Hello ,

I hope this finds you well! I also realize that you might be feeling exhausted or stressed or sad or worried or a bunch of other not-so-fun things. The world is a complicated place.

I’ve been trying to remind myself that unpleasant emotions often co-exist with more positive feelings like joy and excitement, and it’s okay to feel all of them. They’re part of being human, and they teach me something about myself and my experience.

Thankfully, at this very moment my predominant feeling is gratitude for you! I so appreciate that you’ve invited me into your inbox, and I hope you’ve found value in what I’ve shared during the year. 

Serendipitously, our focus today is prioritizing gratitude, key #9 from Resourced & Ready: The Ultimate R&R. If you’re not in the headspace for gratitude right now, maybe consider returning to one of the earlier keys like cultivating self-compassion (#3) or exercising agency (#4). Both are powerful tools that are especially relevant at the holidays.

Before we dive into our exploration of gratitude, I'd like to express my own appreciation by inviting you to a free live session at noon ET on Monday, January 5th. Together, we’ll explore the final key from Resourced & Ready: Dare to Dream. What better way to start the new year! Please register here. I can't wait to see you. ❤️

Key #9: Prioritize Gratitude

Research consistently shows that gratitude strongly influences our emotional and mental health. Pausing to notice what we’re thankful for boosts positive emotions, broadens our perspective, and strengthens inner resilience. As David Steindl-Rast, a Benedictine monk and author who has spent decades exploring gratitude and mindfulness, reminds us, “It is not happiness that makes us grateful. It’s gratefulness that makes us happy.”  Over time, this simple shift can spark a genuine upward spiral.

Try It: Gratitude, Your Way

There are many ways to build a gratitude habit. From a quick and sincere thank you to jotting down a few things you appreciate before bed, any intentional focus on gratitude can make a meaningful difference. 

Today, I simply invite you to choose one gratitude-related activity that resonates and commit to giving it a try before the end of the year.

Some ideas include:

• Writing a gratitude letter (or, if you're feeling really inspired, make it a daily practice for a week, a month, or any horizon that suits you... maybe 12 Days of Gratitude?)
• Taking a few minutes to appreciate the many ways in which you depend on strangers in your life (e.g., to supply food, build roads, etc.)
• Spending a moment in grateful prayer or meditation

If you want to go a step further, try feeling grateful for the things you’re hoping for, even before they arrive—a perfect practice as we prepare to welcome the new year! You might even invite a friend to join you. This is great preparation for daring to dream!

I hope you'll give one gratitude practice a try and let me know how it feels for you.

In closing, I want to share once again my heartfelt gratitude for you. May your holiday season be filled with warmth, joy, and meaningful connections, and may the new year bring clarity, resilience, and countless moments of gratitude.

Thanks for being here, thanks for being you.

I hope to see you on January 5th!

Elizabeth Odders-White

You may know that I’ve spent a lot of time reflecting on how, for some of us, the academic environment is not merely challenging, but traumatizing. Exploring Pathways to Peace is a narrated slideshow that reviews common sources of trauma in academia (note that it’s not only catastrophic events), describes some of the symptoms, and offers tools for healing. I hope the presentation provides a path forward, whether you’ve experienced academic trauma yourself or you’re seeking to help others.

Whether you’re feeling empowered and energized or overwhelmed and exhausted, Resourced & Ready: The Ultimate R&R provides keys to finding balance and building resilience. I hope you’ll return to it often as you continue to navigate this uncertain terrain.

To support that process, I’ll be digging into a different key in each of my upcoming newsletters. We’ll explore the core concepts and consider simple ways to put them into practice. 

We've almost completed our journey through the ten keys from Resourced & Ready! We'll explore the final key—Dare to Dream—together in a live session at noon ET on Monday, January 5th. Please register here to join us!

PS: If this was helpful, can you please do me a favor and forward this message to at least one friend or colleague? And don't forget that I have lots of free resources on my website. I hope you'll check them out! 

PPS: Management professor Claire Wu, my friend and colleague, recently started a blog that explores ambition, alignment, and the cost of striving to have it all. Please check it out here! https://clairewndr.substack.com/