Empathy involves sensing the emotions of others and stepping into their shoes to understand their thoughts and feelings. Interestingly, to truly empathize with others, we must first be aware of ourselves. Discover more about this connection in our blog this week.
Read MoreMost of us think of mindfulness as an individual experience. However, researchers have recently begun to explore a concept called social mindfulness. This concept expands the notion of mindfulness to include an awareness of how our actions and decisions impact others' decisions and available choices.
Read MoreDecades of research indicate that acts of kindness provide substantial benefits to our wellbeing. But how much kindness is needed? Several studies show that at least five acts of kindness are necessary over the week (Lyubomirsky & Layous, 2013). Here are some ideas to consider…
Read MoreThe second pillar of kindness is kind thoughts. The best way to think about this is to picture the running dialogue in our heads. Typically, that dialogue is composed of thoughts about ourselves and others. It's that voice that whispers things like, "that person doesn't like me," or “they think I'm not smart, etc." Let’s learn how to address these thoughts and develop self-compassion.
Read MoreFor kindness to be your "default" mode, you must hone those other-related emotions such as empathy, sympathy, and compassion. Here is how to identify and differentiate these emotions - and how to use them to be kind!
Read MoreWhen asked, most of us would say that we want to be kind. And it is something we value in others. In Western society, we appreciate kindness in others even more than honesty, gratitude, or hope. In this week’s blog, learn the general definition of kindness, its’ three pillars, and benefits…
Read MoreAs we re-engineer the way work gets done, perhaps it’s time to incorporate more empathy and care into our virtual interactions so they will hopefully be a permanent part of our work life. In fact, research shows that when we take time to develop stronger relationships, we are more cooperative, collaborative, and productive (Kim & Robert, 2019). Let’s learn how…
Read MoreOk, it finally hit me today that things are really going to be different. The gym is closing. It’s funny how a relatively minor change in my regular routine made such an impact on me. What am I going to do? This is how I start every day. As I started to go down the self-pity route, I heard about a daycare closing.
Read More
