Awakened: Change Your Mindset to Transform Your Teaching

by Angela Watson

THIS IS THE FIRST A SECOND EDITION WAS RELEASED NOV 2022.

Do the never-ending pressures of teaching drain you emotionally? Is a lack of resources and support stealing your enthusiasm? Are the small daily hassles adding up and overwhelming you? 
 
Awakened can change your mindset...and that can change EVERYTHING.

Genres: Education, Teaching, Nonfiction, Professional Development, Self Help, School

240 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2011

Reviews

[Laurie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so helpful -- it's going to be one that I read repeatedly because changing my mindset is definitely a process for me. The key principle from the book is:

Being awakened is the initial realization of truth, the moment when the light illuminates a situation and you can see it clearly for the first time. Growth begins there, but a true awakening is a process. It’s a daily decision to choose thoughts that lead to the right attitude. It’s an ongoing choice to act in ways that align with wisdom and not with one’s current perception or mood." (p. 197).

As I read this book, I frequently was reminded that a renewed mind is one that is washed clean from the negative, purged and purified throught God's Word. I usually respond to stress by: complaining, worrying, eating, blaming, feeling guilty. A healthier response: trust God to complete what He's begun -- He's placed me in this role, and I need to pray more faithfully and consistently as I perform this role. I don't pray enough about what I'm doing and about how to help the students. Prayer would also take the place of the worrying and the guilt. I can also pray for the teachers -- there's a reason they are behind, pray for them. I can replace food with prayer and God's Word. This book prompted frequent self-reflection and evaluation of what I have done and could do to "awaken" and change my thought processes.

I really liked the continued focus on the 4 actions of "dismiss, distract, reject, and replace" with suggestions as to how to do this throughout the book -- I need to remember that this is a process. I can't decide today to think only Phil. 4:8 thoughts and expect my mind to be "cured" of negative thoughts -- it's a moment by moment, situation by situation process, with it being easier at times to distract, than it is to dismiss -- distraction is temporary, the thought returns, and ultimately, I need to work to dismiss and reject and replace it. This is occuring now as I find myself thinking about a negative situation -- I need to dismiss my "this can't be solved" thoughts and replace them with the truth that "God's ways are not my ways" and that "He can do all things and that no purposes of His can be thwarted." Job 42:2

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was exactly what I needed to combat the February blues while teaching in a construction zone after years of pandemic teaching and while negotiating a divorce.

Seriously, I started listening to the audiobook over the weekend, and Monday on my way to school I suddenly realized that I was in a good mood and looking forward to the day ahead rather than fretting about all that I had to do and dreading that challenging student in my first-period class. What?! That has not happened in quite a while, on a Monday morning no less.

I have been a huge fan of Angela Watson for years, and she is at her best in this second edition of Awakened. I appreciate her helpful presentation of research on mindset in conjunction with her insistence that our teaching lives are affected by the realities of our schools; she eschews the toxic compulsory positivity "it's all in your head" rhetoric while being very clear about the things that ARE in our heads.

The best self-help book for educators that I've read maybe ever. I'm recommending it to teachers right and left and will definitely read it again regularly.

[Enthusiastic Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some of my issue with this is that it isn't what I was expecting; I was looking for something that built on Dweck's work, and this is more about the word in a broader sense. It's some basic psychological self-help, aimed at teachers.

There's a strong focus on changing YOUR RESPONSE to a situation. Which, while that's a useful strategy, is not the only one, and not always the most effective one. The one example that comes to mind is sitting through a meeting that isn't helpful, and seeing an administrator walk out, and getting mad; if the admin can just ditch, why can't everyone else? According to the book, it's helpful to reframe: maybe the admin got called to a different meeting, or has to deal with a parent, etc. However, none of that really mattered to me, because it doesn't apply to me. Whether someone else gets to ditch a pointless meeting is not the problem: the problem is that there IS a pointless meeting. THAT frustration is what the hypothetical teacher needs to deal with.

