The
second (soon forthcoming) communique outlines three classroom/Stress Doc
workshop programs derived from The Stress
Doc’s ™ Resiliency Rap. These
programs are:
1)
“Stress, Loss and Change Resiliency”
2)
“Creative Expression/Emotional Adaptation”
3) “Core
Curriculum Standards Model
If
you know any teachers, professors, or administrators in a high school or
college/university setting that might be interested in knowing more about the Stress
Doc resources (including a video on “Overcoming Procrastination,” please
consider sharing the email.
As I like
to say, “Take up the dare; to good adventures for the New Year.” Peace!
Mark
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Creative
Risk-Taking
And the final “R” for “Burnout
Recovery”
Learn to develop a “Risk-Taking” strategy.
Here are four steps for surviving and
thriving
When you’re engaged in on the edge
living
Forever smoldering is not forgiving.
Grasping liquid ideas at an
uncharted border –
Creative
Risk-Taking: The Art of Designing
Disorder:
Step
1. Aware-ily Jump in Over Your Head
High anxiety comes with the territory
When landing with awkward uncertainty.
While there may be some initial dread
Take a few breaths…quiet that voice in
your head
Focus on rapid learning, instead.
Try saying a prayer or trusting your
gut
The
opposite of risk – being stuck in a rut.
Characteristics
of Productive Risk-Takers
While you may truly want to confess
Actually, it is time to assess:
How do expectations square with
reality?
Ready to handle learning curve
vulnerability?
Can you convert anxiety to laser beam
energy?
As for skills and resources: do you have all the horses
For jumping through hoops, for running
obstacle courses?
Still admitting gaps without playing
“Taps?”
(Hey, focused risk-taking is not
shooting craps.)
Finally, can you maintain basic
composure
In the face of your “Intimate FOE” –
That long dark shadow…Fear of Exposure?
Step
2. Strive to Survive the High Dive
Now that you have bravely jumped in
Avoid making it “lose versus win.”
You are a learner, no way a loser…
Please consider this uncommon mantra:
Strive
for the high and embrace failure.
“Rigid consistency,” as Emerson did find –
"Is the likely hobgoblin of a little mind.”
Remember, inside each humbling error
Often stirs a pregnant adventure.
With open eyes and a trusted mentor
One even defies the lonely crowd
censure.
But, as matter of fact, the most
meaningful crack:
No
more running from that “all-knowing” mirror.
Either
Learn to Fail or Fail to Learn
Rethink what it means to fail
Were you chasing the Holy Grail?
Failure no longer is a scarlet “F”
Forever leaving you seeming bereft
A tattoo of shame one can never erase…
Imagine failure as a transitional
space
For
recognizing what you could not see
For
leaning on others so you might be
For
giving old voices the third degree
For
fighting convention and assumption
For
discovering steely determination
To
close the breach, seemingly out of reach
Between
current position and true aspiration.
Placing
Failure in Time Perspective
Of course, it’s not just a matter of
rhyme
Embracing failure will take some time.
Consider these two slogans of war
For sorting the chaff, for probing the
core:
1)
Founding a beachhead, no matter where you stand
Is
not the same as securing the island.
2)
Many battles are fought and lost
Before
a major victory is won.
So do not run…but do reckon the cost.
The
Stress Doc’s TLC
As you swim and tread to who knows
where
Please don’t forget to come up for air
Taking time out for mentor or peer
With whom you will play “Truth or Dare”
–
One having the courage to fill your
ear with
Tender
Loving Criticism & Tough Loving Care!
[For
the entire poetic essay, email stressdoc@aol.com]
