Dr. Gerilyn Davis, DM., MSM.’s Post

Happy Thursday! I hope your week is meeting expectations. I see more and more the value of resetting expectations when we are inclusive. In Phase Four: Review Weekly of the SWORD Inclusion System, we make a point to reset our expectations as we take action according to our planning. Here are some examples of what that looks like. --- PEOPLE ARE HUMAN: We embrace the human experience and recognize that we often can only do what our capabilities and capacity allow. --- START WITH WHAT WE HAVE: To expand our human resources, we start with what we have and build upon it. --- PIVOT ACCORDINGLY: We pivot accordingly to ensure we can build the foundation to sustain our inclusive efforts. Inclusion prompts us to be grounded in our ability to evolve, change, and expand. We become more because of it. Not less. Isn’t that what life is about? Enjoy the day! #joyofinclusion #inclusionexpansion #inclusionincludesyoutoo #InclusionontheSlopes #SWORDInclusionSystem #PhaseFourReviewWeekly

Happy Friday!! I hope you are having a joyful end to your week. I feel fantastic as I look at the little trickle of snow out my window while reflecting on the journey. Thinking about what to do next on the inclusion path can be daunting. I always say to myself what's next?! I use the SWORD Inclusion System to craft what's next. Within the system, we expand our view to narrow our directives. It is a concept of balanced thinking. The figure below displays starting nonlinear in our thinking to explore what could be. We allow ourselves to witness inclusion from a strength-based lens. Then, we look for common themes we share as a collective to leverage. On the path, we focus on our beingness that leads to our doingness. The process centers on crafting a sustainable inclusion system that is authentic to the individual and the organization. We start with the known to give us the strength and courage to go into the unknown to co-create together. In conclusion, we co-create systemic change for we will always need inclusion as new generations bring new perspectives. I find this to be so exciting! Enjoy the end of your week! #inclusionissustainability #joyofinclusion #inclusionexpansion #inclusionsystem #SWORDInclusionSystem #PhaseFiveDailyAssessment

Happy Monday!! I hope you had a wonderful holiday weekend. As I went on my holiday run, I thought about how many times I had run this path. It reminded me how often we must focus on inclusion to build an inclusive culture. While this is my life's work, do I always get it right? Of course not, but one of my superpowers is my resilience. I stay at it. Here are a few thoughts on strength-based inclusion. --- We always know HOW to create inclusion when we focus on strengths. So, we'll be able to try again.  --- We view mistakes as learning opportunities to use more strengths. --- We desire more strengths (inclusion) versus less (exclusion) because it adds to our collective potential. Every day presents a new day to share our strengths with the world. That's pretty exciting. Enjoy the day! #joyofinclusion #inclusionontheslopes #inclusionexpansion #strengthbasedinclusion #SWORDInclusionSystem #PhaseOneStrengths

Happy Thursday! I hope you are continuing to stay cool on these summer days. I feel cool as a cucumber when I reflect on the individual results of becoming more inclusive. In Phase Four, Review Week, of the SWORD Inclusion System we focus on building trust within ourselves to be more inclusive. Here are a few thoughts as we review the week. --- TRUST IN HUMANITY: The human spirit is remarkable and can traverse countless situations. There’s a level of trust that we develop within ourselves. --- TRUST OUR CAPABILITIES: When we count what we have already accomplished, we feel capable of going into the unknown. --- TRUST OUR NATURE: Nature is inclusive. We are nature at its finest. We begin listening more to that inner voice. When we are inspired to create inclusion, we start witnessing all the many moments where it makes life so much easier. Enjoy the day! #joyofinclusion #inclusionexpansion #inclusionincludesyoutoo #InclusionontheSlopes #SWORDInclusionSystem #PhaseFourReviewWeekly

Happy Thursday! I wish you a fulfilling day. Reviewing the week puts me in a position where I reflect on the joy of aligning with inclusion. When we focus on inclusion, we receive justice, equity, and diversity by default, or it’s not inclusivity. Hence, we view everything with an inclusive lens and alter behavior accordingly. Here are a few examples. --- SEEK ALIGNMENT VS. AGREEMENT: We align on honoring each other’s perspective versus attempting to agree with the experience. --- SEEK EMPOWERMENT VS. FEAR: Because we know our strengths, we can face our fears together and feel empowered to move forward. --- SEEK EXPANSION VS. CONTRACTION: We are more open to co-creating a pathway forward by being creative and collaborative. The SWORD Inclusion system can foster Inclusion on the Slopes. Once we feel equipped to be inclusive and included, we experience the joy of inclusion! Enjoy the day! #joyofexpansion #inclusionexpansion #inclusionincludesyoutoo #InclusionontheSlopes #SWORDInclusionSystem #PhaseFourReviewWeekly

