Dear College of Education Community,
The start of a new academic year is a great time to contemplate gratitude as a form of self-care. Take a moment to think about the people in your lives whom you are thankful for, the work you are passionate about, and the commitment to social justice for all that we have now and hope will continue. Gratitude can be wonderful and uplifting form of self-care when reflecting on our sense of community and belongingness at home and at work. Feeling gratitude for community connectedness also helps us to remain resilient and adaptive, especially in these complex and challenging times.
According to a Psychology Today article by Najma Khorrami, here are three other important reasons for practicing gratitude:
- Gratitude promotes self-care via healthier living-Research indicates that gratitude practice promotes exercise, better nutrition, better sleep, and not smoking, among other things.
- Gratitude promotes self-care via selflessness and humility-Self-care via gratitude holds benefits for social well-being. A regular gratitude practice motivates us to seek kindness and generosity to reward our minds as well as to improve circumstances for others; the latter, improving the lives of others, makes us more selfless and humbler.
- Gratitude promotes self-care via meaningful connection to others- Feeling socially connected goes a long way to promoting self-care as well as societal care.
To find out more go to https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/comfort-gratitude/202010/self-care-and-gratitude-how-they-go-hand-in-hand
For a list of other self-care options, you can also go to our COE self-care website for resources for faculty, staff, students, and the community at
https://www.csun.edu/eisner-education/self-care
With gratitude for my time as dean with this amazing college community of faculty, staff, and students. And I am grateful for our 4 new faculty members joining us this fall!
Warmly,
Shari