From May, 2016

“What Would You Do Even If You Failed?”: Risk and Vulnerability

May 6th, 2016

“What would you do even if you failed?” These words from Elizabeth Gilbert guided my time with a group of teachers, coaches and administrators with whom I have been working for the last couple of months.  This particular class session was focused on risk and vulnerability.

I’ll begin with a story that I shared with the teachers about how I got started teaching mindfulness.

In the winter of 2015, I was contacted by a woman whom I respect and love.  She wanted me to write a chapter for a book written for teacher and by teachers.  The content and format was totally up to me.

At the time, I was in a major life transition.  I knew I was going to be leaving my job, but I had no idea what I was sending myself into afterward.  The only piece in place so far was that I would be starting a counseling program through Methodist Theological School of Ohio (where I am now a student).

During this huge life transition, I had begun a number of practice that had helped me.  One of them was mindfulness.  Honestly, without my formal meditation practice, I don’t know how I would have stayed grounded through all of the experience.  (To read more about my personal mindfulness journey, you can click here; this is actually the beginning of the book chapter that I wrote).

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