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 called You're Allowed to Feel This. And I want to start by saying something that a lot of teachers need to hear. Especially in the middle of the school year when the pace is nonstop and the expectations feel heavy — you're allowed to feel this. You're allowed to feel tired. You're allowed to feel overwhelmed. You're allowed to feel frustrated, to feel discouraged, and to even feel numb sometimes. That doesn't mean you're weak. Not at all. It doesn't mean you're not grateful. It also doesn't mean that you don't love working with kids. It means you're human in a profession that asks you to be “on” all day long. And today I want to slow down and talk about what it looks like to acknowledge what you're feeling without shame and still lead. Before we get into it, I'm going to ground myself in gratitude and talk about three things that I'm thankful for. The first thing that I'm thankful for is quiet spaces to reflect. Even a few minutes of quiet can reset your nervous system and bring you back to yourself. The second thing that I'm thankful for is snowmen. Something simple and cheerful. They can remind me to smile and notice small joys. I just love them. And the third thing that I'm thankful for is books. Books that help me think. Books that inspire me. Books that remind me that I'm not alone in what I'm carrying. So let's go into the main topic. You're allowed to feel this. Teachers are trained to minimize their feelings. A lot of teachers have learned to minimize what they feel. You tell yourself, other people have it worse. Or I should be able to handle this. You tell yourself, it's fine, just push through. And sometimes that mindset helps you get through a tough day. There is something to perseverance. But when it becomes your default — when it's always what you go to — it becomes dangerous. Because minimizing is not the same as managing. When you constantly downplay what you feel, it doesn't disappear. It just gets stored. And what gets stored eventually spills out. It spills out in your tone. It spills out in your patience. It spills out in your exhaustion. It spills out in burnout. That is something we have to pay attention to. You can be grateful and still struggling. Gratitude does not cancel out struggle. You can love teaching and still feel overwhelmed. You can love your students and still feel exhausted. You can be doing meaningful work and still feel like you're barely holding it together some days. That doesn't make you ungrateful. It makes you honest. And saying this is hard doesn't mean you're failing. It means you're paying attention to yourself. Let me take you into a moment. You're in the middle of the day. The schedule is tight. The kids need you. The responsibilities keep coming. And something small happens. A student interrupts. A pencil breaks. A comment is made. A transition goes slower than planned. And you feel it. That internal reaction that says, I can't take one more thing right now. Not because the thing is huge. But because your capacity is low. In that moment, it's real. And the mistake many of us make is judging ourselves for having that moment instead of naming it. Instead of taking a breath. Instead of realizing I'm not reacting because I'm bad. I'm reacting because I'm human. We've got to name it. We've got to acknowledge it. We've got to feel it. Let me take you into another moment. It's after school. The building is quiet. You finally sit down and realize you're not just physically tired. You're emotionally full. Not from one dramatic event. But from being needed constantly. From managing emotions all day. From carrying student stories. From making a thousand micro decisions. From staying calm even when you feel stretched. Instead of honoring that weight, you judge yourself. Why am I so drained? I shouldn't feel this way. I should be able to handle it. Now you're not just tired. You're ashamed of being tired. And that's not fair. Naming what you feel is a form of leadership. Here's the reframe. Naming your feelings isn't losing control. Write that down. Naming your feelings isn't losing control. It's regaining control. When you name it, you can manage it. You can say, I'm overwhelmed right now. I'm stretched thin. I'm carrying a lot. And when you name it, you can respond differently. Not by dumping it on kids. But by slowing your tone. Simplifying the plan. Choosing a calm reset. Taking a short pause instead of pushing harder. That's leadership. When teachers don't allow themselves to feel, it leaks out. It shows up as snapping. As shutting down. As numbness. As cynicism. As disconnection from the work. And then we feel guilty. But feeling doesn't cause the problem. Suppressing it does. You're allowed to feel this because feelings are data. They're information. They're a sign something needs care. Education talks about data all the time. Your feelings are data. So what actually helps? Name it — even quietly to yourself. Lower the pressure where you can. Not expectations for kids, but the pressure on yourself to be perfect. Take one small reset. A breath. A sip of water. A short pause before responding. Talk to someone safe. Someone who understands the work. Someone who won't judge you. And remember this: your humanity is not a problem to solve. It's a reality to honor. If you're feeling a lot right now, hear this clearly. You're allowed. You don't have to apologize for being human. You don't have to pretend you're fine to be professional. You can be strong and still struggle. You can be steady and still feel tired. You can be a great teacher and still have heavy days. The goal isn't to eliminate emotion. The goal is to acknowledge it and lead yourself through it with honesty and care. Because teachers who can name what they feel are teachers who can last. If you found value in this episode, head on over to Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to your podcast and leave a five star review and let me know what you think. It helps more teachers find this space. And I want you to remember to inspire greatness in young people. And don't forget to be a funky teacher. Bye now.