Rooted Upward
by Shanna Riss, Middle and Upper School Psychologist
I can’t stop thinking about one of the books I read this summer. New York Times best selling author, Dr. Lisa Miller’s The Awakened Brain has impacted me as a mother, psychologist and human in a very meaningful way. Dr. Miller’s message is one of hope and resilience. We travel with her through intimate chapters of her life exploring case studies, relationships, infertility, connection, and motherhood. Her extensive data and research is a labor of love, and speaks to the interplay between neuroscience and spirituality.
Dr. Miller’s bottom line: When we are anchored in something deeper than ourselves, when we are rooted in faith and connect to our intuition, when we call on the universe for guidance and direction, we are happier, more joyful in our lives, and more insulated from depression, addiction, and anxiety. When we attune to our higher selves – by a quiet walk in the woods, by music that settles our heart, by stillness, by the sheer beauty of a painting or sculpture, by the words of a poem that live under our fingertips and seem to lift off the page into our consciousness at just the right time, or by welcoming a sunrise or sunset , we are engaged in life.
Immediately, I began to examine my own parenting. When I moved my oldest son into college a few weeks ago, aside from arming him with all the necessary dorm room essentials, this time, I found it crucial to sit with him under the magnificent oak tree, and share my inventory. ‘Please take time each day to notice the beauty around and above you. When you are feeling overwhelmed, sit quietly, close your eyes and take a few deep breaths. Still yourself so you can listen to what you are feeling and the voice of your intuition. Remember, everyone you love is embedded in your heart. If you feel unmoored, connect with others, through service, through friendship, and always love.’
The truth is, we all have a personal inventory of what grounds and engages us, how we pay attention to ourselves, and what helps us feel emotionally safe and sound. Often, we have to get very quiet and listen. The goal is to not only seek our higher selves when we are challenged, but to live daily in that consciousness. Loss, uncertainty, and change are a part of life, and an opportunity for us to transcend coping into healing, and sadness and fear into resilience.
As we embark on a new school year, with all the promise that beginnings hold, we can take this opportunity as parents to equip our children with the most powerful tool they will ever possess, their intuition. Their intuition will serve as a compass, which in time they will learn to trust and follow. We want to give them everything, but in truth the greatest gift we can give our children is the realization of their own strength and the magnitude and beauty of their own voice.