Sometimes ideas come into your life that feel like a circle spinning on your computer screen: round and round, you wonder if it will ever stop… and suddenly, BAM! A-ha! Everything makes sense. That’s the feeling I had when I was reading about identity.
Tony Robbins defines it like this: “Identity is a set of beliefs about who we are as a person.” In simple words, our beliefs about ourselves are like a map that guides everything we do.
I started thinking about how I define myself as a teacher, and I discovered something powerful: our identity influences how students see us, how their families see us, and… yes, even how our daily classroom life will be. Spoiler: it can turn into brilliant days when you leave school full of hope… or days when you just want to hide in your room and never come out.
I’ve always seen myself as a problem-solving teacher. No student has ever stopped me… not even the most rebellious, full-of-problems ones, nor the mom with a thousand questions and complaints. So much so that, out of habit, I’ve often been given the most complicated cases. I think that’s a self-fulfilling belief. I’ve also believed I am a very responsible and reliable teacher. Yes, that has brought me many problems: putting so much effort into being perfect made me forget about myself. And then, health does not forgive.
Because let’s be honest, no one can run marathons every day and then complain about having no energy.
Tony says something incredible: “The strongest force in the human psyche is the need to remain consistent with our own definition of ourselves.” In other words, our identity rules… sometimes it even screams and orders us around. But I’ve also told myself things like, “I’m lacking knowledge,” or “I’m not enough,” or “I don’t manage some groups well.” And those beliefs only bring more challenges… and premature wrinkles.
Some teachers see themselves as bored, tired, and without tools to deal with today’s kids. They define themselves as unprepared, fearful… and when you think like that, the days become endless. Because what we believe about ourselves reflects in our classes. And yes, even if you don’t want it, students can feel it, and they let you know.
Now the good news: yes, identity can be changed. And not only that! You can expand it and take it to other areas of your life that make you feel amazing… and no, you don’t need a secret manual or a magic wand.
When I learned this, I said, “I want to change my identity and create something better in me.” I left behind those beliefs that gave me nothing, and there were many of them, honestly, and focused on my achievements and what I can reach. My goal was to change from a limited identity to one that would lift me up and truly support me.
First, I thought about who I want to be as a teacher, aligned with my values and experiences. I made lists: one of what I could gain by changing my beliefs about myself, and another of what would keep happening if I didn’t change. Obviously, I prefer moving forward instead of staying stuck and complaining about what is… besides, staying the same sounds exhausting, and I suspect neither my students nor I would enjoy that.
So I thought: I want to be a teacher who is a leader, inspiring, creative, problem-solving, loved, and respected. A teacher who leaves beautiful memories, who enjoys her work, who laughs at her mistakes and corrects them with kindness. Yes, also a teacher who knows how to laugh at herself and doesn’t take things too seriously, who, instead of worrying too much, focuses on what she has and prioritizes.
To make this happen, I imagined what my classes would be like: calm, enjoyable, full of respect and care, with fun every day. Since I know it’s possible, because I know people who have achieved it, I wanted it for myself too.
And because I know identity can be changed, here are some ways that will help you do it:
Change your posture and physiology. Straighten your back, shoulders back, head up. At first it’s tiring, then inspiring. Changing your body changes how you see the world… and your face stops looking like you’re about to receive bad news.
Powerful affirmations. Phrases like “I am inspiring and respected by my students,” repeated with emotion, help you feel and believe in that identity. You can say it while having coffee on your way home or in the shower. Just find a moment in the day to remind yourself to do it.
Celebrate your progress. Every little achievement counts. Congratulate yourself, celebrate, do a little victory dance if you want! Do something that makes you love more and more the new teacher inside you, the one who will make you happier and calmer every day.
Act like the teacher you want to be. Think, walk, and speak like that person. Eventually, you’ll realize you already are that teacher. Doing the same things as always won’t change anything: be the change you want to achieve, do it first for yourself, and then for others.
Master new skills. It’s not about titles or credentials, it’s about daring to do things you didn’t do before: calls, activities, new strategies. Every step expands your identity and your confidence.
Talk about your new self. Let your students and their families see your transformation. Showing your light inspires and strengthens your change from within. Talk about how respected you feel, how loved you are by your students, about the positive things you’re starting to see around you.
Many teachers settle for an identity smaller than their real capacity, out of fear or shame. But that only makes life exhausting. We deserve more, and it all starts from within: valuing ourselves, loving ourselves more, and having the clarity of what we want. Remember, clarity is power.
This simple and unique idea made me think for a long time, but it also gave me a chance and, above all, a lot of calm and confidence, and greater focus. I can say that the work is still just as hard and demanding, but it feels lighter and easier to handle because I’ve learned to see it from a different perspective that truly helps me.
If you don’t work on your identity, you could end up in the best school, with the best group, and… not even enjoy it. Or you could have the toughest group and sink with it. But if you decide to change, your experience as a teacher can be better every year than the one before, and now it’s you — no matter the conditions, who manages and controls the group.
A teacher’s identity is not just what you do in class; it’s how you feel about yourself, how you respect and value yourself. It’s the seed of well-being that blooms in your daily life. Don’t underestimate the power of a strong, positive, expansive identity: your professional and personal life can transform in ways you can’t even imagine.
And if you want your work to be even easier, more inspiring, and fun, I invite you to visit my store “Classs Plus”. There you’ll find resources that will help you plan, motivate, and live each day as the teacher you always dreamed of being. Because taking care of your identity also means taking care of your time, your well-being… and yes, your sanity on those chaotic school days.
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