When You Experience Fear of Not Being Good Enough

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Show Notes:

As you’re setting up your classroom and waiting for students to arrive, a different kind of noise often fills the silence: worry. From lesson plans and student progress to administrative pressures and personal burnout, teachers carry a lot on their shoulders. But what happens when that worry becomes too loud to ignore and insecurities begin to surface?

The back-to-school season stirs up a range of emotions, especially worry and the feeling of not being good enough. If these fears and self-doubts are running through your mind, you’re not alone. Many teachers, both new and experienced, go through this. That’s why in today’s episode, I’m offering clarity on what worry really is and sharing practical strategies to reduce the habit of worrying in your daily life.

Simply put, worry is a thought that unsettles us and makes us feel bad inside. To prevent it from taking over, it’s important to learn how to manage these feelings before they become overwhelming. One powerful way to do that is by actively choosing to focus on something positive. I know this can be challenging, but I share evidence on how worry affects your overall health and how harmful it can be to your mindset. You'll also hear specific strategies to take away the power worry holds, helping you boost your confidence in the classroom.

Worry may knock on every teacher’s door, but it doesn’t have to move in! By learning to manage it, setting healthy boundaries, and focusing on what you can control, you can quiet the noise and reclaim your calm. Teaching is demanding, but with the right tools and mindset, you can face worry and insecurity head-on, emerging stronger, more confident, and more at peace, for both yourself and your students.

 Inside this week's show, you'll learn:

• Why the back-to-school season can stir up a range of emotions, especially the fear of not being good enough.
• A clear definition of worry and how to manage yourself when it starts to feel overwhelming.
• Practical steps you can take to reduce, or even eliminate, your worries significantly.
• How worry can physically affect your body, and the mental shift needed to prevent it from taking a toll.
• Two effective strategies to remove the power worry holds over you, and how practicing them can help retrain your brain and sharpen your focus.

Links & resources mentioned inside this episode: 

• Classroom Management Club Waitlist
• Beginning Teacher Talk on YouTube
• Grab a copy of my book, Dear New Teacher, Here's Exactly What to Do: Your 5-Step R.E.A.D.Y. for School Roadmap for Elementary Classrooms
• Lung Cancer Free: One Couple’s Journey Through a “Lungs in a Box” Double Lung Transplant.
• Enter to win a $25 Amazon gift card by leaving a review for Beginning Teacher Talk on Apple Podcasts!
• Follow Dr. Lori on Instagram
• Follow Dr. Lori on Facebook
• Follow Beginning Teacher Talk on TikTok

I hope this information is helpful as you prepare for your first, second, or third year of teaching. Until next time, remember, just because you're a beginning elementary teacher, there's no need for you to struggle like one.

💛 Lori

Dr. Lori Friesen | Beginning Teacher Mentor

Creator of the R.E.A.D.Y. for School Academy and The Classroom Management Club, Dr. Lori Friesen has mentored thousands of beginning teachers across the country through her workshops and courses. Host of the popular podcast Beginning Teacher Talk and author of Dear New Teacher, Here's Exactly What to Do, Dr. Lori is dedicated to serving educators and inspiring learners. Learn more at drlorifriesen.com.

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Related episodes you might enjoy:

• What to Do When You Worry Too Much: A Teacher’s Guide to Overcoming Anxiety
• How to Reduce Overwhelm & Stop Imposter Syndrome
• How to Manage Imposter Syndrome as a New Teacher
• How to Deal with Stress & Anxiety as a New Teacher

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