State of the Union

"Stop teaching to the test: teach with creativity and passion."
-- President Barack Obama, State of the Union address 2012

Lead a School and Lead a Balanced Life? Probably Not

I love the symmetry of today's date: 1/2/12. It feels and looks balanced. It brings to mind perhaps the most common coaching question I'm asked: How can I do this work and live a balanced life? My first response is: What does a balanced life look like to you? My second response is: people who are drawn to mission-driven work,who are compelled to shift the dominant paradigm of injustice, aren't the kind of people who lead a balanced life. But we CAN lead a healthy life. We can make the usual New Year's resolutions: eat well and exercise. And we can:

• Laugh a lot: science tells us that our immune system loves hearty laughter http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/life/human-biology/laughter7.htm. Stanford University is offering a course in learning how to be compassionate beginning January 17, 2012: http://ccare.stanford.edu/sct/2012-stanford-compassion-training



• Practice compassion: http://ccare.stanford.edu/content/being-compassionate-healthy



• Practice kindness: http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=kindness-emotions-psychology

We want urgent school leaders around for a long time, so surround yourself with funny people (Kids are very funny), notice when you feel compassion (for yourself as well), and do something kind for people who help you lead a healthier life, and for people who could use a good laugh.