empathy

Faith, Resilience, and the Gentle Strength of Encouragement

anny@familybridgesusa.org — Tue, 05 Nov 2024 18:25:32 +0000

Faith, Resilience, and the Gentle Strength of Encouragement

anny@familybri… Tue, 11/05/2024 - 12:25 Nov 5, 2024

As I descended from the stage, my mind still buzzing with the echoes of my speech to faith-driven business leaders, a gentle voice from the crowd halted me. It wasn't about my words or our actions; instead, she felt a pressing nudge to pray for me. Her heartfelt prayer and blessings were like a soothing balm to my soul, enveloping me in warmth and comfort.

During that period of time a few years ago, my heart felt burdened as I navigated through one of the toughest challenge our organization had ever faced. One day while in DC, within a span of a six hours, I was hit with devastating funding cuts from two major sources, totaling a staggering million dollars. This forced us into the heartbreaking position of having to reduce staff, scale back programs, and, most painfully, risk losing the hard-earned trust of our community leaders in regions impacted.

The prayer lifted me and reminded me that just like God had rescued the Israelites from the hands of the Egyptians and brought them to himself not just once but repeatedly, that he too would carry us through. I was reminded that He had called me and my family for a greater purpose and that my job was simply to faithfully obey.

How have you been encouraged in your life?

Encouragement is a transformative force that can uplift and inspire. It can spread like a contagious wave, much like the infectious energy of a team you cheer for, filling you with the exhilarating hope of their triumph. Or it can come subtly, softly through a heartfelt prayer, a kind word, an affirming message, or even a powerful song that touches the very fabric of your soul. Beyond these, think of the joy in recalling God's extraordinary works in your life and the promises that guide your journey. These moments resonate differently from the thrill of reaching a hard-won goal, yet they energize you with a fresh sense of purpose.

Can you recall a moment when you summoned the strength to rise from bed, even when you were reluctant to conquer the day’s tasks? There is an adorable viral video of a girl sharing positive affirmations in front of a mirror. The concept of self-motivation through personal pep talks has gained traction, fueled by the self-made movement. Sure, one can argue that there are moments that this may help.

Encouragement transcends self-initiated efforts; it is a universal language of support, a potent force that binds and elevates us, fostering deep connections among individuals.

This is probably why it is such a prominent theme in several self-help books, in leadership, enhancing marital satisfaction, in parenting and family science, and embedded in several counseling frameworks. The literature offers some intriguing findings on encouragement. It has been tied to the development of students’ and athletes’ physical fitness, for example, and to fostering family resilience.

It is woven into the very fabric of our mission statement, "end the cycle of family trauma through innovative programs that empower, equip, and encourage underserved communities."

So what is encouragement?

In 1956, psychologist Alfred Adler introduced the idea that encouragement is crucial for human growth. Over time, it has evolved to signify the act of inspiring others, offering assistance, discovering pathways to overcome challenges, conveying a silent yet powerful message of self-worth, and instilling the confidence and courage needed to embrace change.

The Bible is filled with stories, verses, and psalms of worship that inspire us and also prompt us to encourage one another, particularly those who are disheartened (1 Thessalonians 5:11-15). Through the Holy Spirit, God inspires and uplifts us, His words and promises fill us with hope, worship rejuvenates our spirits, and we are empowered to pass that encouragement on to others.

"And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching."

(Hebrews 10:24-25)

Life's challenges---from the shadows of despair and anxiety to the trials of job loss, relationship struggles, or global crises---are inevitable. Yet, within the pages of the Bible, we discover a wellspring of hope and strength. These verses offer a beacon of light, guiding us back to the unwavering promises of God, reminding us that no matter the storm, there is always a path to renewal and faith.

"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

(Isaiah 41:10)

The need is great. Consider these staggering statistics: a 167% rise in suicide rates among children aged 10-14, a 138% surge in anxiety among young adults aged 18-25, and 81% of employees reporting that their jobs negatively affect their mental health.

