Posted on July 16th, 2024

By Dr. Emir Cruz Fernández

It's remarkable when you consider the mental preparation an athlete endures: intense competitions, facing supportive or hostile crowds, and navigating extreme professional rivalry. As teachers, our challenges are similar. While spectators see athletes in their moment of performance, they miss the grueling hours of training and sacrifices behind the scenes. Similarly, the world sees us in our classrooms but rarely witnesses the countless hours spent crafting lessons, often at the expense of our personal time.

In an interview with mental performance coach Seth Haselhuhn, a follower of Stoic philosophy, he mentions, "Mental performance is about being prepared, staying focused on the moment, and trying to predict the future" (Holiday, 2018). These principles of mental toughness and resilience are not limited to athletes; they are equally applicable to our teaching lives. Understanding the psychological impact of educational myths and dispelling myths in education are crucial to maintaining mental strength.

Preparation and Effort: The Cornerstones of Success

Every outcome you achieve in teaching directly results from your preparation, effort, and determination. This ongoing process continually pushes you to higher levels as you face more challenging issues. The more you strive to improve and learn, the better your results will be. Effective teaching methods, classroom management techniques, and innovative classroom management are rooted in thorough preparation and dedicated effort.

Focus on What You Can Control

Focus on what you can control to create a better teaching environment or improve classroom behavior. Identify ways to bring positive change and keep your students engaged. This concentrated effort will give you the extra push needed to achieve your goals. As Holiday (2018) says, "Focus is our ability to direct our attention to what is relevant and ignore what isn't. Concentration is our ability to focus over time. Know what's important right now." This principle is particularly vital in teaching urban high school students and managing educational practices in urban schools.

Setting Goals and Visualizing Success

To determine your focus, set clear objectives. Ask yourself: What do you want to achieve? Establish short- and long-term goals to help you navigate unexpected challenges and identify steps to reach your desired outcomes. Visualization is crucial—talk to yourself positively, replacing negative thoughts with affirmations of what you can and will accomplish. This mental shift is essential for resilience and student motivation. Dispelling educational myths and fostering a growth mindset in education are key components of this process.

Understanding the Value of Your Actions

Engage in actions that have meaning for you. Reflect on the virtue of justice or any other principle that gives purpose to your efforts. Understand the value of your work, and solving problems will become easier. Finding solutions is one thing, but the true test is in taking action to implement those solutions effectively. This understanding is crucial in cultivating positive learning environments and fostering empathy and resilience in students.

Practice and Action

Resilience and mental toughness come from practice. It's not just about finding answers; it's also about acting on them. Your wisdom and experience will guide you in making the right decisions, even if that means choosing inaction when appropriate. Evidence-based teaching practices and alternative teaching methods should be consistently applied and refined through practice.

Conclusion

Developing Stoic mental toughness and resilience is a journey that requires constant effort, focus, and self-reflection. As teachers, embracing these principles can help us navigate the challenges of our profession with greater ease and effectiveness. Remember, the key lies in preparation, control, goal-setting, understanding the value of our actions, and, above all, taking decisive action.

Stay strong, stay focused, and continue to inspire.

References:

Holiday, R. (2018). The Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living.

Feel free to share your thoughts and experiences on developing mental toughness and resilience in the comments below. Let's support each other on this journey to becoming better educators!