I did appreciate that while it's written from a Christian perspective, it provides broader applicability. It didn't strike me as evangelistic.

It's a pretty easy read, it's short, and it has some useful strategies with which I'm already familiar.

[Coralie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this for PD credit for my job, but truthfully I enjoyed it much more than I originally thought I might.

For starters, I appreciate that the author wrote from her own experiences, and that she made clear that her walk with Christ was central to her own renewal and awakening. It's not always easy to find a book like this that writes from a Christian perspective. And she was also very respectful of other beliefs, while simultaneously upfront about her own.

Furthermore, I very thoroughly enjoyed her extremely relatable experiences in the teaching field! I mean, she didn't brush it over and say "Oh, teaching is so glorious, guys! Just get on board already!" No, she was very intentional and shared real, down to earth, in the trenches stories. I laughed because I've had the same kinds of moments--and I'm only in year two! I mean, we all know that coworker, that administrator, that parent, and we definitely know that kid!

But all kidding aside, this book felt like a book for teachers by a teacher--and in our world, that isn't always how it goes. She wasn't afraid of pointing out her own downfalls, which made it feel like a "safe" environment for the reader to admit her own fears, shortcomings, etc. She doesn't brush past the hard stuff, about teaching or about teachers. She knows exactly what she's talking about, and she has a grace-filled spirit with which she shares her message.

The book is clearly written. It's funny, and insightful. It's full of excellent and thorough research. and lots of practical tips and real life examples. This is one I'd consider purchasing and keeping on my shelf, and one I would recommend to fellow teachers looking to relieve stress and reignite their passion. The author has done a great job with this one, and I'm glad it was an option for PD. There are several tips and tricks I'd like to try out myself. And, really, who doesn't want less stress at work? XD

[Katy L. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was fine, and I did enjoy the reminders that I needed to not get sucked into negativity. However, with everything going on in education, I felt that there was not enough attention given to the realities of changes that need to be made on a systemic level. If teachers don’t advocate for the changes that need to be made, our students will suffer. Rather than simply accepting what’s going on around us, I’d have liked for the author to address how we can be effective advocates for change while staying calm and peaceful and mindful. In summary, I think this author is coming from a great mindset, but I think we need more to really have the tools we need to be agents of change instead of accepting the status quo. Too much laughing about the fact that the copier never works and not enough discussion about how we can effectively (without much personal stress) ask for copiers that work!

[Beth Link · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is very encouraging to help you see through the ways you keep yourself from enjoying teaching. There’s a lot of information packed in to these 208 pages, so I’d say it’s one you’ll definitely want to buy and keep so you can refer back to it for strategies, tips, and encouragement.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Angela Watson’s teacher professional development on productivity, work-life balance, and real self-care (not just bubble baths once a week but creating actionable steps toward the life you want to live and then doing sit). So many of my normal teaching habits and mindsets are ones that I’ve adapted from her blog, books, or 40 Hour Work Week Club materials. Over the years I’ve significantly cut the hours that I work, partially now that I’m done with my master’s and not doing that too, but in part due to using systems and ways of thinking that she explains. I reread this book, and I have a feeling that if I reread it again in another school year, different things would pop out that would resonate more with my experiences at the time.

I was joking with my husband that there are two “online” people I regularly cite in conversations, Beth from Budget Bytes and Angela Watson. Thanks to both of them for helping me with adulting.



(These below are just my notes I took my phone notepad and then copied in here for my reference later.)
Angela Watson Awakened

12-13 coworkers at “easier” school complained about everything until Kate said that her old campus was worse. Perspective is everything-those teachers worked in the same context as Angela and Kate but had a completely different perspective/experience.

15-16 Martin Seligman coined two terms learned helplessness and learned optimism, set those up as opposites. Changing your mental frameworks can charge your perspective and actual experiences.

