EMPOWERING STUDENT WELLNESS

REFLECTION

By Matt Edwards (Primary Chaplain) 

As I continue to highlight the way in which we can use routines to enrich our lives, today I want to share about reflection. 

If we go on social media, we will see good times, good vibes and happy faces. But if we only see what we presently are, we can lose sight of who we have been and the path we have travelled to become who we are. 

Considering our kids, if they do not reflect on the past, then they can be far more affected by the circumstances around them. Neglecting to reflect on the past gives a very small picture for us to understand ourselves. 

Let me explain. 

We are not individual people, in the strict sense. God has made us to be with other people. Think about solitary confinement in prisons, and how it makes people literally lose their minds. With nothing but themselves, they lose a sense of who they are amongst other people. We all are social beings, even if we don’t want to be.

We all have, ourselves and our kids, a story of us. Who we are as individuals. But our lives are not shaped in separation from other people. In his book, How to find yourself: Why looking inward is not the answer, Brian Rosner says that we need to see our story in light of those around us. As parents, our own stories are the backdrop for our kid’s narratives. The themes of our own, set the scene for our kid’s stories. This means that storytelling has a powerful impact on people. As a kid, I loved hearing about my parents and how things were when they were growing up. It gave me a greater depth of understanding to ground myself in. 

Reflecting on the past can be a very reassuring thing for kids as they navigate who they are. When they hear stories that connect with their own, it helps them to see how they fit into a bigger story. One in which there are good times, but difficult times too. And frequently, difficult times that are overcome.

So, share stories about yourselves with your kids! Share about their grandparents, and the heritage which they have come from. The good times and the challenges. Using storytelling to reflect, even part of your family routine, can be greatly beneficial for our kids. In fact, for us too.

WELLBEING RESOURCES

We know that it can sometimes be hard to find the necessary resources in relation to mental health, bullying and family violence, especially when things are tough. For this reason, the School has a small webpage with links related to health and wellbeing resources. This can be found on the School's website under Other Resources or can be found here.