Self Reflection

I love self reflection.  This humble assessment is the beginning of growth and development.  When we focus internally, we find the reason we were born.  Our purpose is to serve.

"The only journey is the one within."

- Rilke

"In fact, my soul and yours are the same.  You appear in me, I in you.  We hide in each other."

- Rumi

"I am in the Father, and you are in me, and I am in you."

- Bible

We walk together when we walk with God.  We are all connected to Divinity.  Move with reverence for all life.  Build and rebuild relationships.  Rejoice, every face you see is the face of God.

Serve Others

I find that to retain and or build my belief in myself, 

it is important to help others build their belief in themselves.  

If you wish to experience joy, 

help others experience joy.

If you wish to experience acceptance, 

then be accepting of those that are different than you.

If you wish to feel forgiveness, 

then be forgiving.

If you wish to feel safe and secure, 

then help others to be safe and secure.

If you want to feel valued, 

then help others to be valued.

If you want to experience friendship, 

then be a good friend.

If you want to be at peace, 

then help others find peace.

If you want to be loved, 

then give love.

Whatever we want for ourselves, 

we must help others find the same.

Neuroscience Supports Social Emotional Learning

Richard Davidson, a neuroscientist, has integrated neuroimaging research into a unified theory of the happy brain.  Davidson explains that there are 4 independent brain circuits that influence our lasting health and wellness.

The first circuit is "our ability to maintain positive states."  Spiritual teachers like the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu say that love and compassion is the way to happiness.

The second brain circuit is responsible for "our ability to recover from negative states."  This supports the work of resiliency which is flourishing in our school programming.

The third circuit is "our ability to focus and avoid mind wandering."  This is mindfulness, meditation, and contemplation.  Our friends Brain Aikens, Jessie McFarland and Josh Gansky are teaching children and adults this essential skill and it clearly impacts health and well-being.  Neuroscience proves the ability to focus attention is fundamental.

The fourth circuit is "our ability to be generous."  This is wonderful and powerful.  We have an entire circuit in our brain devoted to generosity.  We feel good when we are kind, loving and giving.  We also feel good when we are treated with kindness, love and generosity.  We also know those that witness kindness, love and generosity also feel healthier and happier.

Neuroscience proves, as human beings, we are hardwired for compassion, generosity, love and resiliency.

- Adapted from "The Book of Joy" by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu, 2016

Relationships and their teachings

"The beginning of love is to let those we love be perfectly themselves, and not twist them to fit our own image.  Otherwise we love only the reflection of ourselves we find in them."

- Thomas Merton

Relationships teach us everything about life.  We soar, we fall, we love, we anger, we find truth and betrayal, we are compassionate and we can be cruel.  I believe we must continually open the door to our hearts and minds to learn and to heal.  Every lesson teaches, every lesson transforms.  Spirit teaches us.  We are all one.  We are all beloved.