17 Virginia Satir calls reframing. - you can’t always change your circumstances or eliminate all sources of stress but you can alter your mindset.

20 stop the unwanted random thoughts from running rampant and forming negative, self-fulfilling prophecies. (Oh great, another time!)

23 judge your thoughts based on whether they are rational and productive or irrational and counter-productive, whether the way I’m thinking is contributing to my overall well-being and respond accordingly

26 negative thoughts can influence your behavior or attitudes in future interactions with a particular person/type of situation.

29 you don’t have to think every thought that pops into your head -Joyce Meyer.
Can dismiss, distract, reject, or replace.

43 gives examples of feelings leading our actions. If she feels energized, she goes through a cabinet. If she is tired, she messes around online. “The problem was that my behaviors weren’t conscious choices I was making. Allowing myself time to surf the web or being extra strict about not repeating myself would have been fine if I chose those actions because they served an ultimate purpose. But I wasn’t doing them because they made sense; I did them because I was led by my feelings.”

44 waiting until we are in the mood for something is unreliable when we have time sensitive tasks. Moods are not always logical, and choosing to be around people with influentially bad moods can rub off.

48 “Doing whatever you’re in the mood for usually leads to procrastination, careless decision-making, and other counterproductive behaviors… Think: What course of action will I be satisfied with later? What’s the best choice for me in the long run?”

59-60 explanatory style is way we self talk to explain events. This style could be optimistic, pessimistic, in between.
Problems
Overgeneralizing can make us speculate negatively with little info.
Permanence - assuming without evidence that setbacks and problems will exist forever.
Catastrophizing- magnifying negative aspects and minimizing positive ones to assume the worst
Polarized thinking - perceiving everything as perfect or a failure with no in between
False hopelessness- assuming without evidence you are powerless over a situation

67 when we have a pessimistic explanatory style, stop and examine. Is it accurate? Is it helpful?

80 paranoid coworker who assumes anything is a bad sign toward her when it was just exhausting. Don’t assume things are personal.

82 misbehaving or attention-seeking kids are not necessarily intentionally behaving that way at you. Some don’t even know why they are doing something

83 “repeatedly allowing yourself to turn slights and offenses into personal attacks can cause you to become paranoid, defensive, full of self-pity, and bitter

Strategies to stop personalizing problems
-Gather evidence to see if you can support your conclusion that it’s a real problem and it’s about you
-work on my own self awareness of disordered thought patterns
-recognize times I might cause others to feel this way.

88 concept of colluding/colluders. Teachers with particular unhelpful mindsets (like self pity or blame shifters) congregate to reinforce each other and shift blame.

91 The true martyr honestly believes she cannot stop doing everything she’s doing; the person with a martyr complex thrives off the drama of imagining he cannot stop everything he’s doing. Both use work as a diversion and distraction from their real issues. Though they say, “The responsibility is totally on me all the time,” they actually do not take responsibility for their choices at all. They just mindlessly follow down the same well-worn path, mumbling to themselves that “a teacher’s work is never done.”

92 Whether your struggle is with feeling too much responsibility or not accepting enough, this is the choice that is set before you: Do you want to feel sorry for yourself and bemoan how hard and unfair your job is, or do you want to overcome your challenges? It is your decision to be pitiful or powerful.

93 good reminder on not trying to keep the same energy level all lessons every day. Have lesson structures in place that allow for various energy levels and teacher involvement so that students still learn without needing me to be hyped up the whole time

97 problem of getting worried about potential future problems that may or may not even happen 98 “I try not to think about how I’ll respond if an unwanted outcome occurs; there will be time for that if it happens, and I trust that I’ll have the necessary wisdom to handle it at that point. I don’t want to waste the mental energy on something that’s not a reality.”Worrying about the future on speculation (“will they move me grade levels?” type stuff) can steal the joy and mental energy of the present.

