Learning Challenge: Empathy Meme

Whatever point of view you have, there's another. Image Source: Blogspot.

This meme shows something that is so so important, and one of the hardest things to remember. Sometimes, we feel that we are so right, or we 100% know what we are talking about, but we have to remember that there are countless ways to view a situation. And countless ways to handle it. We have to remember that there is not just 1 right way to feel, act towards, or treat things. Everyone is different and every situation is different, we have to be able to see where others are coming from in order to empathize with them and show compassion. This takes maturity.

Learning Challenge: Health/Happiness Meme

CtrlAltDel Meme. Image Source: Blogspot.

This was a the first meme on the page, but as I scrolled through all of them, this one stayed my favorite. I am a big believer in doing everything you can to help yourself. You never know what other people will do, and you never know what will happen. Life is ever-changing, and being able to deal with hard situations is something we all have to learn how to do. And it starts within! This meme represents 3 simple steps to the start of the control of your life. Now, don't get me wrong, you can't really control much in life. Things will happen, sometimes for no apparent reason at all, so all you can do is control how you react to those things. 

I really like this meme and think that it's message is important to remember in our every day life.

Learning Challenge: Attention Tips

Paying attention is something we all struggle with at some point. This can be because of a number of things - whether we are thinking of something going on in our own lives, we're hungry, we're tired, we are uninterested, etc., but learning how to push past these barriers will make it easier to pay attention.

One thing that I have found to help me hold attention is to maintain eye contact. This applies to face-to-face situations such as a classroom, a meeting, and one-on-one conversations. I have noticed this in class, that even when I am exhausted or uninterested in the material, I am almost forced to listen when I am looking in the eye of the professor. By watching them speak and watching their expressions as they talk, I find it much easier to actually listen to what they're saying.

Another thing I have found to be helpful is to take notes whether it be with a pen and paper, on my phone, or in my head. This way, even if you don't get every detail that was mentioned, you at least have some major take-aways and won't leave the interaction empty handed.

I hope these tips are helpful!

Classroom. Image Source: Goconqr.

Learning Challenge: Happiness/Health Tips from Emmaca

This week I will share some happiness/health tips of my own! I hope these will be helpful to anyone who reads. :)

- Vitamins - I know this isn't a personal 'tip' per say... But this definitely goes along with health, and I have a major connection to this. It's something I'm passionate about.

My body is hypersensitive to everything around it. Sounds weird I know. And it's sort of hard to explain. But for example, any medication I take for a sickness or even on a day to day basis, I must take the very minimum effective dose. I take the dosages of medicines that doctors give to babies because my body is just so sensitive. In many ways other than that. So something that I have learned is the importance of health. Along with healthy eating and exercise, vitamins have made a huge impact on my health and in return on my happiness. Every morning I take a range of vitamins. Pure, natural vitamins! The most helpful I have found are B vitamins because they give you natural energy and even improve your mood! (most specifically B12). Another one I have found helpful is Vitamin D! It's the one you get from the sun, but I have noticed my joints feeling better, and myself being able to think clearer when I take it regularly. I take a number of others including Niacin, L-methylfolate, biotin, fish oil. I won't go into detail about all of them. The gist of this tip is to take your vitamins kids! They really do help!

- Starting off the day right.

For me, this means a short little bible study ending with some verses. For others who do not practice christianity, of course this differs. It could mean a short reading of your own personal religious book! Or if you're not a religious person, a simple inspirational quote, or a horoscope, there are a number of different ways to be motivated in the morning!
I have found when I start the say with my bible study, I just feel happier. My spirits are lifted, and I feel confident about taking on the day. :)
If you struggle with finding ways to do this, my inbox is always open! I love encouraging others!

I have other tips to share, and I will continue to do so throughout this course!

Vitamins. Image Source: GazetteReview.

Learning Challenge: Empathy

I watched the video Brene Brown on Empathy, and I loved what she had to say about it. She described empathy as someone who is in a hole saying it's dark and I'm alone, and you physically going into the hole and saying hey, I've been here and you're not alone. I love that.
She said the difference between empathy and sympathy is that empathy drives connection, and sympathy weakens it.
Sympathy is apologizing for something bad that happened to someone, but empathy is being able to understand how someone feels, knowing what it's like to feel they way they're feeling and being able to put yourself on that level to make a connection with them. I knew what empathy and sympathy were before this research, but I didn't realize how important knowing the difference is. It's definitely something I need to focus on in my every day life.

Empathy. Image Source: Buffer.