A River Journey – A Journey of Transition

A river, emerging from its pristine and crystal-clear source, begins its journey with boundless energy. It winds through mountains, meanders through forests, and traverses vast landscapes, experiencing moments of being revered as a goddess and also enduring the abuses inflicted by human activities. Ultimately, it merges harmoniously with the sea.

Similarly, a human life commences with inherent qualities and a pure soul, akin to the pristine source of the river. Yet, as life unfolds, societal conditioning becomes a parallel journey, shaping and influencing the individual. The individual, like the river, navigates through experiences of reverence and challenges, ultimately merging into the broader fabric of existence

Picture a child navigating through a realm of fear, with his entire family, society, city, country, and even the entire Earth entrenched in a climate of fear. The apprehension that resides within us is not imposed by external forces, but rather by those closest to us—our family members, relatives, friends, the school system, and society.

Upon reflection of our behaviour, it becomes evident that these fears find their roots in incidents from our childhood, occurring at a vulnerable age when we lacked the ability to contemplate them. Additionally, the absence of a supportive environment hindered the development of self-love during that time.

I hold a firm belief that every individual is inherently beautiful and possesses unique qualities. When a child is allowed to grow in an environment that fosters free progress, they will naturally blossom. Conversely, if a child is raised in an environment where they experience constant judgment or ridicule, it can lead to the development of an adult filled with insecurity and low self-esteem.

Creating a secure environment for young learners to express themselves openly has consistently presented a significant challenge in my capacity as a mentor and guide. Over the last two decades, I have assumed diverse roles as a knowledge facilitator across various regions in India. Having worked with a variety of schools, including government, public, and international schools, I've noticed that only a small number of teachers successfully establish a secure environment for children to express themselves openly. It is a challenging task to remain conscious and mindful of our words as educators. A single misguided sentence has the potential to be detrimental to the emotional well-being of these tender souls.

As someone in the roles of an educator, facilitator, and mentor, it is crucial to undergo thorough training to effectively engage with the younger generation. Beyond possessing knowledge and expertise in our subjects, we must also cultivate the skills necessary to bring out the best in our students. Striking the right balance between firmness and compassion is essential—being firm in guidance while fostering a loving and supportive environment.

When interacting with young minds during the river journeys, the initial activity in my programs involves life mapping. This exercise reveals the patterns that develop in our lives, often unnoticed due to a lack of regular reflection practice.

After mapping our lives and recognizing patterns, the next step involves exploring the origins of these patterns. We delve into the reasons why these patterns emerge in our lives, and we also engage with our inherent potential/qualities and accumulated fears.

Once we are aware of our unique qualities and have recognized the fears that have been influencing our actions, it becomes much easier to shift the gear from fear to inner wisdom.

The task doesn't conclude here, as we have been conditioned for so long to operate from fear, and it tends to resurface repeatedly. This is where daily reflections play a crucial role. By reflecting daily on whether our actions originated from fear or from our inner wisdom, we keep track of when we revert to our previous patterns. Through consistent practice of daily reflection, we gradually transition into a new way of operating from inner wisdom. While the past patterns may still attempt to resurface, we are now better equipped to deal with them.

Upon surpassing this stage, we proceed to examine how we interact and behave with others in the world. Do our privileges dictate our behavior? Are we conscious of this influence?

To comprehend this, I employ a straightforward, yet powerful exercise called the "Privilege Walk." Despite its simplicity, it has a profound impact. I've observed emotional breakdowns during this exercise, with tears streaming down students' faces. It serves as a powerful tool for imparting lessons on social justice across various age groups.

As educators, it is crucial for us to be conscious and mindful not only of our students' lives but also of our own. We grapple with the same fears, apprehensions, behavioral patterns, judgmental attitudes, and untoward incidents that can influence our lives. Remaining untouched by these challenges seems impossible. The key to becoming firm yet loving and supportive educators lies in a simple approach—we must map our own lives, recognize our patterns, acknowledge our fears and inner wisdom, and cultivate awareness about our privileges. Through daily reflections, we can foster empathy and, in turn, become more effective and understanding educators.

Absolutely, being an educator doesn't imply perfection, but rather the ability to learn from mistakes and view failures as stepping stones toward success. It's the awareness of one's imperfections and a commitment to continuous improvement that distinguishes a great educator. Embracing mistakes as valuable learning experiences contributes significantly to personal and professional growth, creating a more resilient and effective educational approach.