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Resource Guide

Summer Re-Set: Nourishing Ourselves, Supporting Each Other

Resources for Building Resilience & Self-Compassion in Challenging Times

By Emily Coelho

Dear Spark Community,

Summer invites us to slow down, find moments of rest, and reconnect with the people who matter most. At the same time, we recognize that this season can bring feelings of guilt for not doing "enough," especially amid the ongoing challenges in our world. It can also be a time when people feel disconnected from the community and support they rely on during the school year. 

We’ve gathered some community resources below that we hope will offer support—whether for you or someone you care about. Please remember: you are never alone.

With care and gratitude ~ The Spark Kindness Team

Guilt doesn't need to be your moral compass. It can be just a feeling that passes.

— Dr. Pooja Lakshmin

Choosing Care in the Midst of Chaos

created by Marisa Renee Lee and Dr. Pooja Lakshmin

  • Acknowledgment: Begin by acknowledging your body is in some form of fight or flight. This means you need to slow down and show yourself some grace.
  • Permission: Give yourself permission to feel all the feelings and name them. Naming them creates space for transformation and healing.
  • Community: Check in on your people. Social connection makes chaos and grief easier to bare.
  • Joy: Do not feel guilty for accessing joy. Joy buffers stress and increases emotional resilience. Joy is part of humanity.
  • Be of Service: Move with intention and figure out how you can best use your unique talents to support others. Whether it is writing or donating or showing up to a protest. Once you care for yourself, find a way to show up for others.

Featured Video: Real Self-Care with Dr. Pooja Lakshmin

Featured Articles & Podcasts

Supportive Resources in MetroWest, MA For You and Your Loved Ones

View additional Practicing Self-Compassion Resources here

View additional Building Resilience Resources here

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