How Gratitude is a Tool for Resilience

Do you share my love for reading? I always have a book (or ten) by my bedside, and my TBR (To Be Read) stack is taller than some of my bookcases. Reading has been a lifelong passion for me. As a child, it was a way for me to escape into a world more thrilling than the one I was living in at the moment.

Reading is a powerful tool for personal and professional growth. It can help you gain new perspectives on the world. For my book club, I recently read Robin Wall Kimmerer’s The Serviceberry: An Economy of Abundance. This insightful essay, which has now evolved into a book, offers a unique perspective on abundance and gratitude.

Kimmerer, also the author of Braiding Sweetgrass, a number-one bestseller, weaves Indigenous wisdom, ecological systems, and the ethic of reciprocity to reimagine a different type of economy—a gift economy. She explores what it means to create a world where reciprocity and gratitude help meet the needs of ourselves and our communities.

Gratitude is one of those skills that creates resilience within ourselves and our organizations.

Kimmerer writes:

“Gratitude is so much more than a polite ‘thank you.’ It is the thread that connects us in a deep relationship, simultaneously physical and spiritual, as our bodies are fed and spirits nourished by the sense of belonging, which is the most vital of foods. Gratitude creates a sense of abundance, the knowing that you have what you need. In that climate of sufficiency, our hunger for more abates and we take only what we need, in respect for the generosity of the giver.”

Take a moment to reflect on gratitude. What resonates with you in Kimmerer’s words? What are you grateful for in your life? Where do you feel abundant? Who can you express your thanks to? These reflections can bring a deeper appreciation for the richness in your life.

Gratitude, abundance, generosity, and giving are all ways to build resilience. Resilience is the ability to bounce back from adversity. However, when we bounce back, we usually need a hand to hold, a place to recognize our needs, and space to be held.

Today, I am grateful for you. Know that I am holding your hands, inviting you to a place to recognize what you need, and making space for you in my heart. Now, go out and serve with your whole heart.

A Story of Hope

Last week, I shared about a teacher in Idaho who was asked to take down an “Everyone is Welcome Here” sign in her classroom. Watching the students’ response gives me hope for the future! Their resilience and commitment to inclusivity remind us of the power of standing together and expressing gratitude for the communities we build.

Let’s continue to cultivate gratitude and resilience in our daily lives. What are you grateful for today?

Creating Spaces of Belonging: Practical Steps for Leaders and Educators

Loneliness has become an epidemic in America. Outgoing U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy highlighted this issue in a 2023 report, emphasizing that loneliness is more than just a negative emotion; it poses a significant public health risk. In his farewell letter, Murthy underscores the crucial role of community in addressing this widespread problem, which impacts over 36% of the U.S. population.

One of a community’s most wonderful aspects is its warm sense of belonging. This feeling of belonging highlights the deep connections and acceptance that people experience when they recognize themselves as essential parts of a community. It goes well beyond just being acknowledged; it’s about creating an environment where everyone feels valued, supported, and truly understood for who they are.

There are four key elements to belonging:

  1. Acceptance: feeling accepted for one’s authentic self, including strengths, vulnerabilities, and differences.
  2. Connection: Building meaningful relationships that have trust, empathy, and understanding
  3. Value and Contribution: Recognizing that your presence and contributions are appreciated and essential to the community
  4. Identity and Inclusion: Experiencing a sense of alignment between your personal identity and the group while still honoring your uniqueness.

In my previous posts, I discussed each of these elements. Each is significant individually, but incorporating all four elements is essential for building a workplace or classroom that fosters a culture of belonging.

Why do we need to create spaces of belonging?

Numerous reasons exist for why this is an essential part of the workplace or classroom. Here are a few key reasons why, as a leader, you must proactively foster an environment of belonging.

  • Enhances emotional well-being, which reduces loneliness and burnout.
  • Boosts engagement and motivation; employees who experience a sense of belonging tend to stay with the organization, much like students.
  • Mitigates adverse outcomes of exclusion, such as absenteeism, behavior, and academic challenges

What practical, small, doable changes can you make in your workplace or classroom that will enhance belonging? 

Foster a culture of appreciation by establishing a weekly “shout-out board” for peers and leaders to highlight specific contributions.

Inclusive Decision-Making and Collaboration: Assign roles in meetings and activities to involve everyone in discussions and engagements. The Fist of Five and Cooperative Learning are techniques I discovered in my initial teaching experiences. When implemented effectively, they can significantly improve the sense of community in both classrooms and workplaces. 

In a Forbes article titled “Fist of Five Voting: A Different Approach,” Dr. Joel Rothaizer discusses how leaders can employ this technique to gather feedback during decision-making. 

In a Cult of Pedagogy podcast/article by Jennifer Gonzalez, “Making Cooperative Learning Work Better,” she discusses her struggles with cooperative learning and how the strategy can be better implemented in the classroom.

Check-Ins: Check-ins hold significant power and require less time than expected.

In a Facebook reel, author Simon Sinek highlights the impact of a check-in, which can lead to change in just 8 minutes or less when reaching out to a friend or colleague. 

In the classroom, checking in during the day is easy! Just asking, “How are you doing today? Thumbs up, sideways, or down” can make a big difference. Plus, having one-on-one check-ins with students who might be facing challenges really helps them feel supported. It’s heartwarming to see students pay attention to each other’s thumb positions and take the initiative to check in on their classmates, fostering a caring community!  

Small actions can make a big impact.

Each of these practical ideas is just one small way to start creating spaces for belonging and improving the culture of your workplace or classroom. I encourage you to pick just one of the actions and start implementing it today. Build the action into a daily routine, and as you do, watch how you create a community of belonging within your environment.