Putting on Our Own Oxygen Masks First

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Strengthening the Foundations of Spiritual, Emotional, and Physical Health

Written by Greg Schmill

The Plane
I imagine most of us have been there. We are sitting on a plane waiting for take-off and half-listening to the flight attendant’s speech. Then we hear the familiar statement, “In case of an emergency, put on your own oxygen mask first before you try to help others.”

We understand that makes sense. It will be impossible to help others if we have blacked out due to oxygen starvation. But we’ve heard that speech before and it barely registers, and who knows how we would respond in a true emergency. In the midst of the turbulence, would we remember to put on our masks first, despite the clear reminder?

The Encouragement
Today, I would like you to allow me to play the role of that flight attendant and remind you to put on your spiritual, emotional, and physical masks first. In reality, all of us in education are flying through life surrounded by people about whom we care deeply—our students, our coworkers, our family, and our friends. And we are definitely experiencing turbulence. How are we doing? Are we breathing deeply from the spiritual oxygen of God’s Word? Are we taking time to be refreshed emotionally? Are we able to serve others with great energy that comes from good physical health and wellness?

Or are we trying to help and serve others while gasping for breath? Are we constantly stressed out, burned out, sleep-deprived, and even angry, all the while wondering why teaching and leadership are so tough?

As we leave one area of turbulence and move forward into the next one, it is a good time for all of us as educators and leaders to do all we can to strengthen our spiritual, emotional, and physical health and resiliency by practicing some basics of self-care. But how can we do that when life is so full of turbulence, and duties, and complexities, and so much more?

The START
The answer would be to S.T.A.R.T., as in . . .

Schedule
The
Action
Required
Today.

Make the “oxygen-mask” commitment now, and then S.T.A.R.T.

  • Set aside some time to consider and pray about your current spiritual, emotional, and physical health.
  • Take time to write down one or two specific steps you can take in each area and commit to creating healthy routines for the remainder of the school year. Think it and ink it! Consider doing a trade-off of an unhealthy habit for a healthy one. Write down incremental, baby-step type changes.
  • Share your wellness steps with a “peer coach” and empower him or her to hold you accountable. Or better yet, go on this wellness journey together with your peer coach, each of you working on your specific steps.

The Suggestions
Select specific S.T.A.R.T steps.

  • Spiritual: Select a specific time to be in God’s Word and lock it in! Protect it! Treat it as the most important part of your day!
  • Emotional: Develop an attitude of gratitude. Make use of God’s three free—nature, music, and laughter. Develop emotionally supportive relationships.
  • Physical – Eat: Do a specific trade-off of an unhealthy food for something healthier. Eat more vegetables. Plan your healthy eating ahead of time.
  • Physical – Move: Find a movement activity you enjoy and commit to doing it three times per week. Put it into your calendar. Also build movement into your daily routine—you’ll be amazed how much you can easily build in!
  • Physical – Sleep: Change the story—acknowledge the importance of sleep, and then schedule and do all you can to get at least seven hours per night.

The Essentials
Remember these key thoughts.

  • The spiritual foundation is the key to all growth. Time in God’s Word is the means through which God provides the power to be stronger spiritually, emotionally, and physically.
  • Start with small, incremental changes and build on those. Redo your plan at the beginning of summer and commit to new and old action steps for the summer months. Revise again as school restarts.
  • Recognize the large impact that even small changes can have on our overall wellness.

May God richly bless you as you put on your own oxygen masks first, and as you Schedule The Action Required Today for your journey to greater spiritual, emotional, and physical health!

Greg R. Schmill, long-time WELS teacher/principal and former Commission on Lutheran Schools director, now serves as a facilitator and leadership coach with Grace in Action.

Greg will expand significantly on this topic and help you create your personal wellness plan at the WELS Education Conference in Pewaukee, Wisconsin, on June 20. REGISTER HERE to attend the conference and this sectional.

Please, share YOUR thoughts!