To foster harmony in a divided world, articulate your own needs without immediately viewing other groups as interfering, and strive to understand what is at stake for people with differing values. Cultivate hope as a moral obligation by actively working to resonate with others and understand their perspectives, seeking common ground and compatible needs.
Healthcare professionals should recognize that patients from different cultures may express distress through physical symptoms or lack direct linguistic equivalents for Western diagnostic terms. Adapt communication by focusing on the patient’s narrative, their position in the world, and what they wish they could do, rather than imposing Western mental health language.
Recognize that emotions are not universal, innate ’things’ inside us, but rather arise from and are shaped by interactions between people and an individual’s engagement with their environment. This perspective allows for different cultural interpretations and responses to situations.
Cultivate the skill of choosing your response and emotions by taking other perspectives or focusing on different aspects of a situation, rather than letting external events automatically dictate your feelings. This personal choice can be constrained by cultural and social forces, but it’s a powerful tool for well-being.
Instead of trying to feel what another person feels (which can be misleading due to cultural differences), practice ‘resonating’ by humbly seeking to understand what is at stake for them, their narrative, values, environment, and how they make meaning of their experiences. This approach fosters deeper understanding without projecting one’s own cultural biases.
Be aware that emotional expressions and their interpretations are culturally specific; what one culture perceives as genuine connection another might perceive as formal distance, and vice-versa. Actively seek to understand what is important for other people in interactions and communicate about it, rather than assuming your cultural interpretation is universal.
Understand the trade-offs of Western individualism: while it offers liberty when doing well, it increases vulnerability and reduces social scaffolding during difficult times like depression, making second-time depression more common. This awareness can help in seeking or building stronger community support.
If you believe emotions are authentic internal forces that must be expressed, suppressing them can lead to increased intensity and burnout. Instead, consider adopting a mindset where emotions are adjusted to situational requirements, which can help change the emotion itself and reduce negative impacts.
If individual emotional expressions (like anger) are not effective due to social dynamics (e.g., for women or minorities), consider collective action or political claims to restructure social expectations and achieve desired outcomes. This approach leverages group power to challenge existing norms.
Parents should understand their role in co-creating and co-constructing emotions with their children by helping them interpret the world from a cultural perspective. This socialization, while culturally specific, is beneficial for children to function within their society.
Recognize that individuals exposed to multiple cultures can develop hybrid identities, and forcing abandonment of heritage culture can lead to less identification with the national culture. Support the ability to engage in multiple cultures for better integration and personal well-being.
Understand that the purpose and impact of criticism and praise vary across cultures; in some, pointing out deficiencies is a form of motivation for improvement, while in others, it can be demotivating if perceived as a judgment of inherent worth. Consider the cultural context when giving or receiving feedback.
Be aware that language organizes our understanding of emotions by creating categories, but it doesn’t necessarily reflect a universal, pre-existing reality of emotions. Avoid the confusion of assuming one word for an emotion means it’s one universal experience.
Recognize that your own way of living and experiencing emotions is just one valid path among many, each with its own costs and benefits. Understanding the emotional lives of others can illuminate the cultural underpinnings of your own experiences and foster self-awareness.