Dear friends, clients, and other acquaintances:

I am excited to announce The 6Teens Project, an ever-expanding trove of short, thematic videos in which teens discuss with candor the people and learning environments they find most helpful. Each video is designed to be a patch of a larger quilt which taken as a whole can help us better understand adolescents and how to serve them. The 6Teens Project is an opportunity for teens to help shape a conversation about what adults can do to better understand and connect with them. I trust you will find their responses as fascinating and inspiring as I do.

It’s simple and free to access The 6Teens Project videos:

1. Watch – Videos are available on The 6Teens Project Channel. You can also watch the videos on YouTube.

2. Subscribe – Receive new episodes as we post them. (Just click Subscribe on Vimeo or YouTube.)

3. Participate – Share this resource with others and let me know how it has informed your work.

In response to The 6Teens Project I have enhanced my training workshops to incorporate not only cutting-edge brain development research but also insights from teens themselves into how to build meaningful, lasting connections with them, as expressed in 6Teens discussions.  If you are interested in learning more about these workshops send me an email.

Enjoy the rest of your summer!

Tags: adolescent health, communicating with youth, connecting with youth, educational reform, prevention education, training

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• Share/Save this article

A while ago I noticed that the root of authority is “author.” We often think of authority in terms of power and influence. A principal has authority over her teachers, a manager over his staff and a lion over his lair. But what about when we refer to someone as an authority on a particular subject? Authority in this sense indicates that the person possesses unrivaled knowledge of a particular field.

But there’s more to being an authority than knowing a lot about something. People who have this kind of authority have a particular kind of knowledge. Their ideas, though shaped by others, are not an amalgamation of others’ ideas. These people are the author of their own ideas by virtue of spending a great deal of time interacting with a subject. They want to know it for themselves and are dissatisfied with others telling them about it.

And here’s the kicker: The job of an authority is never done. He continues to interact and explore his subject’s farthest reaches. An authority is not primarily interested in defending his knowledge. He is not fearful of confusion and counter-evidence. Quite the contrary, he views these as gifts along the way to a deeper understanding.

Extensive knowledge does not make one an authority—not if he prefers being right to knowing what is true. Such a person’s knowledge is not personal. It is not part of him. Knowledge in this sense is utilitarian. It has purchasing power. More knowledge translates into power, influence, and prestige.

Becoming an authority is hard work, especially when it pertains to life. But it is a worthy project to adopt. We need to ask hard questions and enter into confusion and investigate evidences that appear to contradict what we believe to be true. We grow by facing into life honestly, equipped with a battery of questions. It is by this appetite for truth, persistent inspection, and willingness to get it all wrong that we grow, gain understanding, and become an Author-ity. As the author we can then offer our own ideas, instead of handing out repackaged ideas that do not belong to us.

Tags: authenticity, authority, lifelong learning, original thinking

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• Share/Save this article

I have a friend whose well nearly ran dry last summer. His family had to curtail water use until rainwater could restore the aquifer. There are times when I feel like my friend’s well. This happens when I go too hard, take on too many responsibilities, and don’t take time to restore myself.

Lest we forget, a life committed to being engaged is a life that values the care of one’s self. When we are spiritually, emotionally and physically balanced we are far better equipped to engage with life and others. We’re able to give the most when our own well is full. This means we need to find time each day, week, month, and season to immerse ourselves in those activities that restore our sense of wellbeing. Consider this thought experiment: If you had fifteen obligation-free minutes right now what would you do? Power nap? Read? Take a short walk? Think of what you might do for an hour, an entire day, or weekend, if you could release yourself from commitments and obligations. These pastimes don’t need to be extravagant. A “stay-cation,” in which you stay home, can be incredibly restorative—if you protect your time.

Taking time to fill our personal wells is a discipline in that it requires us to be proactive. It’s like making an appointment to see a doctor, only we’re making an appointment with ourselves. In some cases you may find it restorative to have others join you in your appointments. This isn’t a problem, so long as the time is rejuvenating. Some people, including me, require small and large chunks of alone-time for optimal wellbeing. I go on a fishing trip with some friends for a few days each year. This brief retreat offers the perfect combination of solitude and togetherness. I come home fresh, more grounded, and ready to engage with life’s many commitments.

For a host of reasons we often neglect to make such appointments. We think we’re undeserving and just too busy care for ourselves. Or we may think that doing something for ourselves, such as reading a book for an hour with a cup of tea, is selfish. But we must not confuse self-care with being selfish. Self-care is what we do to be more fully human and alive. In this state we resemble more closely who we were made to be. Selfishness, in contrast, is insatiable and interested only in what will better my welfare. In the end, self-care is a gift to ourselves and to those we care about.

Tags: engagement, mindful living, self-care

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• Share/Save this article