Health and Human Services Professional Development

  Practicing Positivity—Self-Esteem by Dydra Arnold Many of us struggle with self-esteem issues. Sometimes, we may not even recognize how low our self-esteem really is. I wanted to highlight the effects that low self-esteem can have on your quality of life, the signs of low self-esteem, and different things you can try to improve your self-esteem.  How Can Low Self-Esteem Effect Quality of Life? Better Health Channel has listed how important low-self esteem can be in influencing quality of life. Certain ways that it can reduce quality of life include: Fear of trying : A person may doubt themselves so much that they are afraid to try anything new and may avoid anything that presents itself as a challenge Lack of Self-Care - A person may neglect to take care of themselves. They also may begin to abuse drugs and alcohol. Relationship Problems - A person may settle for unacceptable behaviors within romantic relationships because they feel they dese...

The Role of Body Language and Nonverbals by   Jill Bowers   on   June 30, 2013 As you prepare for job interviews, conferences, career fairs, or other networking opportunities, have you considered the role of your body language? This could include posture, handshakes, and facial expressions. In this Ted Talks video, Amy Cuddy (social psychologist, professor and researcher at Harvard Business School) talks about her research on  nonverbal cues, how they can influences others’ perceptions of you , and how  you may be influenced by your own nonverbals .     Watch the Ted Talk here: https://www.ted.com/talks/amy_cuddy_your_body_language_may_shape_who_you_are?language=en   *Originally posted on the Career Skillet website (Permission granted by Jill Bowers)

Self-Confidence, Humility, and The Job Market by   Jill Bowers   on   July 13, 2013   Dr. Norman Vincent Peale, author of  The Power of Positive Thinking , said, “Believe in yourself! Have faith in your abilities! Without a humble but reasonable confidence in your own powers you cannot be successful or happy.” You have to have to believe in yourself to even apply for jobs (you will not know until you try). Further, many jobs are very competitive… beyond your skills, knowledge, or credentials, your self confidence can make you stand out from your competitors  who are also qualified for the jobs (for example, in cover letters or interviews).   If what you say about yourself or how you say it (your body language) portrays confidence rather than uncertainty, others will be more likely to have confidence in you rather than uncertainty about you or your ability to handle the job . See this article on qualities of confident people (for e...

The Power of a Handshake by   Lisa Brooks   on   August 13, 2013   What does your handshake say about you? Does it convey that you are confident and self-assured? Or, does it suggest that you are insecure, an emotional bully, or overconfident? Research shows that not only will you be judged by your handshake, you will be forming an impression about the other person when shaking hands. During my etiquette training at the Protocol School of Washington, I was taught to see the right hand as a sensor for discovering the type of person with whom I was dealing. Once you understand the subtle messages of a handshake and learn how to deliver the correct handshake, you will have a significant advantage in mastering your professional image. This article provides guidelines for delivering the correct handshake, as well as it will help you interpret (and avoid) some of the most common types of undesirable handshakes, such as the “dead fish,” the “fingertip holder,” the”glo...

What are Social Skills? by   Jill Bowers   on   June 3, 2013 Social skills involve picking up on social cues, interpreting the behavior of others, and interacting with others in positive ways.  Examples of social skills may include self-confidence, problem-solving, being flexible and adaptable, displaying empathy, dealing with conflict, smiling, being polite, showing interest, actively listening, and many more. Necessary social skills can vary based on the social norms of a given culture or setting. Some social skills may be innate, but many can be learned. As Daniel Goleman noted in his book,  Social Intelligence , a crucial component to acting wisely in relationships is to develop an understanding of how our moods or reactions are influenced by our interactions (past and present) with others and equally important, how our actions, words, and nonverbal behaviors make others feel and react to us. Example of good social skills: Maintaining eye contact ...

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr! Are you a Social Animal? by   Mikki Sherwood   on   September 15, 2014   “David Brooks: The Social Animal”   is a brief video on Ted Talks. Mr. Brooks is a NY Times columnist and he has identified characteristics of individuals that have positive social skills. Jessica Reynolds, a graduate student at Eastern Illinois University, reviewed the video. Mr. Brooks pointed out that people trust those that are attentive and put them at ease. Brooks also noted that people with great social skills make eye contact and remember the names of those they meet, which makes others feel comfortable and valued. Mr. Brooks stated that we can be more social by choosing to change our focus from the more tangible (e.g. material wealth) to the more intangible (e.g. relationships with others). For instance, when we are focused on one another, and not distracted, we are actually able to read facial expressions more accurately, leading to a stronger emotional co...

Whole Fruits or Vegetables, or Juices: Which Packs the Most Punch? by   Guest Author, Jennifer Ashley   on   November 9, 2014   We all know that fruit and vegetables are the cornerstone of a healthy diet.  Government health recommendations state that most of us should be eating two cups of fruit and two and a half cups of vegetables each day.  But how many of you choose your servings of fruits and vegetables from juice drinks? While a cup of 100% juice counts as a serving the same as a cup of whole fruit or vegetables, research suggests that the juice isn’t as nutritious as its fresh counterparts. Scientists at the University of Alabama recently compared fresh fruit with 100% fruit juice to determine the amount of antioxidants each contained.  Antioxidants are a type of molecule that protect our cells from damage, and they are one of the reasons why fruit and vegetables are so healthy for our bodies.  The researchers found that a serving o...

Don’t Let Credit Card Use Drown You in Debt! by   Ashley Bigard, Guest Author   on   November 17, 2014 It is not uncommon to graduate from college with a high amount of debt. While student loans can quickly add up, another contributing factor is the use of credit cards. Credit cards are more available than in the past, enticing a majority of today’s college students to use credit cards to pay for their living expenses. This is making it even easier for students to end up in debt upon graduation. Knowledge about positive financial behavior is related to responsible credit card use among college students. Luckily, there are many tools that can help students gain the knowledge they need to live within their means so that credit cards do not have to be an option. There are apps, websites and calculators that can assist with budgeting. In addition, many universities provide financial literacy education to students. The best thing a student can do is figur...