A Long Way To Go
July 1, 2025
I so appreciate the sentiment of Shunryu Suzuki, “Each of you is perfect the way you are, and you can use a little improvement.” I could take that literally – like my body is serving me well and I need stronger core muscles. So, to improve my core I have started taking boxing lessons at the gym. (More on that in another blog – you think you are getting more fit, but you are actually having several existential crises looking at your midsection, worrying about your health, your lack of coordination, and so much more. It’s a trip.)
So back to the point. Yes to improvement in one’s cardio capacity and balance. Yes, for my health, I will stretch at those workout edges!
Yet that isn’t enough. I need to stretch at other edges as well – psychologically and emotionally. But those other edges will be easier to stretch at, right??
Given my day to day work on adult development and collaboration, I must have less stretching to do around my emotional intelligence? Or my psychological maturity? Or my cultural competence? Oh my. Oh, no. Not so fast, Jennifer.
I am working on some new stuff (!) around Stretching Your Learning Edges: Growing (Up) at Work. So I circled back to a few assessments I had taken around those emotional and psychological edges of mine. The assessments I look at are:
- Susan David – Emotional Agility
- Ryan Gottfredson – Vertical Development
- Intercultural Development Inventory
As I reviewed the results, I realized that I was exactly where a favorite gospel song says I am: “I’ve come a long, long way. I still gotta long way to go.” Oh, my goodness. A long way to go.
When it comes to growing (up), one cannot say, “I took the workshop and got the certificate. Check.” Or, “I think we had a staff meeting about that idea a while back so I’m good.” Or “I went to that seminar when I first started working here. So I think I am signed off.” Sigh. Growing (up) doesn’t work like that.
You can’t busy yourself out of growing (up). You can’t distract yourself with the ‘real’ work you say you have to get to. It’s kinda like believing that one workout at a gym in 2024 was enough. Sadly, it won’t be. The need to stretch at your edges will wait you out. Growing (up) is a daily practice. So, as a sturdy Midwestern colleague said to me, “If you can’t get out of it, get into it.” Let’s get on with it. It’s like eating broccoli for our spirit.
I could review my assessments with you in this blog, but my journey isn’t your journey. I just know I am still in need of development, and I am guessing you are too. As you think ahead to August and school starting you might say, “But we only have 45 minutes in our team time we can’t talk about culture or collaboration. We have work to do,” or “We have so many other things to talk about during those three orientation days we get. Folks will just have to get to know each other and learn about how best to work together at another time.”
The truth is the inner work isn’t optional. If we don’t do it, our lack of psychological maturity will hurt our teams and sadly, also our students. We need to sit down and think about growing (up) intentionally and often. It requires planning and focus.
The discussion around how are we going to be with each other (norms and values), what professionalism and collaboration looks like for us at this school (expectations for behavior), and what our plan is (intentional design for collaboration) to grow our ability to have a healthy, professional adult culture of learning is critical and can’t be ignored. Suzuki’s quote can sting but it can also bring us into reality. I have got a little improvement of my own to work on as I move forward. How about you? Join me.
Questions, comments, or suggestions? Feel free to email me at jennifer@jenniferabrams.com.
Cool Resources
The Tears of Things: Prophetic Wisdom for an Age of Outrage by Richard Rohr. “How do we live compassionately in a time of violence and despair? What can we do with our private disappointments and the anger we feel in such an unjust world? In his most personal book yet, Richard Rohr turns to the writings of the Jewish prophets, revealing how some of the lesser-read books of the Bible offer us a crucial path forward today.”
Moral Ambition: Stop Wasting Your Talent and Start Making a Difference by Rutger Bregman. ” In Moral Ambition, internationally bestselling author Rutger Bregman reveals how our conventional definitions of success are harming us and the planet, and shows how we can shift the focus from personal gain to societal benefit. In the process, he explains, we will join a growing movement of pioneers who are already living out this ethos. They’re the builders, the problem-solvers, the doers who have chosen a path less traveled. A guidebook to finding that path for ourselves, Moral Ambition reminds us that the real measure of success lies not in what we accumulate, but in what we contribute, and shows how we, too, can build a legacy that truly matters.”
Belong Hub – “Our approach is inclusive, design-driven, and adapts to each school community. By equipping learners with the tools to improve their environment, we empower them to take action, strengthen their communities, and build a sense of belonging.” The Belong Hub’s Leadership Kit for students grades 6-12 deserves a look.