In a world where isolation can feel overwhelming, community acts as a beacon of hope, creating a nurturing environment where encouragement thrives. It possesses a healing power that resonates deep within the soul, igniting the heart and sparking transformation. I am privileged to witness the profound impact of uplifting others during their darkest times, watching as they blossom with newfound strength. The call for encouragement is urgent and pervasive. I invite you to join us in this vital mission to make a difference.

Someone in your home needs encouragement today.

Someone in your neighborhood needs encouragement today.

Someone you work with needs encouragement today.

Encourage them by. . .

Listening: Create space to take them in and truly listen to their heart. Avoid jumping in quickly with unsolicited solutions.

Being Vulnerable: Reveal your journey through a difficult chapter in your life, highlighting how His guidance and support led you to triumph.

Showing Up: Encourage someone by showing up to the celebrations, the experiences they invite you to be a part, the dreams they share with you.

Praying for them: Ask how you can pray for someone and follow-up, praying with them and for them.

Pointing to their strengths: Recognize their strengths, what they bring to the table, and how they matter.

Inviting them to remember: Invite them to recollect a time they overcame a struggle or a challenge and to reflect on what helped them pull through.

Being genuinely grateful: This month, we pause and remember the blessings God has architected for our life, his favor and good will for us. We get to slow down and express our gratitude to those we love and cherish. And gratitude is one powerful way we can encourage one another. Gratitude softens hardened hearts, breaks through contempt, paves a path for healing, and gives you joy.

There are so many ways you can encourage others today. You can make a difference today in someone's life.

Who will you encourage today?

by Alicia La Hoz, Psy.D.

faith

community

friendship

kindness

empathy

spiritual

Language English

Modeling empathy

Sara — Fri, 28 Aug 2020 16:07:53 +0000

Modeling empathy

About this episode

A conversation about teaching & modeling empathy to children

Talking to your kids about poverty and helping others is one thing. Showing them by volunteering, being kind to others and being accepting of other's differences - that's a much more powerful teaching tool. Tune in to hear first hand how empathy can make a huge difference in your life and the life of your children.

Sara Fri, 08/28/2020 - 11:07 https://soundcloud.com/familybridgesusa/modeling-empathy-a-conversation-about-t…

Soundcloud Embed

28 August 2020

Alicia La Hoz, Psy.D. Founder & CEO

Letticia Martinez U.S. Paralympian Swimmer

Omar Ramos Host

Veronica Avila Co-Host

Podcast Series

The Struggle is Real: Modern Parenting

Additional Info

TOOLS

The Struggle is Real podcast is based off the book, The Struggle is Real: Parenting in the 21st Century written by Dr. Alicia La Hoz & Dr. Paul Meier.

Podcast season

Gratitude, Kindness & Empathy

Choosing gratitude

A guide to choosing to be grateful with your children Gratitude is a daily choice, plain and simple. No matter your life or your circumstances...

Listen to Episode

Modeling empathy

A conversation about teaching & modeling empathy to children Talking to your kids about poverty and helping others is one thing. Showing them by volunteering...

Listen to Episode

Prizing generosity

How to practice and inspire generosity "It's better to give than to receive" is more than an inspiring quote. It's a truth that can add...

Listen to Episode

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Empathy: What is it and why you need it

Sara — Tue, 25 Aug 2020 18:43:07 +0000

Empathy: What is it and why you need it

Sara Tue, 08/25/2020 - 13:43 Aug 25, 2020

Think of a time you strongly connected with a friend. You felt their emotion and understood where they were coming from. Your empathy made you feel closer and more in sync as friends.

But empathy is more than just intense feelings. It’s the emotional glue that holds our society together. Empathy allows you to live and work with other people. You volunteer your time and encourage your coworkers. These experiences are all driven by empathy.

You probably use empathy each day more often than you realize. Take a closer look at what empathy is, the three main types, and some of the many benefits in your everyday life.

