Amber Lauer

Purdue Global University

HW410 Stress- Critical Issues in Management and

Prevention

Professor Dr. Aguilar

Unit #8 Journal
 Honestly, I didn’t fully understand what the direction was for this week’s journal activity.

It was a little confusing to what it was they were asking for. So as a substitute, I decided to talk it

through with my husband and we wrote down what we came up with.

Openness- This one was fun, but we found ourselves spending a lot of time joking and

pretending (like role playing) being someone else. My husband and I have known each other for

20 years now and since it has been so long, we had a hard time looking at each other and the

relationship as new and fresh. Not that it was a bad thing because we had a lot of fun joking

around but we can honestly say for the most part, we know each other better than we know

ourselves some days.

Empathy- This one was a little harder. Knowing someone is little easier than knowing

how they feel. We as individuals (or humans), don’t always express our feelings and can find

ourselves biting our tongues and or holding our feelings in. Not always expressing what is on our

minds. Especially if it is something that we don’t truly feel is that big of a deal. I for one, am

completely guilty for not expressing my feelings. Let alone to ask anyone else to understand

what I am feeling. I also find myself get upset about different things than the people in my

household. We are a family of 8 and I am the only female. Unfortunately, the guys don’t always

see eye to eye with some of the things I do.

Compassion- My husband and I both feel like we are very compassionate people by

nature. We are both caring people who put others before ourselves, mainly our children. We do

our best to listen for understanding (not to respond) and try our hardest to understand what the

other person is saying and feeling so that we can offer our help, where we can. My husband

joked that he can’t read minds so if it’s not said, then he doesn’t know how to help. I on the other
hand read faces, expressions, body language. So, if there is some unsaid feeling, I try my best to

read between the lines.

Loving-Kindness- I am not the type of person who wishes any one ill because everyone

has a story to why they are the way they are BUT I do believe in karma. I feel that if you choose

to be ugly and mean towards others, especially to others who have done nothing to you, then

please don’t expect any special treatment and know that people might be mean and ugly back.

My grandmother raised me by the “golden rule”, and it has stuck with me all my life. I always do

my best to treat everyone with kindness and understanding because some day I may come across

a situation where I am going to need someone to be kind and understanding to me. It’s not hard. I

feel it’s actually easier to be nice then it is being mean but maybe that’s me.

Sympathetic Joy- This one I found to be confusing and a little harder to write about.

Honestly, I don’t think I know anybody who wouldn’t be excited and want to celebrate someone

who is experiencing joy and happiness in their lives. When the people around you are happy,

their joyful mood and aura is almost guaranteed to brighten up your mood and attitude. I know

that when my kids have good days and they are excited to tell me about it, it brings a smile to my

face and makes me excited for them. I guess I don’t understand how you couldn’t be happy when

someone is like that.

Equanimity- Reading the description of this quality, just sounded like it combined and

summed up a little bit of all of the other qualities wrapped in one. I honestly wasn’t sure what to

say to this one. I sat and racked my brain for a little while before I just decided that that was

exactly what this one was supposed to mean to me. All the qualities wrapped in one. Living and

experiencing is what gives you the wisdom to treat and react to people appropriately.
 Though I may not have done this journal activity the correct way, I still enjoyed it and

learned a little something from it. Thank you.