Reflections on Glasser "Sense of Place The wider environment

The sense of place...One only has to consider the tragic suffering of detainees and refugees in order to appreciate the importance of "belonging to a place".If human beings are forcibly detained in limbo,with no feeling of being able to put down roots, then the most dreadful loss of identity can occur.Throughout life's journey this understanding of "self' is precisely what a human being cherishes and cultivates, it is the human essence.If we look to great spiritual or moral leaders of humanity,such as the Gautama Buddha or Jesus of Nazareth or the great poets and artists of each generation, we are inspired to cultivate the higher aspects of self by breaking through the crust of egotism.The first step is to find a place of peace and harmony in one's inner life,and allowing this sense of peace to flood the soul.From this place a powerful feeling of love and identity with all humanity can be accessed.
Human beings are not unlike the plants.We need the right conditions for growth so that our "flower', the higher self, can bloom.By creating environments in our schools which foster a sense of beauty, belonging and security, the first step toward establishing a deep sense of identity can be taken.