JumpStart National Literacy Day (9/8/25)

QUOTE:  "Do not judge me by my success, judge me by how many times I fell down and got back up again." (Nelson Mandela)

The work of an educator is profoundly meaningful, but it is also profoundly demanding. Every day, teachers and administrators alike face shifting expectations, behavioral challenges, and the emotional weight of guiding students through not only academics, but life itself. It is no wonder that resilience—the ability to adapt positively in the face of adversity--stands as one of the most critical needs in education today.

Psychologist Martin Seligman, often called the father of Positive Psychology, describes resilience as more than simply bouncing back from hardship. His research shows that resilient people reinterpret setbacks as temporary, specific, and solvable. Instead of collapsing under the weight of challenges, they develop the cognitive and emotional flexibility to see struggles as opportunities for growth. This mindset doesn’t erase stress or difficulty, but it changes how we carry those burdens.

Recognizing the Symptoms of Needing Resilience

So how do you know when your own resilience tank is running low? For educators, the signs often appear gradually, then all at once:

• Emotional Exhaustion: You find yourself drained by tasks that once felt energizing—like greeting students at the door or engaging in lesson planning.
  
  
• Negative Self-Talk: Small mistakes feel catastrophic, and your inner voice criticizes more than it encourages.
  
  
• Rigid Thinking: Problems feel unsolvable; you feel trapped by “always” or “never” statements (“These students will never listen,” or “There’s no way to fix this system.”).
  
  
• Withdrawal: Instead of reaching out to colleagues, you isolate yourself to avoid appearing weak or overwhelmed.

If these symptoms resonate, it’s not a reflection of personal failure. It’s a signal that your resilience strategies need refreshing—just like your body signals thirst when it needs water.

A Strategy You Can Use Right Now: The ABCDE Model

Martin Seligman’s ABCDE model is a structured way to rebuild resilience in real time by challenging negative thought patterns. It’s designed to identify and dispute negative, pessimistic beliefs so that you can become more optimistic and resilient. Here’s how you can use it today in your classroom or principal’s office:

1. Adversity (A): Identify the challenge you are facing. Example: “My class was disengaged during today’s lesson.”
   
   
2. Belief (B): Notice the belief you attach to the event. Example: “I’m a bad teacher and I can’t reach them.”
   
   
3. Consequence (C): Recognize the emotional result of that belief. Example: Frustration, hopelessness, and self-doubt.
   
   
4. Disputation (D): Actively dispute the negative belief. Ask: Is this always true? Is there evidence against it? Are there alternative explanations? Example: “Maybe today’s lesson format didn’t click, but yesterday they were engaged.”
   
   
5. Energization (E): Notice the positive shift in energy when you adopt a more balanced perspective. Example: Relief, curiosity, and a renewed willingness to try something different tomorrow.
   
   

This strategy takes practice, but even a few minutes of reframing can break the cycle of discouragement and restore perspective.

Why This Matters

Resilience isn’t about toughing it out or pretending everything is fine. It’s about seeing reality clearly—acknowledging the adversity without being consumed by it—and then making space for possibility. For educators, this mindset not only protects your well-being but also models for students how to face life’s inevitable challenges with courage and flexibility.

Your resilience is not infinite, but it is renewable. By practicing Seligman’s ABCDE model and catching yourself in moments of rigid or self-defeating thinking, you equip yourself to thrive—not just survive—in the noble calling of education.
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DAD JOKE:  What has more lives than a cat?  A frog, because it croaks every day.