Happy Tuesday! As always, I wish you a day full of well-being. When we can allow well-being to occur, trust becomes more activated.   In Phase Two: Why of the SWORD Inclusion System, we rebuild trust within ourselves and trust others. When we set the tone for inclusivity, we can re-establish trust. Here are some examples. --- TRUST OURSELVES: By knowing our strengths, we trust ourselves and trust that we can feel confident on our inclusive path. --- TRUST OTHERS: Because we know another person's strengths and attributes, we can trust that they will engage with their strengths.   --- TRUST THE PROCESS: With inclusion, we increase the quality and quantity of our relationships. We want more inclusion. When we are more inclusive, we can feel the difference within ourselves. We also look at others with a new set of eyes. Our connections make us better and we begin to know why. Enjoy the day! #joyofinclusion #inclusionexpansion #inclusionincludesyoutoo #InclusionontheSlopes #SWORDInclusionSystem #PhaseTwoWhy  

Happy Wednesday! I hope your week is going well. Doing a quarterly review of the SWORD Inclusion System, I noticed inclusion as an act of reSearching and reMembering ourselves. Aligning with the common denominator of us being human allows us to explore the uniqueness in each of us. Here are some examples of opportunity planning of reMembering and reSearching.   --- RECALL CONNECTION: Ever have someone you are thinking about call you or reach out, this is an example of our interconnectivity. --- RECALL THE PATH: The moments when something didn’t happen. Yet, it prompted something else to happen that was a desired outcome. --- RECALL RECEIVING APPRECIATION: Have you ever experienced someone extremely appreciative of a skill you shared? We all need each other. Inclusion is this perpetual reminder. Imagine if we made a point to plan our inclusivity. The amount of joy would be invigorating! Enjoy your week! #joyofinclusion #inclusionexpansion #inclusionincludesyoutoo #InclusionontheSlopes #SWORDInclusionSystem #PhaseThreeOpportunityPlanning

Happy Tuesday! I hope you are feeling a cool down this late summer. Anticipating seasons can give us something to always look forward to. When we ask why inclusion? We have more tools, which allows us to be more creative. We are prepared and look to the future with anticipation versus fear. Here are a few key points regarding why inclusion. --- BIG PICTURE AND DETAIL FOCUS: Because we craft inclusive cultures and organizations, we consider the details as they build the bigger picture. --- THINKING AND DOING: We can make decisions and take action quicker with inclusion as the foundation. --- FLOW AND RELATIONSHIPS: When we know each other and have connections, we can streamline for efficiencies. In Phase Two: Why of the SWORD Inclusion System, we make inclusion practical, quantifiable, and meaningful. We equip ourselves and can celebrate what’s next to come. This is where joy settles in! Enjoy the day! #joyofinclusion #inclusionexpansion #inclusionincludesyoutoo #InclusionontheSlopes #SWORDInclusionSystem #PhaseTwoWhy

Happy Tuesday! I hope you are feeling valued on this beautiful day. Within an inclusive culture, everyone knows their value and their purpose. In Phase Two: Why of the SWORD Inclusion System, we continue to iterate the value of our unique perspectives. More than anything, we create space to display that value. Here are a few examples. --- MAKE SPACE FOR CONNECTION: We allocate time to build relationships and connect, structured or semi-structured, to minimize social anxiety. --- MAKE CONTRIBUTIONS CLEAR: When we know our value, we want to share it. We communicate how we can contribute as individuals. --- MAKE FOLLOW-UP A PRIORITY: To gain positive reinforcement we follow up on our exchange. It will determine whether our efforts mattered. According to Lifeway Research, 57% of Americans question their purpose and meaning. We can’t assume that everyone knows their value. Recognition makes it clear! Enjoy the week! #joyofinclusion #inclusionexpansion #inclusionincludesyoutoo #InclusionontheSlopes #SWORDInclusionSystem #PhaseTwoWhy

From the desk of Dr. Gerilyn Davis: Happy Friday! I hope your week is ending on an enlightening note. I feel enlightened as my birthday week is coming to a close. Considering what it takes to create inclusion, there are tools that we must be equipped with to engage effectively. Here are a few tools to consider on the path. --- TAKE TIME TO INVENTORY: We address the current tools available. Some propel us forward, and some, on the other hand, are holding us back. --- TAKE TIME TO CONDITION: We start embedding incremental alterations in behavior. --- TAKE TIME TO ASSESS: As we take on shifts in behavior, what are we thinking and feeling as we engage in these behaviors? When we leverage strengths, we turn inclusive behaviors into inclusive habits. We begin to witness an inclusion system developing. We can then exude that into the world. Once we have the tools, the magic happens! Enjoy the weekend! #joyofinclusion #inclusionexpansion #inclusionincludesyoutoo #InclusionontheSlopes #SWORDInclusionSystem #PhaseFiveDailyAssessment