My theme for 2019 is “Slow down and simplify.” And, a part of my desire to slow down is to see people.
Our culture is fast-paced (rushed if we are honest) and most of us are running from thing to thing, task to task and event to event. In an increasingly digital world where instant interaction is expected demanded, there is a tendency to move with haste. This pace weakens relationships. Where we might have had a face to face conversation before, now it’s a call. Where we used to have a call, now it’s a text, etc.
Faster connections are weaker connections.
Recognizing this, a part of my “slow down” goal is to see people. By this, I mean seeing people for who they are, where they are, and what is motivating them. For me this means a few things, I want to:
- Have deeper, more meaningful conversations rather than rushing to the next thing.
- Ask good questions that lead me to better understand a person.
- Thoughtfully empathize with where someone is coming from, seeking to understand their thinking and how they feel.
- Show appreciation to the people in my life that I care about, making sure they know they are seen.
People don’t want to be a blur, fading into the background. People want to be seen, known, and appreciated. I want to be the kind of person that sees, knows, and appreciates.
Photo by mauro mora on Unsplash