President’s Letter: A New Approach for Meaning in Life

As we enjoy these summer months, we are reminded that we all need to take some time to rejuvenate and refresh for the upcoming school year. My hope is that we all begin with a renewed enthusiasm and an excitement to share new ideas with our students. For 30 years, I have always set a personal, professional goal of learning something new over the summer. For the past three years, I have spent time learning about and expanding my mindfulness practice. As I learn, I am able to incorporate and share mindfulness with my students in groups and classroom lessons.

This summer, I had several books on my list, but one in particular stood out. It was a book called “Awakening Your Ikigai: How the Japanese Wake Up to Joy and Purpose Every Day.”

Ikigai is a Japanese word for describing the pleasures and meanings of life. It is based on five pillars that allow us to flourish. As I read this book, I not only found ways to apply this to myself personally, I also thought about how I could apply the general ideas to my counseling practice.

The pillars include:
1. Starting small
2. Releasing yourself
3. Harmony and sustainability
4. The joy of small things
5. Being in the here and now

If we think about just the titles of the pillars, we can apply each one to our upcoming school year. From starting small with a new approach and being willing to trying new things, to allowing our true selves to come out as we make connections with our students. Whether in finding new ways to collaborate with the teachers and administrators, creating harmony and sustainability or stopping to celebrate and take in some of the small joys we witness every day in our profession, these five pillars fit our work. The final pillar, doing our best to be in the here and now and helping our students to see the importance of trying their best and persisting through each moment in their lives, may be the most valuable lesson we can teach them and nurture in ourselves.

Learning about ikigai this summer helped me think about and look for the joy and purpose in every day. As we begin this new school year, think about what your purpose is in your school counseling practice. Be willing to try something new by piloting a new strategy with a small group of students. Think about how you can guide your students to stop and take a breath to enjoy the moment.

Wishing you all a wonderful start to the school year!

Contact Lori J. LeBrun, RISCA president, at lebrunlori@coventryschools.net.