit of excellence. Working diligently toward improvement, learning, and growth is also far less destructive (and […]
Book: The Perfection Deception
Why trying to be perfect is sabotaging your relationships, making you sick, and holding your happiness hostage. Have you ever: * compared yourself to others and seemed to come up short? * felt like no matter how much you did or how hard you tried, it wasn’t enough? * set unrealistic, even harmful standards for […]
6 Ways to Take More Time for Yourself
Making yourself a priority • When your children are young, start building their independence so they learn to to give you some space. Start by spending one minute in a separate room or part of the house—or less if you have to. Add a little more time each day until you work up to what feels […]
“Making Someone Wrong”
What does that really mean? In what has become a bit of a family joke, my husband and I can spend the entire day together in the house. Yet, regardless of how much time we’ve been talking or interacting, something happens the minute I reach for my keys to leave for a meeting, class, or […]
Gratitude: More than Just an Attitude
Practical activities to help build your gratitude practice Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow. —Melody Beattie It’s easy to forget that gratitude is more than just an idea to drag out and dust off for the holidays, although Thanksgiving (here in the U.S. and belatedly for […]
Taking a Step Back
…Before taking the next step forward A new friend just asked if she could interview me on the topic of guilt-free self-care. I eagerly agreed but assured her that I knew very little about either. To be fair,
Random Thoughts on the Blank Page
A bad case of writer’s block I am a writer. And at the moment, I am a writer with a deadline. Two, in fact, the most immediate one for a 10,000-word piece on classroom management. Piece of cake, right? I’ve been writing, speaking, and blogging about that topic
“Magic” Sentences for Effective Communication
Positive language for avoiding conflict, negotiating agreements, and taking care of yourself “Magic Sentences” are key phrases that offer practical ways to use specific language to prevent, minimize, or de-escalate conflicts with others. Different sentences will be useful in different situations. These examples represent a win-win approach to relationships, and while they were originally developed for […]
Examples of Some New Ways of Thinking
Transforming old messages into more constructive thoughts Old message: If only my students (or kids, spouse, boss, parents, the government, etc.) would change, my life would be better. New message: If my current behaviors (or thinking patterns) aren’t working for me, I am willing to change them. Old message: Other people’s actions, words and attitudes create my feelings […]
Book: Magic, Miracles and Synchronicity
A Journal of Gratitude and Awareness by Dr. Jane Bluestein, Judy Lawrence, M.S.Ed. & SJ Sanchez, M.P.A. Keep your focus on the positive! This life-affirming book will inspire you to reflect upon and document your feelings of gratitude and appreciation for the gifts of intuitive insights, “coincidences,” beauty, growth, accomplishment, help and support, and day-to-day miracles […]
36 Things You Can Do to Feel Great!
Practical ideas that can change your perspective and mood It doesn’t take much and it doesn’t take long to show yourself a little love. Let’s quit putting everybody else first all the time. Sure, some of these suggestions involve doing something nice for someone else, but the point of this exercise is to choose something that will […]