04 August 2016

Food For Thought | #17


It has been a while since I shared some food for thought with you. Time passes and life is transformed through imperceptible daily changes. With this evolution comes a new approach to writing and sharing thoughts. While I think of ways to adapt this blogging space to who I am becoming,  I have a few reads to share with you. I hope you'll like them as much as I did.

On Aeon | Why we need to move empathy from personal emotion to collective moral concern
Empathy is a topic I've been thinking a lot about these days. I have heard some months ago, that a friend was told she had "too much empathy" to be a manager. Is that even possible? Shouldn't empathy be at the heart of managing a team of human beings?

Anyway, it isn't what this article/video is about. It is about the power of empathy, and how it can really change a society when empathy becomes a collective movement. I think empathy is one of most important, and most underrated quality in today's society.


On Medium | How to practice Gratitude
Gratitude is one of the most efficient ways to change our perspective on life and improve well-being, happiness and much more. In this complete article, the author reminds why and how gratitude can change our lives, along with 4 exercises to wire our brains toward more gratitude, backed by scientific research.

I will most probably write about gratitude again in the future, as I believe it is one of the keys to enjoying the present moment, see the good side of life and cultivate a dose of mental strength to face the ups and downs of life.


On Brain Pickings | Henry Beston on happiness, simplicity and the sacredness of smallness
Why would bigger always be better? Why always strive for more? Even the smallest things can touch our hearts. In a society where we are taught to accumulate objects and strive for bigger everything (salary, house, car...) this is a true and touching reminder that life isn't all about size, volume and quantity.


Have you read or watched anything that made you pause and think lately?


3 comments:

  1. If I have no empathy my work does not go well. People needs my empathy because I work with disabilities. And the Olimpic motto, for me, is: snakes eating snakes. Despite it is important to compete, no win, they kill for a medal, and have lots of injuries because of that. Sorry my english, it's not my language.

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    1. Thank you for sharing your thoughts (and your English is very good :) ). If you work with disabilities, for sure empathy is a necessity! I think it is a necessity in any job that consists in working with other human beings, but this mindset doesn't seem to be shared everywhere unfortunately...

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  2. It's true, a place where empathy isn't welcome is very toxic, as I have experienced. And you're right, such a "competitive" motto probably does sell better despite the kind of values it promotes. I guess we can't whenge the world, but I thought that I should promote a more positive mindset, such as empathy, at least on my level :)

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