Many smart people today are known as “the brilliant jerk” because no one wants to work with them. This is often because they had a misbelief that their smartness alone will get them to the top. Thankfully some of them are beginning to learn that they need other tools. Social Awareness is that other capability. In order to be effective in the workplace and to activate authentic community we need to be socially aware. Social awareness is one of the pillars of emotional intelligence. Social awareness is the ability to get outside yourself and be in tune with what another is going through. Social awareness requires you to get outside yourself and focus on others. Sadly, we live in a society where self-absorption is the norm. So many people are caught up in Me, Myself and I. We are preoccupied with self. We may be Christians but often our worldview is riddled with what I call humanistic me-ology. We may sing, “Jesus be the centre of it all” but if we are honest with ourselves many of us dread such a life. We much prefer being the centre of our own universe. What would your life look like if you were more socially aware? Central to social awareness is empathy. Empathy comes from two Latin words meaning “feeling into”. Rom 12:15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. In this message I will discuss the different types of empathy and why they are important. I will also highlight some barriers to social awareness and leave us with practical tools that can help us to become more socially aware. Social awareness comes when you get out of yourself. Social awareness affects all aspects of life. For example, deliverance from self-centredness and selfishness is a major key to marital bliss. In essence, social awareness is an antidote for selfishness.
