Sometimes growth happens naturally and unexpectedly.  Life lessons, mistakes we’ve made, teachable moments, or just being forced to expand even if we may have resisted. But what if we chose to focus on learning and growing and we’re intentional about it?  What if we were determined that this is the year we are going to make learning a priority? How much more could we grow? How much could we share with others?  We tell ourselves that learning a new skill, becoming more self-aware, or taking that training can wait. Afterall, we are busy people who must set priorities. What if in this coming year we put learning first? We may see that other things in our lives just fall into place.

Empathy helps us understand and connect with one other emotionally.  It allows us to see another perspective, find common ground, and build social bonds.  This short video by Brene Brown does a good job on describing empathy. Without empathy, we may struggle to relate to those who are different from us, leading to biases we are unable to see.  This can impact relationships both personally and professionally.  Lack of empathy may contribute to an environment where individuals feel isolated, misunderstood, or unsupported.   Empathy is a cornerstone for emotional well being and it is a critical skill in today’s society.