"Stepping into the role of President of the American Psychological Association was an honor I could never have fully prepared for. Leadership at this scale is both a privilege and a profound responsibility. What I did not anticipate were the ways the role would stretch me-emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually. The challenges were real. The demands were relentless. And yet, woven through the difficult moments were opportunities to deepen my resolve, expand my compassion, and reaffirm my belief in the transformative power of psychology."
"Reflection is often romanticized as a quiet, contemplative practice. But this year taught me that reflection can also be gritty. It can be uncomfortable. It can require us to confront the parts of ourselves that leadership exposes: the doubts, the fatigue, and the moments of uncertainty. Yet, reflection is also where transformation begins. Through reflection, I recognized the importance of tending to my own wellness and health even as I advocated for the well-being of others."
Assuming leadership of the American Psychological Association produced intense emotional, intellectual, and spiritual stretch, with real challenges and relentless demands alongside opportunities to deepen resolve, expand compassion, and reaffirm belief in psychology’s transformative power. Reflection functioned as an intentional act of meaning making, revealing abundant, layered, and hard-won meaning. Reflection proved gritty and sometimes uncomfortable, requiring confrontation of doubts, fatigue, and uncertainty, and also serving as the starting point for transformation. Prioritizing personal wellness emerged as essential while advocating for others, including honoring energy limits without diminishing commitment. Guiding words for 2026: Rebuild. Restore. Renew.
Read at Psychology Today
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]