During my (intermittent) periods of distance running, I listen to high-energy music to keep me motivated. High BPM tunes help translate into more energetic steps! Within this genre, a song that has resonated with me lately is “Bigger Than” by Justin Jesso & Seeb.

I loved it a little more when I finally saw the music video, which includes kids drawing pictures of what they want to be when they grow up (the 3-year-old who wants to be a rainbow was a personal favorite!). What struck me was the part where Justin bursts the balloons representing fears, and confetti rains down. “A life that's bigger than… Bigger than the fears I have.”

In the decade before the pandemic, the share of high school students who reported persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness increased by 40% to more than 1 in 3 students. The pandemic only exacerbated this trend, leading the American Academy of Pediatrics to declare a national state of emergency. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2021, 44% of high school students reported they persistently felt sad or hopeless during the past year. This number is even higher for girls (57%) and teens that identify as gay, lesbian, or bisexual (69%), as seen in another staggering report by the CDC.

https://time.com/6255385/teens-mental-heath-how-to-help/

The well-being of young people is deeply concerning and raises questions about what has led to the pervasive sense of despair, depression, and anxiety. Essentially, nearly ubiquitous negative messaging has created layers that can mask your authentic and inherently good self. It is almost like rather than looking in the mirror and seeing yourself, you only see all of the potential ‘negative’ comments an imaginary frenemy would make. This can lead you to forget your true worthiness of happiness, safety, belonging, and fulfillment.

During this time of year, I help 11th grade students create and refine their college lists. We use Corsava card sorts, engage in longer discussions, start researching colleges, and plan virtual or in-person visits when possible over spring break. While we stress the importance of finding a college that is a good fit academically, socially, and financially, it's crucial to remember that there isn't just one perfect college for each student. I recently heard a parable that made me chuckle, as it highlighted the frustrating process of applying to highly selective colleges for many students.

Nasrudin was visiting a younger friend who was about to get married. He asked Nasrudin (then an old man), “Did you ever think of getting married?” Nasrudin replied, “Of course I did think of getting married. In my youth, in fact, I very much wanted to get married.”

 “So, what happened...?” the friend asked curious.

“I wanted to find for myself the perfect wife,” Nasrudin said, “so I travelled looking for the perfect wife. I first went to Damascus. There I met a beautiful woman who was gracious and kind, but she wasn’t well educated."

"Then I travelled further and went to Isphahan. There I met a woman who was both spiritual and worldly, beautiful in many ways, but not socially adept.”

“What a tragedy...then what did you do...you gave up...?” the friend asked.

Margaret Mead, one of the most prominent anthropologists of her time, was asked what she considered to be the first sign of civilization in a culture. Her answer was surprisingly simple and straightforward: a broken femur that has healed.

Mead explained that in the animal kingdom, if an animal breaks its leg, it is unlikely to survive for long. Without the ability to run, hunt, or even drink water, the broken leg becomes a death sentence. However, in ancient cultures, a healed broken femur was evidence that someone had taken care of the injured individual. They had stayed with them, tended their wounds, and helped them recover.

This small act of kindness and compassion was, according to Mead, the first sign of civilization. It marked a shift in how people related to one another and signaled the beginning of a society built on cooperation and mutual support.

Fast forward to today, and we can see the importance of compassion in our daily lives. Whether it's helping a friend in need or volunteering at a local charity, acts of compassion help to build stronger communities and create a more interconnected world. In fact, one of the most surefire ways to increase your own well-being is to increase that of others around you. Tons of research points to this being true.

However, despite its many benefits, compassion can be difficult to cultivate and maintain.

Picture yourself strolling along a picturesque trail, enjoying the beauty of nature. Suddenly, you spot a dog beside a tree, which appears to be a friendly, charming little fellow from afar (assuming you’re a dog lover, of course!). Just as you’re about to let out a coo of admiration, the dog turns on you, snarling and lunging menacingly. You're caught off guard and think that the dog is a dangerous creature. But then, you glance at the dog's hind leg and see that it's ensnared in a trap, bloodied and tangled. The poor animal is frightened and acting out of self-defense.

In that moment, your perspective shifts, and you feel compassion for the trapped dog. You want to help free it from the trap. The same can be said about our experiences with harm, whether we cause it or receive it. Reframing and taking a different perspective can be helpful.

When we feel free, open, and a sense of belonging, we show up in our lives with openness and less reactivity. On the other hand, if you've gone through trauma, pain, or experienced other difficulties,