Cotter’s Blotter: Reflection, Emotional Wellness, and “The Four Pivots”
by Cotter Donnell
The end of the academic year always feels so full – full of fun events, big emotions, and new ideas. I don’t know about you, but my mind has been running in overdrive for the last few weeks! Here are a few things that have caught my attention. Enjoy!
Making time for reflection
As an experiential educator, I know that deep and meaningful learning doesn’t happen without reflection. I believe wholeheartedly in the power of regular reflection to solidify my own learning, improve my performance, and just to feel good about the work I’m doing. And like a lot of us, I can never figure out how to make time for reflection! This blog post by Sara Tahir at Global Online Academy provides some practical tips on how to ensure you’re making time for this important exercise.
Mental health and emotional wellness for teenagers
Elite endurance athlete and all-around wellness guru Rich Roll has a popular podcast on which he talks with experts in fields ranging from health to productivity, spirituality, the environment, and meditation. In this recent episode on The Emotional Lives of Teenagers, Roll talks with clinical psychologist and author Lisa Damour. She speaks about the importance of equipping young people with the communication and listening skills that are central to R.E.A.L.’s work. This powerful episode is full of wisdom, inspiration – and yes, reassurance – for anyone who works with adolescents.
A different approach to social justice work
One of the best books I’ve read in a long time is The Four Pivots by Shawn Ginwright, PhD. In a fresh and unique take on social justice work, Ginwright makes the case that the key to meaningful change has less to do with building coalitions and analyzing social problems than it does with healing – and the most important place to start is with ourselves. Ginwright offers four strategic shifts in perspective – the four pivots – that will allow readers to approach justice and equity work with new ideas, hope, and enthusiasm.
Best of luck as you wrap up the school year and head into summer.
Cotter
