Cycle 4 Session 17 - Social Awareness 

Self-Reflection Questions

WHO knows what's socially appropriate? 

WHAT body language do you want to display when you’re socializing? Why?

WHERE can you go to learn about different people, cultures, and customs?

WHY are your V.E.S.P.M. beliefs sometimes challenged in other social environments? What do you do?

WHEN you do not want to attend/or leave a social gathering, how do you do that?

HOW do you deal with socially inappropriate behavior aimed at you? Give an example.

V.E.S.P.M.(Values, Ethics, Spirituality,Physical, Mental) 

Self-Esteem 

Let’s start from the beginning. When we were born, we had no self-esteem, no opinions, perceptions, or views about ourselves. We learned these things from the opinions of the people we first encountered. We believed that information to be true and used these beliefs to compare ourselves to others. This, in turn, formed our belief system about ourselves, which we refer to as our self-esteem. 

Example;

E1. (A) Someone says, "You look nice". (B) Based on what you believe, (C) you agree, you smile and say "thank you".

E2. (A) Someone says, "You look nice". (B) Based on what you believe, (C) you disagree, you look down, feel insulted, and say "No, I don’t". and make excuses.

E3. (A) Someone says, "You look nice". (B) Based on what you believe, (C) you get offended, you yell at them and say, "Are you trying to be sarcastic"?

Self-Conscious - Being preoccupied with what others think about you. Insecurity, fear of not being valued by another person, and looking for the approval of others to feel good. Willing to adjust according to someone else's boundaries, even if you're uncomfortable. 

Self-Awareness - Conscious knowledge of one's own character, feelings, motives, and desires. Feels comfortable with self and choices in life. Able to set boundaries around likes and dislikes. Humble, able to read the room and act accordingly without violating your or anyone else's V.E.S.P.M. beliefs.  

Self-Reflection Points

• SAFETY FIRST !!  Always let a responsible person know where you are going to be. You may want to have an exit plan in place in case you have to leave early. You don't want to find yourself stuck somewhere that is uncomfortable for you.

  • Do your research, ask questions before entering any environment. Remember, you have a purpose in life. Not all places are for all people.  

  • The key to having good socializing skills is self-awareness. Always read the room; you have entered into someone else's realm, and they do not want it disturbed. Become a "people watcher". By watching the other guests, you will pick up on what behavior is expected. 

• Before joining a conversation, remember to listen first; the conversation may shift, and you can unknowingly offend someone if you jump into a conversation too quickly.

• Being friendly and respectful is appropriate in any environment. When in doubt - laugh it out! (LOL)

• When you're at a socializing event, FYI, socialize!

"Be yourself, Everyone else is taken" - Unknown