Multicultural Interaction to Improve Mental Health and Well-Being
Multicultural Interaction to Improve Mental Health and Wellbeing
The best way to often learn about something is to compare and contrast various viewpoints, approaches and angles from which to examine it. We all see, view, interpret and understand life and its many facets differently based on our cultural conditioning, family upbringing, and past experiences (some more vast or limited than others).
Multiculturalism therefore is useful to provide different viewpoints and perspectives to enlarge individual insight into matters related to mental health. The dynamics of every family differ, but culturally the way different ethnicities deal with family problems may vary.
As a former English Pastor to a Chinese youth group of young adults (and someone who has lived and traveled throughout Asia for 4 years) I observed how Chinese were less direct and not inclined to come to me with matters they wanted to personally express, but instead often used mediators (other people) to communicate their feelings.
Having lived with African-Americans in California while attending Bible College (and traveled on five tours throughout Africa), I have found Africans to be more direct and forthcoming with the expression of their feelings. Although being able to hear directly someone’s hurts and pains is helpful to know where they are as a person, it does not always give you time to adequately prepare yourself to respond appropriately to be of help to them.
Thankfully, I usually have been both blessed and a blessing to my African brothers when such heartfelt communications arose. Nevertheless having traveled to 70 countries, lived in Queens, NY (the most diverse county in the USA), and possessing some multicultural awareness; I know some people of other cultures like to have some time to mentally and emotionally prepare for intense interpersonal interactions rather than be caught off guard unaware.
Nevertheless both cultures have provided me more self-awareness (which is foundational to mental health) and insight in relating to their cultures and people. Such cross-cultural interactions enable us to see different perspectives, approaches and ways of dealing with people and problems which we otherwise may not have considered, examined, or pursued.
Stretching ourselves beyond our own comfort zone to engage and interact with other cultures beyond that of our own also is healthy, imparts wisdom, emotional intelligence and enlarges our soul contributing to good mental health and positive wellbeing. Such cross-cultural interactions and open communication should therefore be encouraged within support groups and used as a form of treatment to strengthen the mental health of us all.
http://www.PaulFDavis.com/diversity-s... worldwide minister, motivational speaker, life coach and author
(info@PaulFDavis.com)
http://www.Linkedin.com/in/worldprope...
http://www.Facebook.com/speakers4insp...
http://www.Twitter.com/PaulFDavis
Multicultural Interaction to Improve Mental Health and Well-Being
The best way to often learn about something is to compare and contrast various viewpoints, approaches and angles from which to examine it. We all see, view, interpret and understand life and its many facets differently based on our cultural conditioning, family upbringing, and past experiences (some more vast or limited than others).
Multiculturalism therefore is useful to provide different viewpoints and perspectives to enlarge individual insight into matters related to mental health. The dynamics of every family differ, but culturally the way different ethnicities deal with family problems may vary.
As a former English Pastor to a Chinese youth group of young adults (and someone who has lived and traveled throughout Asia for 4 years) I observed how Chinese were less direct and not inclined to come to me with matters they wanted to personally express, but instead often used mediators (other people) to communicate their feelings.
Having lived with African-Americans in California while attending Bible College (and traveled on five tours throughout Africa), I have found Africans to be more direct and forthcoming with the expression of their feelings. Although being able to hear directly someone’s hurts and pains is helpful to know where they are as a person, it does not always give you time to adequately prepare yourself to respond appropriately to be of help to them.
Thankfully, I usually have been both blessed and a blessing to my African brothers when such heartfelt communications arose. Nevertheless having traveled to 70 countries, lived in Queens, NY (the most diverse county in the USA), and possessing some multicultural awareness; I know some people of other cultures like to have some time to mentally and emotionally prepare for intense interpersonal interactions rather than be caught off guard unaware.
Nevertheless both cultures have provided me more self-awareness (which is foundational to mental health) and insight in relating to their cultures and people. Such cross-cultural interactions enable us to see different perspectives, approaches and ways of dealing with people and problems which we otherwise may not have considered, examined, or pursued.
Stretching ourselves beyond our own comfort zone to engage and interact with other cultures beyond that of our own also is healthy, imparts wisdom, emotional intelligence and enlarges our soul contributing to good mental health and positive wellbeing. Such cross-cultural interactions and open communication should therefore be encouraged within support groups and used as a form of treatment to strengthen the mental health of us all.
http://www.PaulFDavis.com/diversity-s... worldwide minister, motivational speaker, life coach and author
(info@PaulFDavis.com)
http://www.Linkedin.com/in/worldprope...
http://www.Facebook.com/speakers4insp...
http://www.Twitter.com/PaulFDavis
Multicultural Interaction to Improve Mental Health and Well-Being
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