TLU EDUD 732 Reflective Journal #6

TLU EDUD 732 Reflective Journal #6

This week was a positive week for learning and growth.  I was interested in learning about the 17 Global Goals for Sustainable Growth.  Some of the goals are noble and make total sense, like no poverty, no hunger, good health, and clean water.  Other goals appear to have a political bias.  I am not sure how we can get responsible political parties to agree on responsible consumption, industry, innovation, and infrastructure.  In today’s polarized climate, I cannot yet see a pathway for this to be possible.  

My Transformational Change Project, Part 6: Pruning the Growth, was challenging at the onset of this week.  It made sense to me how Bryson, Crosby, and Stone (2015) point out in Bryson and George’s (2024) work that collaboration is a key component when working with multiple organizations where nobody is clearly in charge, but all work collaboratively together to accomplish their goals.  It is really important that “approaches that work must be maintained and defined through attentiveness, adaptability, and updated plans.”  This is another area that really makes sense to me because of the “mindfulness” aspect.  It is fascinating how mindful awareness is a major positive leadership quality.

Finally, one of the most meaningful pieces of this week’s coursework was when I utilized one of my great mentor’s works in a discussion post. I really hit a home run because the material was relevant and aligned with this week’s learning material. Jody’s book “Maximizing the Triple Bottom Line Through Spiritual Leadership” is really impactful.  This book has plenty of insight on mindfulness.  Fry & Nisiewicz (2013) note, “Mindfulness allows the individual to explore often crippling emotional programs for happiness that are developed in early childhood based on needs for survival, security, affection, esteem, power, and control (p. 70).  The authors note that mindfulness is difficult work, and people will rarely attempt to grow in the practice until they are “forced” to change due to some triggering circumstances. 

I am fully invested in continuing to grow in understanding and effectiveness of these concepts so I can forge my development.  Jody founded the International Institute for Spiritual Leadership and has been a college professor for over 50 years now, and has informed me I can start contributing once I obtain my Ed.D.  This is another reason to help me keep focused on pursuing greatness.