Dear College of Education Community,
Today, as we recognize Martin Luther King Day, we are also deeply saddened by the great loss from the LA fire disaster. But the one thing that we did not lose is our commitment to racial and social justice as a form of self-care for all. In recognition of this day, the Sonder Behavioral Health and Wellness Center offers the following emotional wellness lessons from the words of Martin Luther King:
7 Emotional Wellness Lessons from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. https://www.sonderwellness.com/blog/2024/01/15/martin-luther-king/
1. Hope is a healing force. “We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope” Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
2. Opening up is an important step towards healing.” Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
3. Trust the process, even when you’re not sure where it’ll take you. “Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.” Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
4. All progress is worthwhile, even when it feels slow. “If you can’t fly, then run. If you can’t run, then walk. If you can’t walk, then crawl. But whatever you do, you have to keep moving forward.” Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
5. Letting go of certain beliefs can be a gift to ourselves. “I have decided to stick to love … Hate is too great a burden to bear.” Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
6. Forgiveness is a skill we must continually develop. “We must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive. He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love. There is some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us. When we discover this, we are less prone to hate our enemies.” Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
7. Real strength lies in facing our challenges, not in living a life free from them. “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
In support of our commitment to racial and social justice, especially in the face of environmental, social, and political adversity, Harvard University offers anti-racism self-care resources, including Black-led resources for mental health and free well-being and mindfulness resources in multiple languages at https://projects.iq.harvard.edu/antiracismresources/bipoc/selfcare
For a list of other self-care options, please see our COE self-care website for resources for faculty, staff, students, and the community at:
https://www.csun.edu/eisner-education/self-care/articles-information-self-care
Please take good care of yourselves as we move through this challenging time together, and do not lose hope. And please know that the College of Education is here to support each of you!
Warmly,
Shari