This session presents the rationale and strategies for building an “I love me file” or a “refuge file” of positive (self)reinforcement through the gathering and curating of positive feedback artifacts, reflection pieces, concrete examples of your successes in the classroom, with your students, in your career, and in your professional life, etc.

These resources – and this file – can become an emotional sanctuary to revisit after a bad class, a rude comment, a failed classroom experiment, or other professional setback that can’t help but feel personal and cut deep, especially when a highly invested instructor is tired and over-stretched. These stored artifacts can not only boost your morale and remind you of your excellence, but they can also contribute in practical ways – and greatly simplify – the process of assembling or updating your dossier for PTR, your files for awards, etc.