Episode notes
How to Find the "Right Kind of Scary" to Grow as a Teacher
We ask our students to be beginners every single day, but when was the last time you tried something in the classroom without knowing exactly how it would turn out?
When you're running on empty, uncertainty feels like a threat. But real professional growth doesn’t happen in the middle of our comfort zone—it happens right at the edge. The problem usually isn't taking risks; it's picking a risk that's too big and burning out your tank.
In this episode of the Why Edify Podcast / STRONG Teacher Report, Jeremy Jorgensen breaks down how to find the "optimal anxiety zone"—a Goldilocks size of scary (a 4, 5, or 6 out of 10) that stretches your teaching practice without crashing your week.
What you’ll learn in this episode:
• Why we avoid the "flutter" and swap engaging labs for safe worksheets
• The Yerkes-Dodson Law and the science behind the "optimal anxiety zone"
• How facing small scary moments connects to N (No to Perfection) and G (Gratitude & Growth) in the STRONG Framework
• 3 simple ideas to test your own professional comfort zone this week
• The Seneca Check: Why things are rarely as bad as the preview in our heads
Newsletter referenced in this episode: https://www.jeremyajorgensen.com/do-one-scary-thing/
📌 Weekly Challenge:
- Pick one small scary thing (aim for a 4–6 on the fear scale).
- Put a specific date on it this week.
Afterward, run the Seneca check: Was the real thing as bad as the version in my head?
- Drop a comment below: What small scary thing are you going to try this week?
Chapters:
00:00 - The Gummy Bear Lab & The "Flutter"
01:00 - Doing One Scary Thing on Purpose
01:36 - When Was the Last Time You Were a Beginner?
03:27 - The Problem Isn’t the Scare, It’s the Size
04:30 - The Science of the "Optimal Anxiety Zone"
05:20 - Embracing Chaos in the Classroom
06:23 - Getting Scared Outside the Classroom (Live Streaming)
08:23 - 4 Things That Shift When You Practice Discomfort
09:27 - Connecting to the STRONG Framework (N & G)
10:23 - Seneca’s Rule: Preview vs. Reality
11:06 - Imposed Stress vs. Chosen Challenge
12:26 - 3 Practical Steps to Find Your Scary This Week
14:10 - Weekly Practice & Reflection Challenge
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