What is empathy?

Empathy is taking someone else’s viewpoint and understanding their feelings. You try to feel as they feel, see the world through their eyes. As you empathize with someone, you are compassionate and caring.

When you can put yourself in another person’s shoes, empathy can be a moving experience. Imagine seeing a person who’s feeling physical pain. A pinched face, a look of anguish, and an outward cry are all clues. Something hurts terribly, and it’s not getting better. You might react by flinching, pinching your mouth, and remembering a time you were recently hurt. Each part of your reaction helps you identify with that person’s pain right away.

Most people think of empathy as a single emotional reaction. But experts have broken it down into two emotions, tenderness and sympathy.

Tenderness – When you sense that another person has no specific need but is vulnerable.
Example: You see Sarah sitting alone on a bench downtown. She looks about 9 or 10 years old, is without an adult, and it’s getting dark out.
Sympathy – When you sense that another person is suffering or has a need right now.
Example: You see Sarah sitting alone on a bench downtown. She looks about 9 or 10 years old and is crying. Her right hand is bleeding, and she’s squeezing it tightly with her left hand.

Three Types of Empathy

There are three main types of empathy. With each type, you sense another person’s needs in a different way, and one type motivates you to take action.

Affective Empathy

Affective empathy is when you can feel and understand another person’s emotions. When someone shares a sad story or gets excited over good news, you sense their emotion and feel it yourself. Politicians and advertisers use affective empathy to sway you. When they stir up your feelings, you connect with their message.

Example: Your neighbor, Jim, talks with you after work about his dog. Jim’s wife just told him their dog had died while they were away at work. You have pets, and you know how you would feel in that situation. Jim’s shaky tone of voice and his frown clearly show his sadness. You understand and feel it with him.

Cognitive Empathy

Cognitive empathy means understanding another person’s viewpoint. You step into their shoes and imagine yourself with their beliefs and thoughts. Rather than sensing a person’s raw emotions, you try to understand their personal experience. Cognitive empathy is a skill and can be helpful when motivating someone or negotiating.

Example: Shane is on his first day of work. He’s not sure how his new job will work out, but he likes his new boss, Jim. Jim is a funny and kind guy, not much older than Shane. He’s been at the job a few years and remembers what it’s like to start fresh. Jim tells Shane he’ll get the hang of it before long and that everyone is happy to help him. Jim notices how nervous Shane looks and encourages him a lot throughout the day.

Empathic Concern

Empathic concern is what drives you to help others. You go beyond sensing their emotions and understanding their perspective. Your empathic concern moves you to volunteer, offer help to a neighbor in need, or donate to a food bank. You support a person by taking action instead of only feeling their emotions with them.

Example: Without warning, Josie gets fired from her job at the end of her shift. She comes home in tears, and her roommate, Maria, asks her what’s happened. Maria senses Josie’s stress building by the minute. Now Maria feels a nervous knot in her stomach, too. She knows she needs to help Josie through this. So, Maria stands up and puts a blanket around Josie’s shoulders. She hugs Josie and makes two cups of tea. Josie calms down and feels a little better.

Benefits of Empathy

Empathy goes beyond understanding someone for just a few moments. It affects the way we get along with others and helps us cooperate when it really matters. Here are just some of the many benefits of being empathetic to others.

Keeping yourself safe

When you read other people’s emotions, you learn to protect yourself from harm. When you see the fear on another person’s face, you can sense danger without having to get close.

Example: A bad thunderstorm rolls in, and Eric steps out to look at the storm clouds. His son, Tim, sees a weather alert on TV showing a possible tornado in the area. After a few minutes, Eric comes running back into the house with a look of shock on his face. Tim knows right away that his dad has seen a funnel cloud, and both head for the basement.

Living and working with other people

Empathy helps you get along with people and share resources. You can put aside your own feelings of discomfort and help others because you know it will matter to them.

