Dear College of Education Community,
The experience of feeling cared for is especially important as we continue our work in often stressful, demanding, and ambiguous conditions. “Studies show that feeling cared about buffers against stress, increases positive emotions, promotes resilience, and increases caring for others,” according to a 2020 article in Psychology Today. Author Rick Hanson, a psychologist and Senior Fellow of UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center, recommends that we “look for opportunities to feel cared about. Most of these will be small, passing moments when someone is sincerely thoughtful, friendly, or concerned. Look behind the eyes of people, and see the human caring for you when it’s there – even if it’s masked behind formalities, a prickly personality, too many words, or no words at all. When it’s there, take it in. Let the feelings, body sensations, and thoughts of being cared about soak into you, like swallowing water on a hot and thirsty day. And then each night, before you fall asleep, take a moment to call to mind again the sense of being cared about – resting in that feeling as it weaves its way into your breathing, body, and dreams.
To read more of this article go to
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/contributors/rick-hanson-phd
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
As a member of our College of Education community, know that you are cared for.
Warmly,
Shari