This is a recording of a Michigan State University Extension webinar that originally aired on October 8, 2013.  

Emotional resiliency is the inborn human capacity to operate from a relaxed, open state of mind which allows a person to bounce back in the face of difficult situations and adversity -- such as bullying and other patterns of relationship abuse. Teaching young people how to connect with their emotional health helps them become more resilient to shaming messages from others, improves their personal emotional regulation skills, and increases confidence and effectiveness in responding to others with wisdom, strength and clarity. This webinar explores myths, perceptions and cultural messages that limit our ability to connect with our emotional resilience. Through the use of personal stories, metaphors and humor, emotional wellness consultant Lisa Laughman, LMSW, introduces theories that can enhance our work with young people by deepening our personal understanding of what gets in the way of optimal emotional health. Lisa explores ways to recognize these patterns in one’s own experiences, as well as strategies for helping young people strengthen their own emotional resilience.  

This webinar was developed as part of Be SAFE: Safe, Affirming and Fair Environments, a Michigan State University Extension initiative designed to help communities learn about and address issues of bullying, bias and harassment in the lives of young people. Be SAFE taps the wisdom and resiliency of young people and invites youth and adults to work in partnership to create relationships and settings that are physically and emotionally safe. Be SAFE includes a comprehensive curriculum, which is designed for use within out-of-school time settings as well as middle school settings and which includes more than 30 engaging and experiential activities designed for group learning.