Comments on: The Pressure Is On – But It’s My Fault

By: Aubrey Patterson (@pattersonaubrey)

Aubrey Patterson (@pattersonaubrey) — Mon, 29 Oct 2018 22:48:06 +0000

What an exceptional piece, Meagan! It’s so easy to say, “just be” or “I’m gonna just chill on this” but the fact is most excellence is somewhat driven by the same forces that cause us to put this pressure on ourselves. Such a tough balance, such a tough thing to embrace too. This really is a wonderfully applicable post for teachers, but applies to so many others in and beyond education.

I think you captured the feelings of many of us “type A’ers” and I am so happy leaders like you are supporting teachers and letting them know they are not alone.

By: Meagan Kelly

Meagan Kelly — Mon, 29 Oct 2018 04:11:45 +0000

In reply to Megan Gibbs. Exactly! Self-care is SO important!

By: Meagan Kelly

Meagan Kelly — Mon, 29 Oct 2018 04:11:11 +0000

In reply to Lesley Burdine. I absolutely agree that it is one of the most difficult Bible verses to put into action! I am glad you found this post to be helpful. :)

By: Meagan Kelly

Meagan Kelly — Mon, 29 Oct 2018 04:09:42 +0000

In reply to Alethea Guzman. I'm so glad that you found some value in this post, Alethea! This is why we get along so well! :)

By: Megan Gibbs

Megan Gibbs — Sun, 28 Oct 2018 18:02:20 +0000

Thank you for sharing. I empathize and needed to hear this as well. October and November are stressful months, as we try to “fit everything in” before student free days or breaks, conferences, progress reports, report cards… External and internal are both at play. I find that turning off email notifications and my parent app notifications past certain hours eliminates some external pressures, so I can just focus on my own internal ones. Exercise and meditation help as well, when you schedule time for it. We can’t forget about self care!

By: Alethea Guzman

Alethea Guzman — Sun, 28 Oct 2018 03:25:51 +0000

I needed to hear this, because I wholeheartedly agree. A great deal of the pressure I feel is internal. I constantly feel the pressure because I love what I do and take pride in what I do, and especially because I feel I owe it to my students to be an amazing teacher because I love and care for them.
Being a teacher means being in a constant state of trying to be the best I can be, but realizing that I can always be better, and that despite my best efforts, I can’t always do everything I want for every child. I’m only human. All I can do is continue to try every day.

By: Lesley Burdine

Lesley Burdine — Sun, 28 Oct 2018 02:38:26 +0000

Thank you so much for sharing this list and your heart! You’ve summed up well the EXACT same struggles I deal with virtually every minute of every day! If nothing else, you’ve validated those feelings and caused me not to feel quite so alone and isolated in them. I am, certainly, my toughest critic and am FAR harder on myself than anyone else ever could be. Ironically, the Bible verse you mentioned is a verse I claimed LONG ago as the single-most challenging verse that I’ve encountered in Scripture thus far. It’s is a verse I often meditate on, pray word-for-word, and revisit OFTEN! I am fully aware this this is my life/growth verse as it is my absolute, most prominent area that I could improve on both professionally and personally!