The Teacher Poker Face
Educators deserve Oscars. You can stand in front of a room full of eighth graders after three nights of broken sleep and still belt out, “Good morning, class!” like you’re hosting a game show. The truth? Many of us are living in the land of “I’m fine.” And let’s be honest—that’s teacher code for absolutely not fine.
Decoding the Word “Fine”
Here’s what “fine” usually means:
- Frazzled
- Irritable
- Needing coffee
- Exhausted
If that feels a little too familiar, congratulations—you’ve unlocked the secret dictionary of educator survival language. The problem is, living in “fine” mode isn’t a strategy. It’s a holding pattern. And spoiler: holding patterns eventually run out of fuel.
Why Honesty Beats “Fine”
Your Personal Vitality Profile (PVP) exists so you don’t have to hide behind “fine.” It helps you name where your “Resilient Energy” really stands—before you’re mainlining cold coffee and muttering to yourself in the supply closet.
Our WCS Administrators and principals get this too—they’re spinning just as many plates, but the strong teachers staff and administrators don’t mask it. They lean on support systems and build capacity for flourishing, even when things feel overwhelming.
Pro Tip
Next time you catch yourself saying “I’m fine,” swap it for something real, even if it’s, “I’m running on three Oreos and a prayer.” Honesty with a trusted peer or co-worker opens the door to support. And that’s where Sustainable Strength and VITALITY begins.
So here’s the pop quiz that matters: Are you living in FINE—or are you ready to move toward flourishing?
Schedule a conversation sometime. I would love to chat. https://calendly.com/tscottiegreene/one-to-one-conversation
