Learning Challenge: Watching for Empathy

I was excited when I saw this challenge because empathy is a theme that is very important to me. If you have ever heard of the StrengthsFinder assessment, empathy is one of my top strengths.

For anyone who doesn't know, StrengthsFinder is a very in-depth assessment that tells you what your top five strengths are. The strengths are in a significant order and are unique to you! I love learning about everyone's individual strengths and weaknesses, so I love talking about StrengthsFinder. I have had the amazing opportunity of serving in a leadership position where I have had the ability to talk with students about their strengths and how to maximize them.

Something that we always talk about is finding someone that you share a strength with and a similar experience you have had using it. I have had some amazing conversations with people about how we use empathy. Something that has been brought up a lot is that people around us sometimes forget to use empathy. Those of us that are high in empathy can get anxious in these situations because we don't understand why everyone doesn't think the way we do. Because of this, we sometimes feel pressured to act as an advocate for others in situations where no one else is showing them any empathy.

This can be a lot of pressure, but it is also a wonderful opportunity. I consider it a blessing to have empathy as a strength and I am thankful for those around me who are good empathizers as well!

Whenever I mess up, there is nothing more refreshing than a sympathetic response. I've learned that people are typically hard enough on themselves...we don't need to make their lives any harder. Empathy is a great way to show compassion and make an impact on someone's day. Empathy is something that I love to learn about and watch for every day.

(This picture reminds me to always keep others feelings and situations in mind.)

Learning Challenge: A Favorite Health/Happiness Meme

As the end of the semester get closer, the stress only continues to rise. At this point in the year, I find myself longing for Christmas Break and forgetting about the things that can make me happy right here right now. It is important to stay positive and remember to keep your own mental health on your radar! A problem with college students is that we often forget to take care of ourselves. On top of eating, sleeping, showering, and exercising...we also need to take care of that valuable resource between our ears. Our mind is a powerful tool and simply doing things that make us happy can improve our mental health. For this learning challenge, I found the following meme:

(This photo came from an entire blog of cute puppy memes!)

For me, I absolutely love dogs. So, when I have had a bad week or receive a bad grade on a test, I call my friends who have pets and ask if I can come play with them. This might seem strange, but my friends are used to it. I also FaceTime my sweet pups back home sometimes! This is a simple way for me to relieve my stress and focus on something that always makes me happy, even if only for a few minutes. This might not be dogs for everyone (even though I don't understand how it isn't). But, everyone has something that makes them smile! Maybe it's a night of Netflix binging, baking a sweet treat, or taking a drive with the windows down. Whatever it is, make time for it in your day!

No matter how busy you are, you are never too busy to take care of yourself. Try a Health/Happiness Challenge!