SEL in Service of Belonging

We invite you to take advantage of the extra indoor time this fall and winter to expand how you can attend to your mental health. What will you do that serves you best? Settle in to the stillness and darkness and explore what this season offers for regeneration.

With Gratitude & Grace

Liane & Kate

Descriptions of toxic positivity vary, though there are some common elements in each definition. Toxic Positivity occurs when encouraging statements are expected to minimize or eliminate painful emotions, creating pressure to be unrealistically optimistic without considering the circumstances of the situation. Imagine for a moment that you could truly embody the “good vibes only” mantra. No single negative thought is allowed to enter your mind and you are feeling nothing but bliss – sounds pretty great right? Good vibes only isn't so good after all... Read more here.

These feelings [toxic positivity] aren’t necessarily new. Teachers typically fall into – or are forced into – the teacher martyr stereotype. And studies have found that Black and brown teachers are doubly burdened because they are both dealing with their own grief and stress while showing up to support students of color who are disproportionately affected by the pandemic.

Toxic positivity can also harm students, according to Arlène Elizabeth Casimir, an elementary school teacher who taught in New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and saw how blind optimism rolled down from teacher to classroom to student.

Read the full article here.

In addition to COVID-19, recent events have brought heightened attention to the specific stressors faced by Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) communities, who may be experiencing heightened fear, anger and grief at this time. Consistent with the Guide’s mission to provide timely mental health resources, we highlight a range of resources that may be useful to BIPOC-identifying individuals seeking support for mental health concerns and/or coping with race-related stressors.

View the guide here.

Some describe gratitude as the "social glue" that strengthens relationships. If you are curious about the exploration and study of gratitude, including the biological roots of it, check out this white paper.

Kate Ginney & Liane Benedict ~ Editors