November is National Gratitude Month! As Thanksgiving approaches, our minds naturally turn towards gratitude and we traditionally express thanks during this season. This month, we would like to remind our students and families how a mindset of gratitude can help build community and foster mutual respect and dignity on campus.
The Dignity Index
A focus for IUSD Leadership and school site staff this year is adopting The Dignity Index. This nonpartisan framework was developed by Dr. Tim Shriver, Tammy Pyfer and Tom Rosshirt from Project Unite and is founded on the belief that it’s not our disagreements that divide us but how we treat one another when we disagree. The principles in The Dignity Index can help us to shape a culture that honors the innate dignity of every individual – a culture that rejects contempt, enables us to hear one another, learn from one another, acknowledge our differences and ultimately, find solutions to our problems.
When we treat one another with dignity, we create space for authentic dialogue, connection and hope.
As we head into the Thanksgiving season, we invite our students and families to reflect on what it looks like to respond with dignity each day and how that can shape gratitude. Families are encouraged to review these age-specific handouts and resources together:
21-Day Happiness Challenge
Studies show that it takes just 21 days of consistency to adopt a new habit, including training your brain to cultivate positivity and optimism daily, which can help shape a posture of gratitude. The 21-Day Happiness Challenge invites us to adopt one of five positive habits, which will empower us to skillfully navigate life's challenges and enhance our overall well-being.
We encourage you and your family to take on one of the following habit challenges a day:
- Three Gratitudes: Pause to take note of three new things each day that you are grateful for. Doing so will help your brain start to retrain its pattern of scanning the world, looking not just for the negative inputs but for the positive ones.
- Journaling: Write about one positive experience each day. This will help you find meaning in the activities of the day, rather than just noticing the task.
- Fun Fifteen: Exercising for 15 minutes a day not only brings physical benefits, but it also teaches your brain to believe your behavior matters, which then carries (positively) into other activities throughout the day.
- Mindfulness: Take just two minutes per day to simply breathe and focus on your breath going in and out. Doing so will train your mind to focus, reduce stress and help you be more present in the moment.
- Conscious Acts of Kindness: This can be something simple, for example, write one positive email or note to praise or thank someone each day. Not only does it benefit the recipient, but it also increases your feeling of social support.
By embracing these positive habits and mindset shifts, we can not only express gratitude but also create a more well-rounded outlook that is ready to take on academic and social challenges.