We need each other now more than ever
2 April 2020 | Nicole Turnbull on LinkedIn
R U OK? day is on 10 September this year. Their mission is to ‘inspire and empower everyone to meaningfully connect with people around them and support anyone struggling with life.’
Currently, we’re all practicing physical distancing to save lives and #flattenthecurve. However it’s more important than ever to remain socially connected, check in with people and ask ‘Are you ok?’.
Why?
I think the experiment conducted by Dr Masaru Emoto in his book The Hidden Messages of Water speaks volumes.
It was replicated by his team where they put cooked rice in 4 jars with the following labels:
- Love and gratitude
- Thank you
- You fool
- Ignored
The words were spoken to the rice, with the 4th jar receiving no attention at all.
As you can see in the cover image, the rice that was ignored turned black and rotten, much more than the others.
Our bodies are made up of 70% water and we are naturally social beings.
Do you believe words and social isolation affect us too?
I have led people for more than a decade and found a clear difference between a person who has come from a supportive, encouraging environment compared to those who have been bullied or are trying to survive in a toxic workplace culture.
Words and interactions really impact humans and it can be difficult to know where to start at a time like this.
A simple place to start is to call, FaceTime or videoconference family and friends to check in on them.
R U OK? have some great resources you can use year round, with specific advice on staying connected in the current crisis.
SafeWork NSW have provided content and resources on mental health at work during COVID-19.
The National Mental Health Commission and health leaders have put together the #InThisTogether campaign, which provides great tips and resources for mental health and wellbeing.
I also provide customised training on the art of communication, helping people communicate more effectively with compassion and kindness.
You can also find out more about Dr Masaru Emoto.
This experiment has been replicated by many people – Google ‘Emoto rice experiment’ to see other results.
If you’re at home with the kids, why not try the experiment to show the power our words can have?