Life Skills

One step ahead

Any skill that is useful in our life can be considered as a life skill. Life skills are behaviors that enable individuals to adapt and deal effectively with the demands and challenges of life.


Why are Life Skills important?

In our daily lives, the development of life skills help us to find new ways of thinking and problem solving. It helps individuals to recognize the impact of their actions and teaches them to take responsibility for what they have done. It also helps in building confidence &cooperation.

There are many such skills, but the 10 most crucial core life skills laid down by WHO/CBSE are:

1. Self-awareness

The Oxford dictionary defines self-awareness as-“Conscious knowledge of one’s own character and feelings”.

It includes gaining an understanding of and insight into one’s strengths, qualities, weaknesses, defects, ideas, thoughts, beliefs, ideals, responses, reactions, attitude, emotions and motivations.

 

Why is self-awareness important?

Self-awareness helps us to improve skills by recognizing what we can do well and what we need to improve. Self-awareness allows us to see things from the perspective of others, practice self-control, work creatively and productively

It helps us to become better decision-makers It gives us more self-confidence — so, as a result, we communicate with clarity and intention. It allows us to understand things from multiple perspectives. It frees us from our assumptions and biases. It helps us build better relationships.

How to Become More Self-Aware?

  • Look at yourself objectively.
  • Keep a journal.
  • Write down your goals, plans, and priorities.
  • Perform daily self-reflection.
  • Practice meditation and other mindfulness habits.
  • Take personality and psychometric tests.
  • Ask trusted friends to describe you.

2. Empathy

Emotion researchers generally define empathy as the ability to sense other people’s emotions, coupled with the ability to imagine what someone else might be thinking or feeling. It is the ability to imagine how another person is feeling and so understand his/her mood.

Why is it important?

Empathy is important because it helps us understand how others are feeling so we can respond appropriately to the situation. Without empathy, people tend to go about life without considering how other people feel or what they may be thinking.

How can we develop empathy skills?

  1. Talk to other people. Make it a point to begin conversations with people you meet.
  2. Notice body language cues. This can including tone of voice and subtle shifts in energy.
  3. Focus on listening. Allow people to share their feelings.
  4. Take action.

3. Critical Thinking

Critical thinking is the intellectually disciplined process of actively and skillfully conceptualizing, applying, analyzing, synthesizing, and/or evaluating information gathered from, or generated by, observation, experience, reflection, reasoning, or communication, as a guide to belief and action.

Why is critical thinking important?

Critical thinking enables us to make crucial decisions that requires lot of thought. It helps us to express our thoughts, beliefs and ideas in a better manner. The decisions that we make effect the quality of our lives and therefore evaluating our choices make a great difference. It also evolves the creative side of an individual.

 

4. Creative Thinking

Creative thinking is coming up with ideas that are original and unconventional that help in finding solutions. In every walk of our life, we need Creativity.

Why is it important?

  • Creativity is Irreplaceable. Any Career will continue to demand new ideas.
  • It gives us the Freedom of mind to explore.
  • Helps us in problem solving.
  • Adds to leadership quality and improves the quality of life.

5. Decision Making

Every moment of our lives, we are making decisions. The process of making choices by identifying a decision, gathering information and assessing alternative resolutions is the process of Decision Making.

Why is it Important?

It is important because it helps in planning. It helps us to overall plan a setp by step approach to plan and seek suitable alternatives.

 

6. Problem Solving

The Oxford dictionary defines problem solving as the process of finding solutions to difficult or complex issues. In other words, it is the act of defining a problem; determining the cause of the problem; identifying, prioritizing, and selecting alternatives for a solution; and implementing a solution.

Why is it important?

Problem solving enables us to develop the ability to make Choices. Effective problem-solving skills result in happier, confident individuals. It makes us resilient as we tackle the challenges of life.

7. Effective Communication

Effective Communication is defined as the ability to convey information to another effectively and efficiently. It involves both verbal and non-verbal communication.

Why is it important?

Communication is one of the most crucial social skills required to survive in this world. Effectively communicating ensures that you not only convey your message to someone but also let them know about your feelings and emotions.

8. Interpersonal Relationships

Interpersonal relationship means our interaction with people around. It helps in building love, trust and a team spirit.

Why is it important?

Interpersonal relationships build our happiness and emotional stability. It gives us a feeling of belongingness. All interpersonal relationships are based on trust, loyalty and very close relationships on love.

9. Coping with Stress

Stress is the feeling of being overwhelmed or unable to cope with mental or emotional pressure.

Why is it important to cope with stress?

Effective stress management helps in breaking the hold stress has on our life, so that we can be happier, healthier, and more productive. The ultimate goal is a balanced life, with time for work, relationships, relaxation, and fun—and the resilience to hold up under pressure and meet challenges head on.

 

10. Coping with Emotion

Coping with emotions means recognizing emotions within us and others and being aware of how emotions influence behavior. We should be able to respond to emotions appropriately. Intense emotions like anger or sadness can have negative effects on our health if we do not respond appropriately.

Why is it important to learn to cope with emotions?

Recognizing your emotions and learning to manage them is one of the most important skills you can have. In fact people who are good at noticing how they feel and can calm themselves down or adjust their behavior are more likely to do well in life, have healthy relationships and manage difficulties and setbacks.