In this episode, I focus on spiritual self care for teachers and how purpose, reflection, and grounding practices can help us stay steady. As Mr. Funky Teacher, Nicholas Kleve, I share how spiritual self care connects us to something bigger than ourselves and gives us a foundation when the day-to-day feels heavy.
I share personal gratitude for time together with my family, conversation with my dad, and people who stand up for what is right. Those moments keep me grounded, connected, and reminded of what matters most.
I explain how my Christian faith anchors me when teaching feels overwhelming and how it helped carry me through the death of my mom, even when my faith felt shaken and messy. I talk about practices like prayer, reflection, gratitude, and quiet spaces that help reset the spirit.
I close with a reminder that spiritual self care looks different for everyone, but nurturing the spirit gives teachers staying power. When I care for my spirit, I anchor my teaching in something bigger than the classroom, and that helps me keep showing up with purpose.
Show Notes
• Introduction to spiritual self care for teachers through purpose, reflection, and grounding practices.
• Gratitude for family time and the power of presence in everyday moments.
• Gratitude for conversations with a dad that keep life grounded and connected.
• Gratitude for people who stand up for what is right and how that inspires courage.
• Reflection on Christian faith as an anchor when teaching and life feel overwhelming.
• Personal reflection on faith through grief after the death of a mom.
• Grounding practices including prayer, meditation, reflection, journaling, gratitude, and quiet spaces.
• Encouragement to live with purpose by aligning actions with values like kindness, justice, and respect.
Key Takeaways
• Spiritual self care connects teachers to something bigger than the classroom.
• Prayer, reflection, gratitude, and quiet moments can help center the mind and spirit.
• Purpose and values help teaching feel less defeating when challenges are intense.
• Spiritual self care supports staying power so teachers do not become bitter or burned out.
• When I care for my spirit, I anchor my teaching in something bigger than the classroom.
Transcripts
unky Teacher (Nicholas Kleve):
This is Mr. Funky Teacher with BeAFunkyTeacher.com. I’m coming to you with another Be a Funky Teacher podcast. Welcome back, everyone.
Today’s episode is spiritual self care for teachers, purpose, reflection, and grounding practices. That’s what we’re focusing on. But before we get into it, let’s talk about three things I’m thankful for.
The first thing I’m thankful for is time together with my family. With busy schedules during the school year, having all three of my children and my wife in the same room at the same time, even for a moment, can feel like a rarity. I’m thankful for having my wife and kids all in the living room last night. Whether we were talking or just hanging out, it was about presence more than the activity. Those shared moments of togetherness matter, and it’s something I needed.
The second thing I’m thankful for is conversation with my dad. I’m grateful for opportunities to talk with him, and I had a chance to visit with him last night before I headed home. I was working at his house after school and then got to sit and talk. Those conversations keep me grounded and connected to where I’m from. They remind me of the importance of family ties and wisdom passed down. I love sitting and talking to my dad.
The third thing I’m thankful for is people who stand up for what is right. I’m thankful for those who speak out and take a stand even when it’s hard. Their courage inspires me to do the same in my classroom and in my community when faced with adversity. Standing up for what is right brings light into dark places.
Now I want to move into the episode topic: spiritual self care for teachers, purpose, reflection, and grounding practices.
First, I want to define spiritual self care. For me, my Christian faith is very important to me. It’s the anchor that steadies me when teaching feels overwhelming, when my personal life feels challenging, or when life in general feels heavy. Spiritual self care is about connecting to something bigger than ourselves. For some, that’s faith. For others, it might be values, purpose, or reflection. This kind of self care gives teachers a foundation when day-to-day living and existing feels heavy.
I feel very calm when I’m in church. It helps me reset spiritually, and that is tied directly to my faith. My faith has helped carry me through the death of my mom. I don’t think I would be where I am today without that spiritual faith, even though there are still tough days. My faith was shaken through my mom’s death, but I’m thankful I had something to lean on, even when it was messy in those early months.
Now let’s talk about practices that can ground us.
Prayer or meditation can be helpful. Centering your mind before or after the school day can be beneficial. If you’re a person of faith, I encourage you to pray. If you’ve never tried prayer or meditation, I encourage you to try it. There is a calmness that can come after prayer, especially after a tough day, or before a big day.
Reflection and journaling can also help. Writing about meaningful class moments can connect you to your spirituality.
Gratitude is another grounding practice. Taking a moment to notice blessings, even in tough seasons, can make a difference. My mom believed one of the most powerful things a human being could do is think about three things they’re thankful for each day.
Nature and quiet spaces matter too. I remember one year when I had some tough behaviors in class, and during lunch I would drive to a small lake near the school. I would sit there quietly for five to seven minutes and just look out at the lake. I did it when it was frozen, in the fall when the leaves were changing, and in the spring when the trees were budding. I did it almost daily, and it brought calmness. Quiet space can also be found in the building, or even in your classroom, but I often recommend getting out of the classroom if you can, especially when it has been a trying time.
Presence can be spiritual self care too. Sitting with family in the living room is spiritual self care through presence, not achievement or productivity.
The next big idea is living with purpose. Spiritual self care connects you back to your why. I know “remember your why” can sound cliche, and I don’t dismiss the challenges teachers face. I’m in the thick of it every day. But there is truth that remembering your why matters, because teaching can become defeating fast if we lose focus.
I try to align my actions with my values, like kindness, justice, and respect. That gives teaching deeper meaning. Challenges can feel different when your purpose is clear and when you are grounded spiritually.
People who stand up for what is right mirrors how teachers advocate for students daily. If we stop standing for what is right, we can become bitter and jaded. I don’t want to become the grumpy teacher. I want to be Mr. Funky Teacher. If someone becomes the teacher who can’t stand being around kids, then that is doing more damage than good. That’s why living with purpose matters.
As I reflect on takeaways, spiritual self care looks different for everyone. For me, it is rooted in my Christian faith. Faith gives me strength, perspective, and peace when teaching feels overwhelming. Whether through prayer, scripture, gratitude, or quiet reflection, nurturing the spirit gives teachers staying power.
The key takeaway is this: when you care for your spirit, you anchor your teaching in something bigger than the classroom.
That’s where I want to leave things today. If you found value in this episode, go over to Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen and give a review. Give me five stars if you like it.
Remember to inspire greatness in young people. And don’t forget to be a funky teacher. Bye now.
