When in the midst of a challenging situation, emotions can run high. That is why it is very important to take pause before speaking or reacting out of fear, anger or frustration. Refocusing your thoughts while in a stressful situation may give you the time needed to reassess your actions before they result in negative repercussions.

Often these triggers can come from outside the workplace. However, education is not like corporate America. Teachers cannot hide in a cubical and shut out the rest of the world as they mechanically go through their day. Educators are constantly being watched, critiqued and assessed by students, colleagues, administrators and parents.

Government entities constantly finding new ways with which to gage your success only adds to the stress level currently experienced by many educators. What is missing in these statistical calculations is that teachers work to educate children who would rather be anywhere else than contained between a wooden desk and a metal chair that restrains them from the freedom they so desperately seek.

As more regulations, laws and school policy continue to be implemented, educators can begin to feel the weight of these mandates closing in on them.  That bright light inside you that contains your passion for teaching may become dulled as you attempt to keep up with all that is required of a modern day teacher. What may go unnoticed is your ability to connect with children on a level that only a gifted few can, as well as your ability to hold that attention long enough so that the real magic occurs and true learning begins.

When you no longer have time to remember why you chose your profession because completing paperwork and data reports overwhelm you, these negative emotions can slowly creep in, and you may unintentionally create problems with colleagues and supervisors.

Taking a few seconds several times a day to assess your emotions and adjust them accordingly may save you from damaging consequences that can occur from speaking or acting from a negative emotional place. If you’re not feeling joy or ease, think of several positive aspects about your class, your day or teaching in general. Remembering a kind smile from a student or colleague received that morning may be the positive thought needed to readjust your perspective.  Taking just 15 seconds to create three positive thoughts will begin a shift in your emotions and possibly save you from speaking or acting from a negative place; a place which could cause problems with a student, parent or administrator down the road.