How are we the same?

Understanding Myself

Understand, appreciate and react appropriately as we recognise our peers are both similar and different, identifying the commonalities in our differences.

Life skills covered in this lesson:

Social Awareness

Social Awareness is the ability to form connections and work with people from diverse backgrounds in terms of religion, caste, gender, socio-economic strata, geographical location etc. It is the ability to understand, empathise and accept people and practices that are different from our own. It is also the ability to recognise and exercise our rights and duties as responsible citizens.

Social Awareness includes being sensitive to local and global environmental concerns, being aware of and involved in addressing social issues, respecting and protecting the rights of others, especially those of vulnerable populations (women, children, elderly, people with disabilities, economically and socially marginalised communities etc.), thus contributing to the collective wellbeing of society.

Social Awareness In Action

The person will be able to:

Recognise ways in which they and their peers are similar and different.
Express interest in getting to know their friends’ native language and cultural practices.
Articulate how a diverse set of friends or members in a team enhances their perspective and life in general.
Determine the commonalities amongst diverse people – their basic needs, emotions, expectations from others etc.
Analyze their community’s or neighbourhood’s needs/problems and put together a plan to address those.
Recognise the vulnerabilities of others and be willing to accept, protect and even help, if needed.
Show awareness of specific social causes, take a stance and use concrete steps towards addressing them.
Get involved in organizations and civic bodies that help and contribute towards various social and environmental causes.

Self-Compassion

Self-Compassion is the ability to practise kindness and acceptance towards ourselves, despite our limitations and especially when we fail or feel inadequate. It includes the recognition of our common humanity, accepting that along with everyone else we are flawed and imperfect individuals. It involves practising mindfulness, cultivating well-being and resilience, and accepting our reality without rancour. Being self-compassionate offers us comfort, validation, protection and the motivation to improve ourselves.

Self-compassionate people tend to remain emotionally stable, are more likely to persevere despite multiple failures, remain present in the moment and function well even under stress.

Self-Compassion In Action

The person will be able to:

Identify their own feelings and emotions when encountering hardships and failures.
Build self-care rituals and practices.
Engage in gentle, kind and positive self-talk.
Demonstrate the ability to take care of their own physical and emotional needs even in adversity.
Demonstrate a sense of balance through mindfulness when experiencing extreme emotions.
Work towards improvement rather than indulging in self-pity or self-criticism.
Access their support system and personal resources to overcome hardships and attain goals.

Empathy

Empathy is the ability to emotionally understand what other people feel, see things from their point of view and context, imagine ourselves in their place and respond appropriately. Empathy is relating to others with acceptance, understanding, and sensitivity to their diverse backgrounds, experiences and perspectives, and taking action accordingly.

Empathy plays an important role in being a socially competent person with meaningful social relationships. The ability to empathise is important for promoting positive behaviours towards others, and facilitating social interactions and relationships, thus motivating altruistic behaviour. This skill also makes us challenge intolerance, bias and stereotyping when we see it.

Empathy In Action

The person will be able to:

Listen well, pay attention to non-verbal communication and pick up subtle cues.
Understand others’ perspectives and feelings.
Show sensitivity towards others.
Help other people based on their understanding of their needs and feelings.
Respect and relate well to everyone, regardless of their diverse backgrounds.
Alter the way they interact with others to fit with the others’ diverse needs and feelings.
Appreciate others for their strengths and accomplishments.
Provide constructive feedback to others to help them improve.
Put the needs of others first and look for ways to improve their situations.

Perspective Taking

Perspective Taking is the ability to imagine and understand a situation based on how it appears to others and their cognitive and emotional response to it. It is the ability to recognize their points of view, experiences and beliefs even when different from our own. This recognition creates the basis of mutual understanding, leading to new learning, reshaping our social interactions and developing new world views that are broader and more inclusive in nature.

Overall, Perspective Taking promotes social bonds, unlocks the potential of diversity in teams, leads to creative solutions and diminishes the possibility and impact of stereotyping.

Perspective Taking In Action

The person will be able to:

Practise active listening skills when their friends or group members are sharing their story or viewpoint.
Identify the need to seek out and include views, opinions and experiences of their classmates, teammates and groups in general.
Identify and acknowledge the experiences, feelings, and viewpoints of others even though they are different from their own.
Find ways of expressing their emotions in ways that others can understand and accept, especially in times of conflicts and differences of opinion.

Communication

Communication is the ability to express ourselves and respond to people, both verbally and non-verbally, in ways that are appropriate to our culture and situation. This includes listening attentively and respectfully; expressing our opinions and desires, needs and fears in an assertive manner; as well as being able to ask for advice and help in times of need. It is a way of connecting with others by conveying our ideas, facts, thoughts, feelings, and values.

Effective Communication helps us better understand a person or situation and enables us to resolve differences, build trust and respect, and create environments where creative ideas, problem solving, affection, and caring can flourish.

Communication In Action

The person is able to:

Listen actively without interrupting their peers, friends, teachers, family, etc.
Recognise when to listen or speak.
Express their thoughts clearly using verbal and para verbal cues.
Express themselves in a variety of ways.
Say ‘’no’’ in an assertive manner without being disrespectful.
Consider others’ opinions and feelings before responding.

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