In today’s fast-paced world, our students are continually exposed to overwhelming daily challenges and problems that require adaptation and resilience. One common phrase used to encourage emotional resilience is “Get over it.” While this expression can be meant as advice for moving past obstacles or handling stress, understanding the true meaning and appropriate usage of this phrase is essential for students navigating their personal and academic lives.
The phrase “Get over it” consists of two distinct components: accepting reality and moving forward. By breaking it down into these parts, educators can guide students in developing emotional resilience and problem-solving skills.
Accepting Reality
Recognizing Emotions: For students to “get over” a given issue, they must first understand the emotions connected with the situation. Encourage your students to identify their feelings to validate their experience. This forms an essential step in processing the event.
Assessing the Situation: Some situations demand prompt action, while others may require time for emotions to settle before moving on. Ask your students to think critically about their troubles and determine whether they necessitate immediate resolution or if they should focus on long-term coping strategies.
Practicing Empathy: When hearing someone saying “Get over it,” it’s crucial for students to understand the speaker’s intention. Promote empathetic listening when discussing this phrase with your class. Weighing the context and empathizing with the speaker will help them decipher whether it was said out of genuine concern or dismissive insensitivity.
Moving Forward
Emotional Resilience: Building emotional resilience will enable your students to better handle setbacks when they occur. Encourage healthy coping mechanisms such as journaling, meditation, exercise, or talking with friends or family members about what they’re going through.
Problem Solving: Teach your students practical problem-solving techniques using real-life scenarios. Equip them with helpful tools such as brainstorming exercises, pros and cons lists, or role-playing situations to help them assess their options and work through the obstacles they face.
Developing a Growth Mindset: Encouraging a growth mindset, where students learn from challenges and view failures as opportunities for growth, will better enable them to “get over it” when they face setbacks. Creating a classroom environment that promotes persistence, grit, and learning in the face of difficulty will help your students cultivate this mindset.
Although the phrase “Get over it” may seem blunt and dismissive to some, properly understanding its meaning and usage can empower students to accept reality, move forward, and develop crucial coping skills. By incorporating emotional intelligence education in the classroom, teachers can provide students with the necessary tools to succeed both academically and personally with resilience and adaptability.
