A Corner of Peace, A Place of Belonging
Reflections on equity and belonging — imagining/creating a more just and diverse community
from Jess Yusko, Student Partner in Learning and Teaching
As we find ourselves midway through the quarter, and winter draws near, what type of inner resources do we draw upon to nourish and sustain us through this time?
How do we resource ourselves when we are dealing with a collective sense of heaviness, as well as facing personal challenges? These challenges could be related to health, family, finances, etc. You might have students, family, or friends who are impacted by many of the pressing societal issues during this time.
While these societal issues clamor for attention, we are also tasked with considering the mission, purpose, and goals of our professional lives. There are many concerns competing for our energy and attention. We have goals to meet concerning student learning, retention, and success. We must find ways of staying motivated and avoiding burnout after the mid-point of the quarter. Considering these demands on our mental and physical energy, how do we find balance and resource ourselves?
I had the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Letitia Nieto recently, about inner resourcefulness. I breathed an audible sigh of relief when she acknowledged that we are all collectively experiencing a difficult time. I confided that I really hoped she would mention this, but I wasn’t sure how to articulate these issues and address them. I am so grateful that she chose to share some of her recommendations for staying in balance and sustaining our energy and functioning well throughout these times.
Letitia first reminded me that life is about change. We can remind ourselves that although the circumstances might be difficult now, they will eventually change. Letitia suggested we draw upon our inner resourcefulness by identifying the support we find in our lives. What is a support? In her book, “Beyond Inclusion, Beyond Empowerment,” she says, “Support feeds our souls and hearts and bodies.”
Here are some of my favorite suggestions from our conversation:
- Find comfort in your four-legged friends, feel their fur, their purrs, or slobbery kisses from your canine friend. Animals can be very healing.
- Find resourcefulness in community. This is the time to draw together, find inspiration and strength in sharing our burdens, dreams, and goals. I believe that if we want to oppose systems of power which espouse hatred, we must come together.
- Find support in spiritual practices, such as prayer and meditation or a favorite walk. Whether it is a connection to nature, the ancestors, a mind-body movement practice, or another form of spirituality, Dr. Nieto recommends tapping into that connection as a source for renewed energy.
Would you like to learn more about inner resourcefulness? What about creating healthy boundaries and dealing with sticky situations? Finding your own flow state and goal setting? We have the wonderful opportunity to book with Letitia thanks to Evergreen’s Foundation.
