Blog #6: Continuous Renewal

One of the most important chapters!  Outstanding leaders share a major characteristic: They love what they do and are inspired by the progress that is made each week.  These same leaders have found the crucial balance between professional leadership and personal enjoyment.  Healthy leaders focus on continuous renewal.  We want to thrive, not just survive.  Some way s to thrive include being visible to your community.  Go out and talk with the teachers, parents and students that you work so closely with.  Write things down in a journal.  Celebrate wins and document tribulations including what you have learned from them.  Another important avenue to nurture is your emotional health.  Find out what brings joy to your heart and a smile to your face.  Do these things more!!!  Know what pushes your buttons and work through these obstacles efficiently.  Reflect on situations with trusted friends, sometimes it simply helps to walk it off.  Understand that others see and feel the repercussions of your attitude, so make it a POSTIVE one.  See the good in everything and everyone.  LEAD by example.  Be patient, organized, compassionate, understanding and focused.  Furthermore, realize the definitive importance in finding a balance in your life.  An individual who focuses solely on work or play misses out on the most important events and accomplishments in life.  This is one chapter that speaks to my heart because of current state of my life.  We all struggle finding a balance, but it CAN be done.  We just have to be ready to carve out time for the important things.  Thinking back on this educational journey, I am hit with the realization that the most effective leaders that we have been privileged enough to learn from or spend time with have found the balance in their lives.  They have set a marvelous example for all of us to follow! J