Thrive in Trying Times Teach-Out
See Your Strength in New Ways / Lesson 3 of 3
Positive Identities: Affirm Your Way
5 minutes
Positive identities: Affirm your way
The things we think about ourselves really matter.
Laura Morgan Roberts, a Professor of Practice at the University of Virginia Darden School of Business, showed us how important positive identities are, but how hard it can be to maintain them during hard times. She explains how the G.I.V.E. model can help sustain positive identities.
Your practice: Affirmations
If you notice that identity-derailing messages are beginning to consume your thoughts , try to apply these affirmations from the G.I.V.E. model. Support each affirmation with an example of a recent experience during which you were growing, integrating, engaging in virtuous action, or elevating your self-worth, even in the midst of challenges, hardship, or disappointment.
| Identity-derailing messages | G.I.V.E. positive identity affirmations |
|---|---|
| I am stuck. I’ll never make it through this situation, and even if I do, I won’t be as successful as I was before. This is a downward spiral. | I am Growing. I am making progress – sometimes gradually and other times rapidly - with learning new skills and developing better habits. I am becoming stronger through these trying times, and so are many others in my work organization and community. One of the ways that I am growing through this process is: |
| I am fragmented. I’m being pulled in too many directions to be truly helpful to anyone. | I am Integrating. I am drawing upon a broad reservoir of resources from my varied experiences, which can help me navigate new challenges. My authenticity and vulnerability can help me to build deeper connections and establish healthy boundaries with trusted colleagues during trying times. **One of the ways that I am meaningfully integrating through this process is: ** |
| I am incapable. I don’t have enough courage to meet this challenge, and I don’t have the resources to help anyone else in a significant way. | I am engaging in Virtuous action. Every day I rise to meet the unanticipated challenges I face. I will seek opportunities to provide compassionate care for others during trying times. I will maintain my integrity, by sincerely trying to activate my best self during trying times. One of the ways that I am engaging is virtuous action through this process is: |
| I am diminished. I’m not handling this as well as my coworkers, peers, or relatives. Everybody seems to have things under control except for me. | I am Elevating my self-worth. I focus on my own goals and growth, appreciating my personal journey, and savoring opportunities to contribute to my family, organizations and community. In trying times, I resist the urge to demean or compare myself to others. I am strengthened by becoming my personal best – showing up, being present, and making an honest effort to achieve collective goals and higher ideals. One of the ways that I am elevating my own and others’ self-worth through this process is: |