Choose What You Really Want

Here’s your midweek boost - a quote, a resource, and an affirmation to power you through the rest of the week.

Quote

“If someone is not treating you with love and respect, it is a gift if they walk away from you. If that person doesn't walk away, you will surely endure many years of suffering with him or her. Walking away may hurt for a while, but your heart will eventually heal. Then you can choose what you really want. You will find that you don't need to trust others as much as you need to trust yourself to make the right choices.”

— Don Miguel Ruiz, The Four Agreements

Resource

In schools, boundaries can feel hard to set—with students, colleagues, even ourselves. But emotional health in teaching starts with recognizing when something isn’t respectful or sustainable.

This applies outside of school too—whether it's in friendships, family dynamics, or community roles. The pressures to please or endure can creep in everywhere. That’s why strengthening your inner voice—the one that knows when something doesn’t feel right—is powerful.

Here’s a practical tool: try the "Two-Question Pause" anytime you feel conflicted or stretched:

1. Does this align with my values and well-being?
2. If I say yes, what am I saying no to?

This check-in moves you from reaction to intention. It reminds you that boundaries aren’t about rejection—they’re about making space for what truly nourishes you, in and out of the classroom.

Now Repeat…

I trust myself to recognize when something is not serving me. I release what hurts and make room for what heals. My boundaries are a form of self-respect.

Journal Prompt

Where in my life or work do I need to trust myself more deeply?