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Buckle up educators - in this 🎙️ episode, I discuss the dark side of "going with the flow" and how it is fueling teacher burnout.

I explain that people pleasing provides short-term benefits but long-term costs.

As a recovering people pleaser, I dive into how this tendency that is so prevalent in educators is leading not only to teacher stress, anxiety, depression, and exhaustion - but also to deteriorating physical health.

I am answering the questions such as:

How did we get here?  - Hint:  trauma responses, societal conditioning, and occupational hazards that lead teachers to become people pleasers.

Why is it so harmful?  😩
People pleasing causes heightened stress, resentment, lack of work-life balance, and mental/physical health issues over time. Grace reiterates that self-care is not selfish.

How do we stop it? 🛑
I detail actionable steps on how to improve your "disease to please," including:

• Reframe narratives and let go of the need for validation
• Recognize your responsibilities
• Notice cognitive distortions
• Get comfortable with discomfort
• Learn boundary-setting and communication skills

I also talk about Jill Bolte Taylor's work showing emotions last about 90 seconds in the body and how we can use this to help us stand in discomfort and use curiosity, self-observation, and letting emotions run their course to help us.

You don't want to miss this episode!

Additional resources mentioned in the episode:

Taylor, Jill Bolte. My Stroke of Insight: A Brain Scientist's Personal Journey. Penguin, 2009.
Jill Bolte Taylor's TED Talk

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Want to truly thrive in teaching without sacrificing your personal life?
Check out my signature on-demand self-study course, Balance Your Teacher Life. Complete details here: www.gracestevens.com/balance

📘 My latest (and greatest!) book:
The Empowered Teacher Toolkit
Check out the best-selling Positive Mindset Habits for Teachers book here
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