One of the most common questions I get about the Resilience Tree is this: “If environment matters so much… how much control do we actually have over it?” The answer is nuanced; and important. Because how you understand this determines whether you feel empowered or stuck. Two Types of Influence…
Posts from March 2017
A Framework for Growth That Isn’t Linear
Why a Tree? Because a tree is alive! It is shaped by its environment (its soil, climate, and care) yet it also contributes back, offering shade, producing fruit, and strengthening the ecosystem around it. It both depends on and adds to its surroundings. That duality is what makes the tree…
Resilience Tree: Roots
The second variable in the resilience tree metaphor is “roots”. For a tree, the roots are a pathway to gaining nourishment. For a student affairs professional, the roots translate to self care, finding an escape, a place, space, or activity that allows you to step away from work and recharge/refuel,…
Leadership Lessons from Dance – Cha Cha through Obstacles
I was speaking with a friend recently who confided in me that she was feeling stuck and as though she was not growing or advancing. In fact she said she felt like she was going backwards instead of forward. This made me think of dance, of course. I offered her…
The impact of a cheer: the intention behind welcoming someone to a space
I missed an opportunity last night to make a point with my students so I’m going to be vulnerable and share it here in the hopes that it helps someone… An RA from another community who is also a peer educator in another office was about to co-present to our…