“If you went to a grammar school why did you only become a teacher?”
It was not an insult but a genuine question from a pupil.
(And one pupils have asked a few times over the years).
I wasn’t offended – it reminded me that my purpose was alive and well.
Teaching is difficult, frustrating, tiring, and draining.
But the contribution is rewarding.
Keeping connected to our purpose is essential for us to deal with the day-to-day experience of teaching.
I used to say my previous career as a data analyst for a media planning agency was about one thing.
“Getting people to buy things they don’t want with money they don’t have.”
There was no contribution for me.
To keep us going, it’s not enough to…
…know our values
…have a mission, or
…create goals.
We get inspired for about two weeks when we create them (appraisal anyone?) and then forget about them.
What’s essential is keeping connected to our purpose.
Three ways to keep our purpose alive include:
- Creating an uplifting mobile wallpaper and change it every month,
- Writing it on a different colour post-it stuck in our planner every week, or
- Taking three deep breaths and saying to ourselves before we turn on our laptops every morning.
You know your purpose – how do you stay true to it?
James D'Souza 
Former student here. You will know who I am via the email I leave. I have since reflected on what you said to me in an A-level Business class in 2020 and upon searching for a means of contact I found this blog. Often you made remarks about “you should read!” , “why don’t you guys meditate!” and the painfully true “reality is just an illusion we all agree on”. After years of *actually* meditating and reading philosophy, last week… it happened. The start of seeing through the grand illusion. I appreciate I am putting on my mask to say ‘I now know I am wearing a mask’ to someone else’s mask, but it felt true to write this in this moment. Maybe “you” will appreciate it. As far as I can tell we are the light of the projector, not the actors, the script or the film. I appreciate “your” efforts to waking us up and my ego never thought it would say this, but he actually understands the koan of James D’ Souza. This is all completely absurd, something to meditate on perhaps, but the best “I” can do is leave this comment of appreciation.
Thanks for your comment.
It means a lot as I have been finding things difficult…
…and I think I’m through the worst of it.
Your points make complete sense – and you’re on your own journey.
Keep going – it gets more interesting!
LinkedIn is the best place to keep in touch – if I can support you in what you’re doing – let me know.