99 when you anticipate problems
1. Recognize that you’re doing it. Name the behavior consciously.
2. Allow some time like a 15 min walk to productively problem solve
3. Choose replacement thoughts.
4. Talk about your concerns with only one confidant.
5. Then dismiss and replace the topic when it comes back up

115 Earl Nightingale talks of a “fog of worry” that clouds our minds, much of which is future worries that don’t happen or things in the past that can’t be changed. We can’t process the other problems or tasks that we can actually control if we are too distracted. Over analyzing something will do this.

122 overattachment to specific expectations of how something has to go can be more upsetting. Analyze our expectations and reflect on which are important, decide on how to respond if expectations not met.
Do not just lower them because that “trades potential disappointment for guaranteed discouragement.”

128 four categories of unrealistic standards - what I feel obligated to do but haven’t done, what I was accustomed to but no longer have, what I’m hoping for, what I expected but didn’t get. Trying to replace these if they are absolute/severe with more realistic or helpful lets you reframe and adjust

133 we get a lot of “ must be done” items and “should be done.” If the campus gives too many “must be done,” see if you can find ways to systematize, make easier, or turn into a should. Also adjust some of your “must” to compensate -are there areas where you can relax your standards where only you would notice?

(My thought here - A lot of mandates like update grades every Tuesday or contact failures before they happen are just a way of making concrete expectations of stuff that needs to be done anyway. Stuff that the Staar data days tracker is something that we basically show as proof that we are thinking about it and trying, not that someone knows and will check the tracker for accuracy and nitpick like “how dare you say Jose of 4th period made some progress when he actually stayed the same? His Telpas scores blah blah blah.” They just want to see that we are approaching lessons that way and recording some evidence of them).

141 everyone has a different perception of reality which is part of why we find it hard to understand others. Other teachers could react to the same situation completely differently. Sometimes my thought system is unhelpful.

155 hard to deal with desire for control when there are so many forces and people at play. 5 common control-related problems:
1. I need people to know the “right” way to do things.
2. I need to identify all problems and fix them immediately.
3. I need to make everything go according to my plans.
4. I need everything to be fair and make sense.
5. I need to know what’s happening next.
Replace with:
1. I can accept other people’s ways and methods
2. I can let go of the interpretation that something’s wrong.
3. I can be happy when things don’t go my way.
4. I can handle things that don’t make sense.
5. I can be okay with not knowing.

(This reminds me of BIST but for teachers).

156-7 powerful story of her not trying to fundamentally change her colleagues but instead recognized their value by observing/coteaching/modeling, tried to help them, and let them draw their own conclusions. This approach is more healthy, uses the energy productively, and preserves more relationships than going in guns a blazing to change them to your one right way.

200 rotating focus of development. She talks about picking one area like parent engagement or writer’s workshop or science inquiry lessons as a big focus to really build up that area. She would compile resources, try things, and take notes of what worked to continue doing the next year as status quo and then do something new as improvement the next year. If something came up during the year, instead of dwelling on feeling bad, she would put it down as a growth area for the future. I could see this working on a smaller scale too like a semester.

[Kari · Rating 5 out of 5]

Part self-help book / part professional read for teachers.

This book is full of mental health takeaways for any educator feeling overwhelmed.

[Heidi Dumke · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished this audiobook. I joined Angela Watson’s “40 Hour Work Week” program in 2019 with the hopes of having access to tried and true materials and connecting with other teachers because that was my first year as a middle school teacher. As someone who transitioned from higher education to secondary, I had major doubts in being able to handle it all…

Since that time, I’ve read all her books and regularly listen to her podcast and read her newsletters to continue my journey of balance. All of this to say, this book made so much of what I’ve learned click! Watson’s work hit me hard in many ways to address the thought patterns and habits I’ve had and currently have.

