+ “Never regard study as a duty but as an enviable opportunity to learn to know the liberating influence of beauty in the realm of the spirit for your own personal joy and to the profit of the community to which your later works belong.” — Albert Einstein
Recently Peter Hutton, founder of Future Schools Alliance (FSA) published a thought piece around this theme of “why do we (teachers) do what we do”. His provocation got me thinking about why I do what I do.
I believe we are all on our own unique and personal journey, where we all seek understanding, meaning, wisdom and knowledge. Where we want to know why we’re here. Where we crave purpose, acceptance and love. Remembering that none of us directly operates within the world as it is. We create internal representations, or maps, of the world based on our perceptions and experience of it.
So, why do you do what you do? Throughout my life journey, I have witnessed the different motivations of people as to their “why”. Some out of need, obligation or simply ticking boxes, as set out by society. Or some do it from a position of pride, out of a sense of duty. Other times I have encountered individuals motivated for purely selfish reasons. I have also met people who operate from a passion that burns deep inside. And some people, no doubt, do what they do for attention or affection. Which one of these resonates with your own lived experience to date?
So, I return to my why. For me, it has always been these two simple drivers:
1. For Self-Actualisation
Often our best actions are deeply rooted in love and done for others. However, we are best positioned to love someone else when we’ve worked resolutely to forge a new horizon for ourselves. My evolution as an educator and as a man has enabled my relationships with self, God, place and the other to flourish even more.
When we do the work and invest in improving ourselves, we evolve all aspects of our being. Then, we take what we’ve learned and share that light and love with the other. This feeling of self-actualisation is worth actively working toward for true personal fulfillment. Think Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs.
I come full circle with this one and re-iterate the words of Einstein above. Let your thoughts, words and actions, manifested in a most munificent manner, be for “the profit of the community to which your later works belong.”
Effective educators leave a legacy, and a tremendous influence on the life of the other. This is a privilege and gift. Our actions have the capacity to leave an echo throughout eternity. When education chose me, it become apparent that I had assumed the responsibility of this social imperative to act in the best interests of young people. We should never forget that each young person in our care is home to a life. And I am therefore called to support each young person in my care, in discovering their inherent possibility.
This is the human act of giving. Therefore generosity, love and kindness are not impulsive reactions. They require a profound consciousness and concern for the other. They’re communicated via your considered words and the intent of your actions that inspire and radiate hope. The gifts of gratitude and love will be yours in return.
“We are the ones that help others succeed. We are the ones behind the success of people making significant contributions in the world. Collectively we are the ones that influence the tone for society and bring exceptional learning experiences to young people.” ~ Peter Hutton | Founder Future Schools Alliance
My vocation allows me the opportunity to enter into the lives of young people and assist them in shaping what type of person they aspire to be. As an educator I know I need to honour this truth and embrace the privilege and price of giving their life, their why the breath of abundant living.
Hutton’s provocation also got be thinking around what the costs are of fearing personal success and being afraid of becoming who you are called to be, your why.
Well the truth is you too are home to a life. Your heart is not a place to visit. It is your home. Unleash your “why” and embrace what burns inside of you. Honour this truth. Honour your heartbeat. Honour your sound. For it is your authentic self the world wishes to see, not another person afraid of their own possibility or their why. Honour a life lived on your terms. Think peace of mind, clarity of thought and the attainment of hopes and dreams.
You owe it to yourself to not simply exist but give your life, your why, the breath of living.