Finding Courage and Connection through Gratitude

Moving around the world while growing up can be both amazing and really hard - often at the same time. The simple practice of gratitude can help us learn how to navigate challenges while claiming the good. Gratitude is more than just being polite or saying thank you, and definitely not pretending things are okay when they are not. Research shows that gratitude can help cultivate courage and connection, broadening our perspective on the past, resourcing us in the present, and giving us hope for the future. This workshop weaves together a bit of science, some stories, and a few practices to explore the benefits of gratitude. Please have something on hand to write with – a pen and paper, tablet, laptop, or even your phone!

Learning Objectives: 

• ·         Understand the science and benefits of gratitude
• ·         Learn gratitude practices that can be used anytime

About the Presenter:

Laura Banks has been both a child and a parent in the Foreign Service, spending time growing up and raising a family internationally. She understands the joys and challenges of this lifestyle from both perspectives, and has witnessed the power of compassion to transform difficult circumstances into opportunities for growth and connection throughout her life. Laura is certified as a Compassion Cultivation Training^© (CCT™) Instructor by Stanford University’s Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education (CCARE) and the Compassion Institute. Joys include her family, their dog Harold, rowing and yoga, time with friends, and tasty food from around the world. Learn more at www.lauralbanks.com.