Through this book, I learned more about Watson’s story as a person and educator. I identified with much of her mental health journey and deeply appreciated her willingness to be vulnerable and open. Even though she’s not currently a teacher, she draws on her years of experience to give relevant examples. I know she also works closely with a team of teachers, so everything felt pertinent and relatable.

I’d recommend this book to anyone who has been on the journey of self-development as a person and teacher. None of it struck me as toxic positivity, which is hard to achieve in this realm of mindset work. (Admission: I read lots and lots of self-help/development books 😂)

I think there is something for every educator in this book. I’m choosing to focus on, for now, the parts that reverberated the most with me, and I’ll see what comes my way in the future. I think this book pairs very well with work on self-compassion because so much of Watson’s replacement scripts reflect this work.

Bravo!

[Krystel Rinaman · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read pretty much everything Angela Watson writes, and am a member of her Club. Her advice has really helped me develop as an educator and I have mad respect for her. That being said, some of the advice in this book feels a little unrealistic in a sort of undesirable way for me. I know positive thinking is helpful when I can’t control a situation, but I also believe I standing up for what is right and I feel like some of this advice runs counter to that. Her definition of “turn the other cheek” is not the same as mine. I believe it is about asserting dignity. She believes it means letting them do whatever they are going to do and accepting it meekly, praying that God changes them (I guess?). Anyway, there was some great advice in here *as always* but I’m philosophically at odds with portions of it.

[Amy Stohs · Rating 5 out of 5]

I did this on audio. As a listener of Angela’s podcast, Truth for Teachers, I loved being able to listen to her voice throughout this book. It’s especially good on audio because so much of the book is recounting teacher thoughts and conversations. The expression in her voice really gets the emotion across well. I read the first edition years ago and loved it, and I do think this version is an improvement. It flows well in organization, has some updated language, and some new phrasing. I think this is a fabulous book for any educator to read as it encapsulates some of the best information from other cognitive thought pattern resources and gears it towards educators with strategies for how to apply these strategies in the context of your job.

[Morelandmama · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book! Angela Watson speaks to teachers who are weary and growing negative and shows us how to choose to see the positives. She offers examples and strategies to help change our mindset. She says that, "a true awakening is a process. A daily decision to choose thoughts that lead to the right attitude. It's an ongoing choice to act in ways that align with wisdom and not with one's current perception or mood."

[M · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read teacher books for 2 reasons - to learn something new and to reinforce what I'm doing. This book provided both. I already had been reframing my thoughts, but this is going to help me do even better at staying positive. That is so important to teachers! I can't recommend this book highly enough, but I will say that some people will not be mentally "ready" to accept some of the advice and will resist it. They will continue to be unhappy until they accept that they need to change.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are so many truths in this book. I saw myself in so many scenarios. My eyes and heart are opened to how things can be different. This book has changed the way I perceive myself as a teacher, a mom, and a wife. I now have so many tools and strategies for dealing with doubts, insecurities, things not going my way, and so on. Definitely worth a read if you are a teacher!

[Stacy Bolin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Teachers empowerment

While some of this book wasn’t new information for me, Angela Watson does a great job of giving personal experiences and applying strategies to help reframe our mindset. When feeling burnt out in the classroom and looking for ways to show up in positive ways for students each day, this book helps to add more to the mental toolbox.

[Connie Cooley · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book seemed like a combo of every other book I read. So while there were pieces of it I could take away, I felt like its origins were part regurgitation of the likes of Carol Dweck's Growth Mindset. (And I do like Dweck's original thoughts). Also a bit too much religious reflection.

[Dawn Critchfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for teachers.

[Daisy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Awakened by Angela Watson has to be my top book at the moment for teaching. I am still a high school student but as Watson walked you through the book it felt like I was there with her and understanding everything she felt. I would see myself practicing what she would recommend, and it completely changed my mindset about everything. Even without having official teaching experience it still helped me prepare for the moment when I will teach. I understand that from this book that teaching is messy but that’s okay and you just need to take it one step at a time. This book makes me look at the hard days with a different perspective and I learned to just take a deep breath and not let the negative thoughts take over. My greatest take away from this book was the discussion of negative thoughts because they can be so powerful and overbearing and we need to all acknowledge that and work to push those thoughts out and bring the positive mindset in.

