Episode 122: ACTIVE ENGAGEMENT: THE PATH FORWARD

11/13/21 • 23 min

We revisit "Type R: Transformative Resilience for Thriving in a Turbulent World", by Ama and Stephanie Marston, focusing on the skill of Active Engagement. When we started our podcast three years ago, we spent several episodes sharing key concepts from "Type R". Transformative resilience, according to the Marstons (and we agree) stresses that the kind of resilience we need to thrive in these challenging times is not the ability to "bounce back" but to "learn, grow, and spring forward". Active Engagement is the willingness to take on our difficult challenges and troubling emotions, work through them, learn from them, and act on what we've learned. It takes courage, objectivity to assess where we are and what changes to make, openness to new possibilities, patience to respond rather than react to people and events, emotional hygiene to clear away negative emotions, and hope to enable us to see adversity as a source of opportunity rather than threat.

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Episode 121: ANNOUNCING A NEW CAREGIVING INITIATIVE

We're excited to share a new initiative by our sponsor, Sonoma Coast Trauma Treatment, in support of caregivers and the vitally important caregiving profession. SCTT is launching a new strategic plan with the goal to provide education, support, training and resources for caregivers, to promote resilience and help prevent burnout. This effort will draw in part on unique, successful programs offered at the Bernstein Institute. In this podcast, we review portions of the strategic plan and share content from our caregiver support programs. The need for caregivers will grow dramatically in the future. Preserving the health and well-being of those willing to serve in this demanding profession is imperative.

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Episode 123: HOPE IN ACTION: TRANSFORMATIVE RESILIENCE

Today's podcast emphasizes our conviction that hope is found in taking action. We continue to revisit "Type R: Transformative Resilience for Thriving in a Turbulent World", by Ama and Stephanie Marston, reviewing the skill of Active Engagement. We introduce and explain the six stages the Marstons identify for "turning adversity into growth". They are: 1) The Comfort Zone, or safety zone, when everything is familiar and unchanged, 2) Disruption, when change comes into our lives, 3) Chaos, a transitional state in which we have little control and yet must stay open to the process, 4) Catalyst, when an "aha moment" or glimpse of something new occurs, 5) Integration, a hopeful time of experimentation and creativity, and 6) Renewal, when we arrive at new confidence and competence, with a new sense of identity.