Being an educator can feel like navigating a storm at sea. There are days when the pressure is relentless, the challenges stack up, and the expectations never seem to ease. But even in the chaos, there is a path to peace.
It’s called the Serenity Prayer, written by theologian Reinhold Niebuhr. It has been said in many ways, but most often it reads like this:
“God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference.”
That single sentence has guided generations of people through difficulty, and it can do the same for educators. The key lies in those three lines — acceptance, courage, and wisdom — and especially in the power of that word: change. Because while there’s plenty outside our control, there are three things every educator can change. And those three things can transform our impact, our school culture, and our own peace of mind.
We Can Change Us
It starts here. Our attitude, our mindset, our daily habits — these are things no one else can control for us, but they define our character and everything we do. Highly effective educators aren’t the ones with perfect lesson plans or the best credentials. Instead, they consistently show up each day with wisdom, humility, and a hunger to grow.
Excellence begins when we recognize that our own development matters. Invest in it. Be intentional. Reflect on that personal growth plan to ask:
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-Who am I becoming?
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-How does that affect the students, families, and coworkers around me?
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-When we change ourselves, will we change the lives of those we lead?
We Can Change Our People
Carefully choosing the people we surround ourselves with will shape our pathway, our attitude, and our habits — often more than we realize. We know that’s true for students, and it’s just as true for us as well. If we spend our time with educators who are growing, who love students, who seek solutions, then we will start to reflect those same strengths. Conversely, if we hang out with those who are committed to negative and stinkin’ thinkin’, then we’re going to be pulled in that same direction.
We may not be able to choose our entire team, but we can choose where to lean in. We can seek mentors, teammates, and friends who challenge us to be better. Culture spreads through trust and habits. When we prioritize who we spend time with, we begin to change our school from the inside out.
We Can Change Our Progress
Even when the path forward seems unclear, we don’t have to be stuck. Progress is something we get to pursue every day. We may not know every turn to take, but we can set a direction and get going. That starts by identifying smaller goals and building the habits that move us closer to them. Small wins add up, as does consistent effort.
A suggested action step: Create your own Growth Plan. Make time to reflect and journal. Be flexible enough to pivot, but steady enough to keep moving. As the demands and designs of school change rapidly, your ability to lead yourself with purpose will be a key advantage. Advance your progress by choosing to be intentional about where you're headed and how you plan to get there.
There is so much out of our control. We cannot control the home lives of our students, the latest legislation, or what others believe about our work. But we can change us. We can change the people we walk with. And we can change our progress.
In the spirit of the Serenity, these choices will be the change we need to bring out our best. Because talented, energized, engaged educators change the world!
