I have decided to put these words down.
Last few years have been a roller coaster ride for me. I am not going to lie about not enjoying it.
A series of incidents with quite a few people gave me a sneak peek into how assuming we often become about a person or an incident or even our own selves.
My fears were confirmed when I sat down to read the first chapter of my Psychology Course material. The Chapter was about how a Counselor was expected to be as a person and as a professional.
As the chapter progressed the author went on to speak about, how a Counselor should consciously make an effort to not let his problems, opinions and ideas interfere when he’s listening to a client’s problem.
Is that only true for a counselor?
What about all the other people?
After a few days of soul searching and conscious attempts of putting the advice into practice, I felt may be, everybody needs that small dose of that author’s writings for their lives even if they were not mental health professionals.
I would not say I was successful in putting everything into practice. But a small step is a great leap.
What happened when I’ve tried to put some of them to practice in everyday life?
- My relationships with the people around me were of more worth.
- I learnt it in practicality that everyone has their own story and a whole universe in their heads. Moreover, with more emphasis every single person is the hero in his or her own narrative.
- I have become more optimistic in my approach.
- I’ve learnt more about myself in a short span
Here’s is what the author had to say about the qualities of an effective counselor are, which I personally think are a great takeaway even for the non-counselor folks.
- Respect and appreciate yourself.
- Be open to change.
- Be willing to tolerate ambiguity
- Being authentic, honest and sincere
- Have a sense of Humor
- Make your own mistakes and be willing to admit them
- Reinvent yourself
- Live in the present moment
- Have a sincere interest in welfare of others
- Maintain healthy boundaries
- Find interests beside work
- Find meaning through play, travel or new experiences
- Attend to yourself through sufficient sleep, adequate food, meditation and relaxation
- Make time for your own growth
- Seek counseling for personal growth
NOTE: This is a Guest Post by our inhouse Psychology Intern