What I Realized from Internet hosting 100 Hours of Peer Help By CeCe Cheng, CEO and Founding father of ShareWell
Peer assist isn’t a phrase we hear all that always and I wasn’t totally conscious of what it
meant till I wanted it.
Two years in the past, I used to be in an emotionally abusive relationship and my restoration from that
modified the course of my life. I noticed a therapist and spoke to pals however nonetheless felt lonely
and remoted. After I found peer assist, I lastly found individuals who
understood me as a result of they’d been via an identical scenario. I used to be not solely in a position to
speak about what I’d skilled with out feeling guilt or disgrace however was additionally in a position to
slowly regain confidence and goal by holding house for others to share.
I needed to take this discovery and use it to assist others. ShareWell was born consequently.
Quick ahead to at least one yr later and I’ve now hosted over 100 peer assist classes. Right here
are a few of my learnings from 100+ hours of getting and receiving peer assist:
■ How one can actually hear: It sounds easy however listening to different folks with out
interruption and with out attempting to ‘repair’ them or provide recommendation is among the best
issues you are able to do for somebody who’s struggling. Listening with out judgment and
taking the time to really perceive the place somebody is coming from might be the
greatest present for somebody in ache.
■ Peer assist offers you company: I not felt like I used to be powerless however that I
was in a position to do some good on the earth. I not felt ashamed of what had
occurred and was prepared as an alternative to make use of my expertise to assist others
■ Persons are hurting: Now greater than ever we have to assist one another. Research
present that post-pandemic anxiousness and melancholy have elevated by 25% within the
US alone however the amenities and assets aren’t there to assist this rise. It’s our
hope that ShareWell can bridge this hole by offering a peer assist resolution.
■ It’s not at all times apparent when somebody wants assist: I’ve spoken to hundreds of
folks and plenty of, from the surface no less than, seem like put collectively and
extroverted (maybe how some folks see me) however beneath that entrance, every
is combating their very own battle. By speaking to folks, you notice that everybody goes
via one thing, whether or not they appear to be they’re or not.
■ Buddies and friends usually are not the identical: Buddies are folks we like to be round and
spend time with however they will’t at all times empathize with what we’ve been via.
Friends usually are not essentially concerned along with your day-to-day life however perceive you.
By embracing each you’ll be able to faucet into what you actually want. Peer assist can assist
strengthen friendships by taking away the pressure of adverse conversations and
permitting you to easily take pleasure in one another’s firm.
■ How one can empathize with different folks: I discovered easy methods to acknowledge and validate
folks’s emotions and what they’ve been via. In giving others house, we are able to
empower them and allow them to know that how they really feel is essential. It may be
extremely rewarding to assist somebody going via a tough time.
I can truthfully say that peer assist teams have modified my life. I not have
traumatic flashbacks to my relationship, my relationships with my pals have
improved, I’ve honed my communication expertise and I’m a greater listener now. However maybe
probably the most lovely factor I’ve taken away from my time in peer assist is realizing simply
how related we might be to one another.
Within the final yr, I’ve personally spoken with hundreds of individuals from around the globe from all completely different ages and backgrounds and located a deep connection to what every of them are going via.
I discovered that if you actually perceive the place somebody is coming from, you uncover
there are lots of extra similarities than variations to your personal story.
The pandemic has induced a lonely world to really feel lonelier with over half of People
reporting feeling remoted and I firmly imagine peer assist is the lengthy ignored
resolution. I’m grateful to all our ShareWell members for the 100 hours of assist and really feel
extremely fortunate to have this new world household of friends to lean on.
Sharewell Fb Twitter Instagram
