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Happy Monday, Principal Matters listeners! This week, Jen Schwanke and I are talking about chapter 12 from my new book, Whose Permission Are You Waiting For? An Educator’s Guide to Doing What You Love. The premise of this chapter is on something I like to call “life liturgies”: practices, routines, and rituals that define a person and their beliefs. Defining one’s life liturgy can be hard, so Jen and I discuss practices that listeners can employ to help the definition process. Intentionally reflecting on factors like health, mindset, movement, and personal relationships can help one regain focus on what truly matters.
School administrators often spend their time at work managing craziness. Amidst all the craziness, it is extremely valuable for school leaders to spend time each week being quiet and present. Previously, I have shared the story of becoming a shell of who I once was when starting out as an administrator. Figuring out my life liturgy through intentional reflection helped bring me back to life and allowed me to be both the school administrator and the father that I needed to be. Sometimes, staying present means putting away your phone and taking control of your mind. Other times, it means ending a habit that is detrimental to your well-being. Whatever intentionally staying present looks like for you, it will take an enormous amount of self-discipline. If you would like to learn more about life liturgies, or just want to spend some time reflecting with another person, Jen and I would love to hear from you! You can reach us via email at jenschwanke@gmail.com or will@williamdparker.com. Thanks for listening in today and, as always, thank you for doing what matters!
