I was fortunate to attend a one-day workshop at the Garrison Institute a couple of Saturdays ago. The institute, a former monastery on the banks of the Hudson River, a couple miles north of the Bear Mountain Bridge, gathered changemakers for a day of contemplative practice designed to strengthen community resilience.

Resilience is a word that holds different meanings for different people. For some, it speaks of accepting limitations and bouncing back from adversity. For others, it resonates with possibility and a community's ability to sustain itself.

One of the exercises was particularly invigorating. Counting off from one to four, two outer circles were formed around two inner ones. We were instructed to come up with an affirmation that would be helpful to say to children.

The outer group moved forward and spoke the affirmation in the ear of each inner circle participant -- with the inner group hearing 10 or so messages aimed at boosting one's self-esteem. "You are love," "Seize the day," "Everyone has a unique gift to share," were a few of the thoughts whispered that day.

Then the two groups shifted places, with the new outer group delivering their affirmations to all in the inner circle.

It was amazing to receive the affirmations and it was touching to deliver them.

How our children grow up and what messages they receive give them the ability and agency to be a part of the solution or to be a part of the problem. Margaret Mead, a renowned anthropologist, found that culture was a determining factor on how a child fared in the world.

Being more effusive with encouraging affirmations bodes well to build resiliency for the challenges that we face in our world at this chaotic time.

We can offer them to children and adults alike.