Dragon's Breath ~ May 2020

#JustBreatheDragons

HEALTH AND WELLNESS NEWSLETTER FROM THE CARROLL ISD K-6th GRADE COUNSELORS

MAY'S MONTHLY TOPIC

Resiliency and Determination

A NOTE FROM CISD COUNSELORS

Hello to all parents and students. We continue to miss seeing the sweet faces of our school families on a daily basis. We understand that this can be a stressful and uncertain time, and we want to continue to serve you in every possible way. If you are in need, please email your counselor, (addresses are below) and we will get back to you. We can even set up a virtual meeting or phone call to address any questions or concerns you may have. Please refer to the link below for all Counseling related resources and updates.: https://www.southlakecarroll.edu/Page/3172

Until we see you again, please enjoy your family time and know that we are here for you, as well as for your student!

Resiliency - Building a Resilient Family

The information provided in each update is from WhyTry.org. We trust this information will be useful to you. Helping our students learn to bounce back when things are tough is a key skill that will serve them well today and into the future.

With our current restrictions, some ideas may not be practical for today, but they can be utilized in the future as you continue to develop resilience.

HOW FLIPPING THE SWITCH LEADS TO RESILIENCE

Have you ever walked into a dark room and bumped into furniture, or stepped on an unsuspecting Lego? It can be frustrating to not see what’s in front of you. But when you flip on the light switch, that all changes – you can see the obstacles in your path, find what you’re looking for, and be on your way. Imagine that there’s also a light switch inside your brain. When it’s turned on, you’re responding resiliently to life’s challenges. When it’s off, you’re not.

Flipping the switch happens in the moment of a challenge – it’s your decision right then and there to take your challenge by the horns and not shut down or give up. When you really think about it, change doesn’t have to take a long time. It’s instantaneous. It’s actually not changing that takes time. You can be resilient right now.

FLIPPING THE SWITCH REQUIRES TAKING ACTION

But how does a parent create an atmosphere in his or her family that enables each member to bounce back and thrive in light of the setbacks they encounter. Flipping on the resilience switch allows someone facing adversity to see his or her circumstances in an entirely new light. To be even more specific, when you flip the switch, you stop for a moment, realize you can turn pain into power, and move forward committed to being resilient. We all have a switch inside of us; however, many people are unaware they even have this switch and how to go about flipping it to the “on” position. They stay stuck in the “off” position, not tapping into the resilience that’s already inside them.

THE OUTCOMES OF FLIPPING THE SWITCH

Outcomes of flipping the switch generally include one or more of the following:

You give hope to others as they watch you handle your situation with strength.
Your dignity, self-respect, and confidence increase.
You get your power back because you’re making a decision that puts you in control.
Inner healing occurs more quickly.
You have something to do with the pain.
Your anger is put in check because now you have a new perspective and can see anger as a fuel source.
You perform real service to others because your focus is turned outward.
You have increased empathy and compassion for others who are dealing with pain.
You think more clearly because you have insight that pain can be converted into positive fuel.

DISCUSSING FLIP THE SWITCH WITH YOUR CHILD

Explain the Flip the Switch metaphor by walking over to the light switch and turning it on and off several times. Explain that a “flipping the switch” allows us to turn something on or off and that just like a light switch, we have a switch in our brain that helps us see hard situations in a whole new light.

When you flip the switch, you stop for a moment, realize you can turn pain into power, and move forward, committed to being resilient. We all have a switch inside of us; however, many people are unaware that they even have this switch and how to go about flipping it to the “on” position. Flipping the switch is a skill that can be learned, but it takes knowing the steps and consistent practice to create greater resilience.

"Flipping the switch isn’t a one-time event; you can’t do it once and hope it stays on for your entire life. You have to be constantly flipping the switch. You might have to flip the switch ten times in one day. You might have days where you have to flip the switch every hour, or even ten seconds.”

Attributed to Christian Moore – The Resilience Breakthrough

Check Out These Resources

Watch for the email coming from your teachers for E-LEARNING: MAY PreK & Elementary Resources to emphasize DETERMINATION. A few examples of the many resources are below:

Jabari Jumps by Gaia Cornwall a read-aloud - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1O-CE6czyE

The Inspirational Story of 9-Year-Old Ezra French

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekLpn4zKiNU

Check out the Stop, Breath & Think app - Free for Kids for meditation

Great video about viruses for children - Yucky Bug by Julia Cook

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZD9KNhmOCV4

CISD website for Counseling Resources https://www.southlakecarroll.edu/Page/3172