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Mindful Awareness of Sociopolitical Aspects of Self

 


This element of self refers to the social groups we belong to and the impact they have on how we show up as leaders in the classroom.  These social groups include race, gender, class, sexual orientation and the complexity of how these factors intersect.  The influence of these factors can be subtle on the surface, yet profound in the ways that we interact with students, colleagues, and others in educational spaces.  A 2008 study published in the journal Science looked into how simply holding a cup of coffee-warm, or cold impacted a person's perception.  Results showed that individuals who held a warm cup of coffee prior to analyzing characters in a story perceived the individuals as warm-hearted.  Conversely, individuals who held a cold cup of coffee perceived the same characters as more cold.  The study went on to reveal that this temperature-dependent reaction was also correlated to study participants' behavior, such that those holding the warm cup of coffee engaged in more compassionate and giving behavior compared to those having held the cold cup of coffee.
Imagine the implications for our perceptions and behaviors if we, without a sense of compassionate awareness hold our way as being necessarily right or the best way.  The opportunity for growth and cultivation of resilience comes in being empowered by a greater sense of awareness.  Empowered by the willingness to see triggers as an opportunity to go inward.

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