Example: Samantha gets up before dawn on the days she works at the hospital. Her husband, Jack, doesn’t need to be up that early for his job, but he gets up with her on these days. He packs Samantha’s lunch and makes breakfast, so she has more time to get ready. Jack could get more sleep and let Samantha take care of herself. But he knows Samantha’s days at the hospital are long, and he wants to make them easier for her.

Positivity and cooperation in your community

Empathic concern motivates you to act in helpful ways. Your positive actions affect everyone you meet and encourage people to cooperate.

Example: Matthew and Lisa live in a small town near a river. Heavy rain begins, and weather alerts warn of possible flooding. As the rains come, Matthew and Lisa check on older neighbors to make sure they are safe during the storm. When floodwaters get close to the main road, Matthew and Lisa spend hours moving heavy sandbags. Many others from their town work together day and night to keep everyone safe.

Empathy – Connecting and Helping

Empathy connects you with people in your family and community. When you understand how empathy works, you can extend it more often to others. Where will you use empathy today?

——

For more tips on relationships, follow Family Bridges on social media @familybridges

by Erika Krull

empathy

Language English

How to be a Better Communicator

rlara — Fri, 14 Oct 2016 14:14:25 +0000

How to be a Better Communicator

rlara Fri, 10/14/2016 - 09:14 Oct 14, 2016

The number one complaint of communication breakdowns is NOT “he wasn’t clear”, or “she was kind of fuzzy, or “they didn’t give enough information.”

It is: “He/She doesn’t listen.”

Most of us suck when it comes to listening. This is no surprise. We spend years in school learning to read, write, and speak. There are seminars and workshops on how to construct and deliver effective talks. We have conferences devoted to giving TED Talks. But when was the last time you heard of a class on listening? (These are more common in counseling degrees, though).

We have been taught that communication is primarily about getting our point of view across to someone else. And yet, when it comes to relationships – whether with loved ones or in a work environment – listening is the most important of all relational skills.

To be a great listener you must develop EMPATHY. You probably recognize the word and maybe even know the definition of what it means: the feeling that you understand and share another person’s experiences and emotions. But – and here is the BIG BUT – do you practice it?

In his book, Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, Stephen Covey says, “We do not see the world as it is; we see the world as we are – or as we have been conditioned to be.” We assume that we see and experience the world from an objective unbiased perspective. Therefore, all we need to do is to communicate “the truth” (the facts as we see them) and any reasonable person will agree with us. Yeah – how is that working for you? (It doesn’t).

In order to be a great communicator, we must first seek to understand before attempting to be understood. This is counter-intuitive. That’s because our natural “intuition” is to be self-centered. We naturally believe that the world is about us. It’s the bent we are born with. That means we have to work at understanding someone else’s world.

As you work to listen and truly understand someone else’s heart it legitimize their reality. And when that happens, you create a pathway for them to consider your perspective. However, seeking to understand another’s world isn’t necessarily about agreeing with them. Don’t be confused about that. Empathy is the willingness to abandon your own perspective and step into their shoes. This takes an “other-centeredness” and humility.

by Bill Ferrell

communication

empathy

Language English

empathy

Faith, Resilience, and the Gentle Strength of Encouragement

Stones of Remembrance: Reflecting on God's Faithfulness

Finding Strength in Waiting: Embracing Patience as a Path to Hope

Modeling empathy

TOOLS

Choosing gratitude

Modeling empathy

Prizing generosity

Empathy: What is it and why you need it

What is empathy?

Three Types of Empathy

Affective Empathy

Cognitive Empathy

Empathic Concern

Benefits of Empathy

Keeping yourself safe

Living and working with other people

Positivity and cooperation in your community

Empathy – Connecting and Helping

Kill ’em with kindness

Raising compassionate children

How to be a Better Communicator

Empathy: What is it and why you need it

Marriage Makeover: How to Have Meaningful Conversations