|
As we look to 2025, we are committed to evolving our approach and expanding our reach! To propel our thinking, our team recently started reading The Four Pivots: Reimagining Justice, Reimagining Ourselves by Shawn Ginwright (2022).
In our December team meeting, we discussed our take-aways from Chapter 1, which focuses on the importance of self-reflection and “mirror work” for social change movements and social transformation. In this chapter, Ginwright delineates between lenses and mirrors. He writes, “A lens is an outwardly focused examination about how the world works … A lens helps illuminate complex answers to hidden social phenomena that aren’t easily explained” (p. 26). While a mirror tells us the honest truth about ourselves without judgment, it reflects back the “hardcore reality” that we often hide from (p. 25).
He goes on to state that “our lenses over time can also create obstruction spots, because lenses are awful at reflecting back the truth about ourselves” (p. 26). And, these obstruction spots can lead us to see the world through a singular or narrow perspective – one that we come to see as truth. To understand our obstruction spots and clean our lens, Ginwright proposes that we engage in self-reflection or “mirror work” – harkening back to our anchor competency of Foster Self-Reflection!
We must constantly practice using our mirrors, as these mirrors shape our understanding of ourselves and inform the lens through which we see the world. With that in mind, core to developing a new “lens” or way of seeing (as we suggest with the Anchor Competencies Framework) is engaging in self-reflection – exploring the context we bring and the assumptions and beliefs we hold. In so doing, we cultivate a greater awareness of what we bring to our work and can in turn hold space for others to do the same.
Research has found that engaging in self-reflection – regular journaling in response to self-reflective questions – leads to greater clarity in decision-making for those engaging in the reflection and these same people report greater levels of energy and more engagement in team problem solving. Therefore, engaging in this self-reflective work is important for developing the clarity, energy, and critical thinking necessary for our challenging work in education.
It is important to remember that mirror work is a process and it is not a quick fix. It also demands that we build in time within our schools and organizations, and that we remain committed to this difficult work. With this in mind, how much time do you spend each week journaling or engaging in self-reflection? How much time is built in for self-reflection within your school, university, or organizational setting?
|
