We decided to stay on the same theme as a recent editorial. The following is taken from the Helping Fellow Members article
that is found on the forum homepage: The support group should be an empowering and
positive environment; using positive language helps create a positive
atmosphere. Sometimes it can be difficult to remain positive, especially when
members, and possibly you, are going through a difficult time. It is not always
possible to put a positive spin on a situation; however, there are skills that
can be applied that can help you be more positive in your posts. Draw
out the member’s strengths: Recognize the member
for the unique and capable individual that they are. All human beings want to
feel valued and sometimes the people who need it the most get the least
recognition. If you feel that a member is kind, compassionate, strong, driven,
articulate, poetic, or humorous, etc. tell her/him and let that member know how
you see her/him. Many members may be starving for this sort of recognition and
will respond with increased confidence and possibly become more open to
discussion. That being said, it is important for the acknowledgement to be
authentic and not forced. Reinforce to the
member that they have the strength to achieve their goals. Empower the member
to recognize this strength. Empowerment means to encourage the member to
realize their own potential and their innate ability to control their own
future. Through empowerment we are assisting members to gain the confidence,
skills, resources and motivation they need in order to take control of their lives.
We want the members to have the strength to follow their own unique values and
live a fulfilled and healthy life. Use
positive language: It is easy to dwell on
the negative; simply discussing the matter in a different tone can help put
things into perspective. For instance, instead of saying: "This is a terrible time for
you." Say, "This is a challenging time for you." "This was a difficult lesson for you
to learn." Say, "This is a valuable lesson for you to learn." "This will be hard to resolve."
Say, "You will overcome this." Reframe: Also, try to
positively reframe a situation to make members aware of the good in a
situation. Sometimes it can be difficult to see the good in a situation when
you are the one going through it. Point out to the member the positives you see
in their situation without minimizing how they feel. For instance: A member states: "I can’t seem to do
anything right. Today my partner was mad at me and when I tried to talk to them
they just shut me out. I feel so confused and frustrated." A possible
response, "Good for you for addressing the situation and trying to talk
about it with your partner. Your partner may not be ready to talk now, but you
put yourself out there and that shows you care and are willing to talk about
it. What do you think you could do to show your boyfriend that you are willing
to talk when he is ready?" Staying positive can
be difficult when you are not feeling like yourself. How do you stay positive when interacting
with other members even when you are feeling negative?