ABSTRACT
Special education teachers who approach their work with gratitude, acceptance, and purpose have the chance to enjoy the rewards that come from creating happy, healing spaces for students. This chapter offers strategies to help teachers return to their hearts when they find themselves stressed. It includes activities to engage special educators and their students in cultivating gratitude. There is always something positive to be found if they search for it each day, and this can be a life-giving habit. Practicing acceptance when situations cannot be changed may offer a helpful mindset to prevent burnout. Special educators may learn to let go of their stress and frustration and replace it with peaceful acceptance. Finding a purpose to drive the work of special education may help teachers to thrive and find deeper meaning in their day-to-day experiences. This chapter reminds special education teachers that if they hold to their mission to love students and accept them as they are, they will find themselves refreshed over and over for years to come.
