Podcast Summary: Combating the “Mattering Deficit” - Featuring Dr. Sarah Bennison
Episode: Combating the “Mattering Deficit”
Host: Leslie Heaney
Guest: Dr. Sarah Bennison, CEO and Co-founder of the Mattering Movement
Release Date: September 25, 2024
Introduction: Addressing the Mattering Deficit
In this compelling episode of The Interview with Leslie Heaney, host Leslie Heaney engages in an insightful conversation with Dr. Sarah Bennison, the CEO and Co-founder of the Mattering Movement. The episode delves into the alarming statistics revealing a "mattering deficit" among Gen Z young adults, highlighting feelings of insignificance and loneliness (Heaney, [00:05]). Dr. Bennison introduces the Mattering Movement, an initiative aimed at combating the pervasive crisis of loneliness and despair affecting today's youth.
Notable Quote:
"A Harvard survey found that 44% of Gen Z young adults feel like they don't matter to others, and 34% reported loneliness."
— Leslie Heaney, [00:05]
Understanding Mattering: Definition and Importance
Dr. Bennison elucidates the concept of "mattering," emphasizing its foundational role in mental health. Mattering is defined as the inherent feeling of being valued, independent of external achievements. She explains that when individuals feel they matter, they are more likely to add value to the world around them, creating a positive, cyclical effect on both personal well-being and community health (Bennison, [02:57]).
Notable Quote:
"The most basic definition of mattering is feeling valued inherently at your core, regardless of external successes or failures."
— Dr. Sarah Bennison, [02:57]
The Crisis of Achievement Culture
Leslie Heaney and Dr. Bennison discuss the toxic nature of achievement culture, particularly how it intertwines self-worth with constant performance. This culture creates an endless race for success, leading to detrimental mental health outcomes among adolescents and young adults. Dr. Bennison shares her experience at Trinity School, where high competition fostered anxiety and depression, prompting the need for a cultural shift towards mattering (Bennison, [05:02]).
Notable Quote:
"Just chasing achievement without realizing that your worth never changes can be profoundly damaging."
— Leslie Heaney, [13:18]
Founding the Mattering Movement
The conversation transitions to the genesis of the Mattering Movement, a collaboration between Dr. Bennison and journalist Jenny Wallace, author of Never Enough: When Achievement Culture Becomes Toxic and What We Can Do About It. Influenced by Dr. Bennison’s initiatives at Trinity School and Jenny Wallace’s research, they launched the movement with co-founders Kimberly Kravis and Kim Towner. Their mission is to extend their work beyond high-achieving environments to reach diverse student populations nationwide (Bennison, [23:33]).
Notable Quote:
"We just want to create bite-sized actions from the research in Jenny's book, plus my experience as an educator."
— Dr. Sarah Bennison, [46:31]
Developing Actionable Strategies
The Mattering Movement offers practical toolkits for parents, teachers, and schools to foster a sense of mattering among young individuals. Dr. Bennison outlines actionable steps such as encouraging small acts of contribution, like setting the table or writing notes, which reinforce that children matter beyond their academic or extracurricular achievements (Bennison, [16:50]).
Notable Quote:
"One core idea is to make the implicit explicit. For example, telling your child, 'Your worth never changes, regardless of successes or failures.'"
— Dr. Sarah Bennison, [16:26]
Implementing the Curriculum in Schools
Dr. Bennison describes the Mattering Movement’s curriculum, tailored for grades 6 through 12, which includes interactive lessons for students, professional development modules for teachers, and companion resources for parents. These lessons aim to build community, recognize individual strengths, and create environments where students feel genuinely seen and valued (Bennison, [27:21]).
Notable Quote:
"When people feel valued and invested in a community, they're ready for deep learning."
— Dr. Sarah Bennison, [43:20]
Example Activity:
Students identify and share their top three strengths, fostering mutual respect and understanding within the classroom. This activity not only highlights individual talents but also encourages collaborative problem-solving and empathy among peers ([31:53]).
Pilot Program Results and Impact
The pilot program, conducted in 11 diverse schools and reaching 1,400 students, demonstrated significant positive outcomes. Both teachers and students reported increased confidence in discussing mental health and social-emotional issues after participating in just three lessons. This underscores the effectiveness of even brief interventions in promoting a sense of mattering (Bennison, [37:35]).
Notable Quote:
"Once you can start a conversation, that's the starting point for deeper connections and understanding."
— Dr. Sarah Bennison, [40:12]
Engaging with the Mattering Movement
For parents and educators interested in incorporating the Mattering Movement’s strategies, Dr. Bennison provides clear guidance. Parents can obtain toolkits from the Movement’s website, which offer structured activities to reinforce mattering at home. Schools can partner with the Movement by contacting them directly to implement the curriculum and participate in speaking events.
Notable Quote:
"Our goal is to reach as many students in schools as possible, diverse schools, including underserved communities."
— Dr. Sarah Bennison, [46:01]
Future Vision and Expansion
Looking ahead, Dr. Bennison envisions expanding the curriculum to younger grades and higher education institutions. She also aims to address mattering across various life stages, including young adulthood and retirement, recognizing that the need to feel valued is universal and timeless. The Movement seeks to create inclusive environments where individuals of all ages can thrive through a reinforced sense of mattering (Bennison, [48:48]).
Notable Quote:
"Mattering is such a powerful framework because what wouldn't you want except a dorm or a community within school where people really feel like they matter."
— Dr. Sarah Bennison, [48:48]
Conclusion: Empowering Youth and Communities
Leslie Heaney concludes the episode by applauding Dr. Bennison and her team for their vital work in fostering a sense of mattering among young people. The conversation underscores the importance of redefining success beyond achievements and cultivating environments where every individual feels inherently valued.
Final Thoughts:
"Having you lead this charge with your co-founders is a tremendous act of service to so many communities."
— Leslie Heaney, [51:03]
For more information and to access resources, listeners are encouraged to visit the Mattering Movement’s website and follow their Instagram page.
Resources:
- Website: Mattering Movement
- Instagram: @MatteringMovement
- Book Mentioned: Never Enough: When Achievement Culture Becomes Toxic and What We Can Do About It by Jenny Wallace