Self-care and Renewal: Their Meaning and Relationship - Page 2 of 3

Renewal helps them become more aware of the good in themselves, in others and in their present circumstances. Renewal enables them to be more open to the unfolding possibilities in our lives. Renewal is a natural part of their growth process.

Self-renewing people share a number of similar qualities:

• They have the courage to risk, fail, learn and continue on.
• They have mutually satisfying relationships.
• They are highly motivated.
• They care deeply, and have convictions in which they sincerely believe.
• They set high standards and are self-reliant.

Additionally, self-renewing people are likely to:

• be value-driven,
• stay connected to the world around them,
• require solitude and quiet,
• pace themselves,
• have frequent contact with nature,
• be creative and playful,
• adapt to change,
• learn from down times,
• recognize that they are always "in training,"
• be future-oriented.

Self-renewing people seek and adopt attitudes that allow them to focus on possibilities and positive change. This trait enables them to become an ongoing source of their own renewal.

Self-renewal is a very important skill for teachers to develop. It enables them to help themselves - and to contribute to the health and renewal of their students, their educational system, their society, and their world.

This provides another challenge to teachers to help children create and nurture self-renewing attitudes.

Our biggest hope is that these young people will become self-renewing adults who can effectively address current and future societal and global challenges.