RUOK day is over, but the conversations must continue

Yesterday, 9th?of September 2021 was RUOK day.???RUOK day is an opportunity for us to make sure that the people around us feel heard, valued, and visible.??A simple phrase like “Are you okay?” can get the ball rolling, but a steady dose of empathy is essential to follow up this important question.???And while the day is over for 2021, the conversations must continue to take place in our homes, our businesses, and our communities.??It’s important that we continue to listen and connect with those around us and give them the opportunity to share their stories and be heard.

And in today’s world, you’re likely to hear stories of grief.??All around us people are grieving the loss of loved ones, of jobs, of freedoms, and of a reality that no longer exists and it’s incredibly important that we acknowledge grief and support those around us in a way that lets them know that they’re not alone.

In November 2020,?The Professional Empathy Podcast?had the privilege of speaking with?Tiffany Bartlett, a widow who at the age of 30 lost her husband of 10 years, Jared, suddenly to a seizure. When Leanne spoke with Tiffany, Jared had only died 4 months prior, yet she chose to openly share her journey with Leanne and also with her audience on TikTok. In the episode, Tiffany shares her personal experience about the pressures of grieving in the ‘right’ way. Tiffany also opens up about how empathy from others can positively influence a person who is grieving and alleviate the burden of grief.?(Full episode below).

In the episode, Tiffany iterates that an innocent, well-intentioned?“call me if you need me”?gesture can sometimes do more damage than good.??Of course, we acknowledge that everyone grieves differently, however, in Tiffany’s experience, she found that those who were proactive and approached her with an empathetic mentality of ‘I don’t know what you’re going through, but I am here with you right now in this experience’ had the most positive influence on her grieving process.?

So, following on from this year’s RUOK Day, it’s time to keep the ball rolling with a healthy dose of empathy. If you had conversations yesterday, please be sure to follow up with them over the coming weeks and months.

If you'd like to learn more about empathetic communication training to strengthen your personal and professional relationships, please contact me on [email protected]

To find more resources on empathy and grief including a helpful checklist, click?here.

To understand more about your empathetic self, click?here.

Connect with Leanne Butterworth:

·???????Empathy First:?www.empathyfirst.com.au???

·???????Instagram

·???????LinkedIn

·???????Interview?Snippet

The Professional Empathy Podcast