CHRISTINE KERR
Which language do you speak the most? The way we think and speak has a powerful effect on our days – and our students.
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hich language do you speak the most? This question seems an easy one to answer at first, but wait; I imagine you are thinking that you speak Afrikaans, Maori, Chinese, Korean, or English. That type of cultural language is not what I’m referring to; I am referring to a language that is more universal, and much more important: positive or negative language. So, which language do you speak, and think, the most: Positive or negative?
“ You can think, speak and breathe positivity into the situation.”
For some reason, it is much easier to think and speak negative thoughts, but unfortunately that leads straight toward negative results, whether it be a negative day, or experience.
Teachers Matter
There is plenty of hope, though. You are definitely able to turn this negative state
every day, embedding in our minds positive perspectives on every situation, so this manifests, and over time, will become an automatic response: “Our mind is like a clock; it needs to be wound up with good thoughts every day,” writes Haydn Sargent in his book Power to Choose. As we practise this ourselves, we can encourage our students and staff to do the same. At the very least, we can model this.
Insight: Body language
Yo u m a y b e l i e v e y o u speak positively most of the time, so if I were to challenge you to carry a portable recorder around with you for a couple of days or so, I wonder if your assumption would be realised? I will leave this challenge activity up to you.
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As adults, in any line of occupation, the rule still applies. As you drive into your staff car park one morning, you might be dreading a challenging conversation you have planned for the day, whether it be with a student, parent or colleague. You wish the situation would just go away.
For instance, if a student enters the school gate in the morning, saying, “I wish I didn’t have to be here today; I just know that I won’t have a good day today.” Well guess what is going to happen? That’s right: What they state will be realised. They will have the miserable day they are expecting. Imagine the result if they do this on a daily basis. If a student, or a teacher, begins the day in a negative state of mind, it is almost guaranteed they will leave school at the end of the day reinforcing what they expected.
of mind into a positive one, and talk your mind into believing the experience will empower you, and know you will have the skills required to overcome: You can think, speak and breathe positivity into the situation. And even before that, when we first wake up in the morning, if we are thinking, “ OK this is not going to be a good day; I have so much to do; I am so stressed,” clearly that is not the best start for a precious day. How many days of our lives are we missing true enjoyment, because we are speaking or thinking negatively before we even get out of bed? Friends, family and other people we meet can often bring their own negative thoughts to our attention, and if we choose, we will take them on board and suffer negative consequences. But it doesn’t have to be that way. We all get to choose! And yes, it is not an easy thing to do. It takes a concerted effort to practise. And we need to practise
Body language helps deliver the message as well; lift your eyebrows, the corners of your mouth and puff out that chest. It works wonders on influencing others to lift their spirits, too. This is also fun while you walk around the supermarket or while driving your car. People can appear so serious; let’s give them a boost. People might wonder what you are on, which is a positive thing, and always remember, you have the power to choose. For instance, we are all able to feel inferior to someone else, if that is what we choose to believe.
Insight: Don’t worry While we can be worrying about what other people think of us, and how inferior we feel against them, they are probably too busy worrying about what others are thinking of them. Sargent says: “No one can make you feel inferior without your permission.” This also applies to being offended. No one can be offended by you, unless they choose to be. If you never have any intention of offending someone, it is not your responsibility if they decide to be offended. That is their personal decision.