[Melanie Wiggins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just love when I decide to read a book at the perfect time. I've been a fan of Angela Watson's for years, so I knew this would be helpful, especially since I have been feeling a bit of uneasiness and disillusionment in my work and career lately. Angela's advice around how a shift in mindset can greatly impact how educators show up at work really seeped into my subconscious from the moment I started the audiobook. You have to be ready to receive her ideas, however and understand that this book focuses on YOUR mindset and YOUR response and YOUR realm of control, though she acknowledges systemic issues that are at play. This won't be helpful to educators who don't want to focus on mindset work. This book has to find you at the right time and in the right frame of mind, and that's what happened for me. This packed a lot of information in, but was easy to read (listen to in my case). Her suggestions were immediately applicable, and I think this will be a book that I re-read yearly.

[M · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book with lots of applicable wisdom

Why am I docking 1 star? I am docking a star because Watson chose to remove some of her faith from this book's second edition, which saddened me deeply.

Near the start of the book, Watson justifies her second addition copy, saying it comes with lots of edits, and new ideas. All of this is great. Watson then ends with stating that she removed a lot of her Christian sentences from the second addition in order widen her readership. This is why I am removing 1 star. I understand why Watson had to do it. She is working within a restrictive system and when the goal is to get more readers, conforming to the norms and expectations becomes important to spread a message. This book is strong enough where word of mouth will get the ideas spread, not by making a second edition that waters down one's faith and beliefs.

[Kaitlin Jundt · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great book to get me in the mood for the new school year. As teachers, we have a tendency to want to change the world, save each and every child from their struggles, and be all and do all that we can for our kids. Speaking from personal experience, that mindset is great but not realistic. It only causes frustration and extreme stress/anxiety when everything else is thrown our way. The one quote that really resonated with me, and one I hope to live by this year, was "You can do anything, but you can't do everything".

[Kristin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I highly recommend this book if you are a teacher! Watson does an amazing job or relating to real life problems that teachers deal with daily and how to approach them with a more positive mindset. I also suggest if you are a Believer to get the Christian companion devotional. It forced me to really reflect on past struggles and walk forward in forgiveness and true healing. It takes a bit of time but teaching is now something I am encouraged by and not something I stress over.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really, really needed this book as I approach my last few years of teaching. I want to go out swinging not sitting back and after last year, I wasn't sure I had enough passion to keep going. Angela Watson's thoughts have rejuvenated my mind, which was and will continue to be THE ONLY THING holding me back!

[Madison W · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read for tired teachers. I think most teachers can recognize some of themselves in the thought patterns discussed in this book. I have been feeling burnt out in teaching, but did not want to leave the classroom. This book gave me ideas to try so I can show up for my students every day but not mentally torture myself with stress and overwhelm.

[Joy Kirr · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wrote about this one (and have the notes for it) here: http://geniushour.blogspot.com/2023/0...
I liked the first half better than the second, and I liked re-reading pgs 1-50 and then the next 50 pages, as well. A lot of lessons I’m trying to learn were repeated in this quick book.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not much new for me (since my counseling theory is REBT which is on the cognitive spectrum) but great reminders nonetheless of how to incorporate it and my religious beliefs into being successful in education.

[Holly Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

great book for teachers!

[Vanessa Monell · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for all teachers, new and seasoned. Great source of comfort and great ideas.

[Becky Seabaugh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can I please give this book 10 stars out of 5?

Thank you for the great recommendation, Kate!

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read the 2nd edition with GR didn't have th option for yet as it just came out. Highly recommend for all teachers wanting to save themselves from the brink if burnout.