Transform Your Life, Learn Focusing, Welcome the Way We Grow
Social Awareness
"The abilities to understand the perspectives of and empathize with others, including those from diverse backgrounds, cultures, & contexts." (from CASEL-SEL-Framework-11.2020)
Focusing is the foundation for Social Awareness
First, Focusing helps us form a better, stronger relationship with ourselves, which is the essential first step for forming and maintaining stronger relationships with others. A key step in Focusing is how to be with what is here for us right now. The ability to pause and discern the “how” are crucial coping skills in the world in which we find ourselves.
Where do we begin?
We begin by unlearning traditional ways of relating, to ourselves, others and the world around us.
We learn to slow down...
In learning Focusing skills, we begin by unlearning traditional ways of relating that come from an underlying assumption that life is about doing and to be valued we need to fix, save or set ourselves or others straight.
Instead, we learn to slow down, step back from and hold space with interested curiosity for our own emotions, thoughts, beliefs, and behaviors.
Our body is our best teacher here. Gradually, by listening within ourselves, we come to understand that our mind/body/brain function best when WE pay attention to what is being communicated to US. We are not our emotions, thoughts, beliefs or behaviors. All of those are open to change. WE are the one responsible for listening and BEING WITH what is needing our attention.
BEING WITH is not as hard as it might sound. Our mind/body/brain functions quite well on its own for much of what it takes to be a human being. And yet, as we begin to tune in, there are numerous
communications that, when responded to in the moment, can function better for
us.