If we sit still in our lives, we "create" personal challenges as a mechanism to keep us busy and to fool our souls into believing that we must remain stationary due to numerous setbacks. Many of these challenges have to do with unsatisfied desires and lethargy including absorbing problems of others and living in your head to satisfy needs of soul. However, when we're moving forward in life, we encounter challenges as a result of change and momentum where Universe must create balance in our wake. In long run, it is easier to only manage forward-moving challenges than to have to create and then manage our own challenges.

As you can see, challenges can be changed from "problems" by merely altering their purpose. It is a change in perspective that changes our attitude to those challenges that we face everyday. However, this change in perspective can only occur if you have a plan in place that allows you to look at things from a different angle. To do so, you must determine if resolution of a challenge will be a benefit to your desired direction. If not, then challenge might not be essential to resolve, except for purposes of ego. Yet, ego is only a false protector that comes into play when we lose our way. Once we have a direction in life, ego can be replaced with self-esteem to allow you a chance to build and move forward.

In long run your desire for someone else's life will merely bring on someone else's challenges. If you do decide to take on someone else's life, although their current destination might be appealing, their path might not be something that will satisfy your desires. Become your own hero and stop envying lives of others as, in most cases, they envy your life as well. As you plan and define your direction, you will find that your life is truly unique. Learn to love yourself and your life and take time to "turn it into" everything that you desire.

Mr. Pink, my high school English teacher, read a long list to us: “Your papers must be tidy. No ink smudges, no pencil smears, no wrinkles or crumples. The only excuses I will accept for late papers are …”

And how do your write an English paper? Neatly, without crumpling your paper, with a nice pen. There. Manageable and under control. Treat PAPER with respect. The finger down spine. Put on those lace-up shoes and suddenly project isn’t totally overwhelming.

Beyond standards, exceptional teachers talked about character and what’s right thing to do. Dr. Duda, my high school Latin teacher, discovered that kids had been making fun of one of girls in class. Without girl present, Dr. Duda spent 15 minutes one class pacing front of room giving us a lecture on how to treat people – with dignity and respect. She was almost goose-stepping, emphasizing how displeased she was. She also told us how to treat someone with respect. It’s always so nice to instruct along with your criticism, i.e., not this, but THIS.

Aware of cruelty often imposed on my fellow classmates, I suddenly felt safer. Here was one teacher who had actually noticed and was not going to allow it. Only when you feel safe, can you learn. The best teachers addressed emotional side of things. Mr. Ramon, another Latin teacher, started second lesson with a contradictory grammar rule and said, “You are thinking ‘My teacher has lied to me.’ “ Yes, I was, and it was confusing. Much about learning was confusing and it was so nice to have someone verbalize it. Today he says “Do it this way.” The next day, “No, do it this way.” It’s story of your life as a kid, and as a teen as well. Mr. Ramon was assuring us that while material was not consistent, he was still in charge of mess.

My junior year in high school, a student had committed suicide. The tragic news made its way quickly down halls, in whispers but was ignored by teachers. When we got to Mr. Adams’ geometry class, instead of taking his usual formal stance, he sat on edge of his desk and talked about what had happened. Not a word was mentioned in any other class. Schools are more adept at handling such things these days.

SUMMARY

The concept of inner sanctum means make your place of teaching a sacred place for learning where students feel safe and where special things happen. Do this by care you put into décor and fixtures in room, and also in way you conduct yourself.

The finger down spine is expectations and high standards. We all do better when a lot is expected of us. Not too much, but a lot. Things we have to stretch a little bit to get to. We have such pride when we accomplish something we perceived of as hard, and this is how we build self-esteem.

Exceptional teachers have presence. If you stand straight and tall, you’re running your finger down your students’ spines as well. Standing and delivering isn’t in military for no reason, after all.

If you're a teacher, be an exceptional one. If you're a learner, seek exceptional teachers. They'll leave you with more than how to conjugate Latin verbs.