Together We Rise by The Dysania Concept (2023)
Psychology, sociology, health, political science, community development, law and economics; to many, these are independent career paths that, despite being connected in many ways, aren’t covered by a single person throughout their professional life. However, there is a group of people who not only cover these but most fields of study related to people and social justice. Social Workers are professionals whose purpose is to protect and better the lives of individuals, families, communities and society. They engage with the individual, systems and policy to improve the quality of life of those who need it the most and, step by step, reduce the social injustice in our world. So, in this edition of The Mindsets, we’ll explore the qualities, virtues and skills Social Workers have that enable them to create social change and development. As Hellen Keller said, “Alone, we can do so little. Together, we can do so much.”
1. Empathy
Social Workers must be empathetic to relate to those they are helping. Whether working to support a service user or a community directly or dealing with politicians and policy-makers to help them indirectly, a Social Worker’s empathy is essential to remain true to their cause. Despite not having experienced the life of those they are helping, Social Workers can step into those people’s shoes and comprehend what they’re going through. They feel what their service users feel and work from there to reach the best path to help them improve their situation. Equally, we must remain aware of each other’s lives. We all live under different conditions, feel different and come from diverse backgrounds. Therefore, despite never having experienced the other person’s position, trying to understand where they come from, what they are feeling and learning how we can help them from there will always be an invaluable first step to aiding those who need us.
2. Active Listening
Social Workers lean on their ability to listen actively to find the most significant ways to help. As we have different lives, so do those who need the help of Social Workers. Some are shy, others are loud. Some are verbal, others are silent. Some are aware, and others are lost. Nevertheless, Social Workers know how to actively listen to their service users through all conditions and methods of communication. Knowing how to listen to someone’s narrative actively is their next best step towards building the proper strategy for leading them to a better quality of life and, in more macro aspects, closer to the social justice they strive for. Similarly, when someone in need approaches us, we must not hear but listen to them. Paying attention to the tone of their voice, their physical gestures, vocabulary, and intonation is vital to genuinely comprehending where their pain and struggles are coming from and how we can begin their healing and betterment process from there.
3. Self-Care
Social Workers trust their ability to self-care to maintain a balance between work and life. Once they’ve established a connection with their service user and have begun the process to aid them in whatever way they need, Social Workers need to remember the importance of themselves, too. In such an emotionally draining profession, the mind can always become exhausted. Hence, Social Workers value the importance of self-care. They know how paramount it is to be healthy in mind and body to balance their work and personal life. Social Workers understand the importance of boundaries and rely on their judgement to know when to step back, have proper downtime and refresh themselves to keep making the world a better place. So, whenever your body feels tired, consumed and needs rest, listen to it. We are human, not machines, and rest and downtime are critical to not only maintaining the balance Social Workers do but also enjoying their lives and bringing back knowledge from those enjoyments into their quest for a better society.
Social Workers should be regarded more highly by society. The effort they put into bettering the world from a micro and macro aspect is something to admire. From working with individual service users to proposing and making changes with governmental bodies, they shape our world into a more just and healthy place. So, remember the value of empathy. Take the time to understand what someone is feeling and where those feelings come from. Do not rush into judgment, but understand we are all different. Also, listen actively. Listen beyond the words. Understand the tone, physical movement and intonation of those who speak to you. These often communicate more than the words themselves. And finally, value your mind and body. Resting, having downtime and enjoying the things you love are all necessary to refresh yourself and wake up in a more knowledgeable and healthy state the next day. Now, we invite you to adopt The Social Worker’s Mindset as we all strive to make the lives of those who surround us better by aiding them whenever our help is needed.
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