Values

Asking which animal I would be if I was an animal, Sharon Bättig-Diaz's first input was: A horse running free. 

Feeling free helps me to serve people better, for example because I can adapt to whatever the user wants.

Feeling free gives me energy to, for example, think creatively and develop ideas. 

Feeling free also helps me to work in areas and ways through which I believe I can contribute the best to creating value.

I like to get inspired from what is happening in different areas of life. For example, I like to get inspired from nature, music and architecture. Learning from what is happening in different areas / industries helps me to increase diversity of thought and discover new combinations as well as see opportunities.

I develop, share and use creative thinking methods.

I like to participate in brainstormings and other idea generating initiatives.

I encourage children, I tutor, to think creatively and learn in creative ways. Example: Thinking mathematically while cooking.

When I was a teenager, I recall that what drove my interest in sports was primarily winning. As I grew older, my goals changed. For example, when I swim, I think little about competing and being better than others. Doing sports has more to do with developing all-round physique, for example by training muscles, building flexibility and learning to breathe better. Also, the purpose of sports for me today has to do with relieving stress and feeling relaxed after doing sports. In that respect, sports has for me developed into a form of meditation. 

When I sing duets via smule.com, I sometimes experience passages in a song during which tones, which people sing, fit together so beautifully that the symbiosis goes straight to the heart. When this happens, it feels like 2 + 2 = 5. What is going on in situations like these, and why is it important for me? I think what is going on are more things: 1. A realization and acceptance that each person feels comfortable singing within a certain vocal range.  2. An appreciation of each person practicing in getting better at singing the tones of his or her voice type, for example soprano, alto, tenor, baritone and bass. 3. A self confidence of each person singing notes in a firm way - even though other singers sing other notes.  4. Listening to how the combination of tones sounds.

The divorce of my parents, which happened when I was 5 years old, caused suffering in my heart, and I felt emotions such as unsafety, fear, and shame. Over the years I learned to look at this period of my life not as a wound but as an asset. For example, I learned to communicate  emotions I felt, which helped me handle the challenging family dynamics, I experienced. The changes I experienced in the lives of both of my parents also helped me to solve problems, and  develop resilience. As the only child og my parents, I also learned to develop independence and handle different living situations.

Among the most important love languages I like to listen to are kind words. It makes me feel safe when people praise efforts and initiatives I take.

When I communicate with people I like to ask questions. I experience that asking questions to people often helps people feel safe.

I find work on discovering personal values important. I experience that discovering personal values helps to develop self awareness and thereby provides a certain safety.

The book The Fearless Organization by Amy Edmondson is among the most important books I have read as it deals with psychological safety, which I view as very important for how we work with each other.

When I participate at events with other people, I appreciate when moderators use methods that help people communicate with each other in very small groups of 2 or 3 people. That helps me feel safe.

I grew up in a non-academic environment. Very few people in my family had done higher education studies. Tools they knew were, for example, screwdrivers, calculators, various machines and technologies that could help get things done. 

During a period of time, I cleaned and and repaired tennis courts at Lystrup tennis club. 

During my higher education studies, I did cleaning work at a dentist.

During my higher education studies I did dish washing work at Helnan Marselis Hotel in Aarhus.

During a period of time, I delivered newspapers Jyllands-Posten and Aarhus Stiftstidende to both houses and apartments in different parts of Aarhus - mostly early in the morning.

Acts of service are among the love languages I like to speak. I like to help and do things for people, whom I love. For example, I like to bake a cake once in a while. And when I walk from a to b and see trash lying on a street, I regularly pick it up and put it in a trash can or recycle container.

I appreciate people who share good news, for example GOOD and Goodable.

When I communicate with other people I like to ask questions because I like to help people to feel well.

I like to watch Just for laughs gags of funny situations. That helps me to laugh and relax.

In conversations with other people I like to mention something that is funny to promote smiling and laughing.

I like to try food from different cultures. For example, I like to try Thai food, Chinese food, Indian food, Sri Lankan food and Italian food.

I like to live in places, where people are different regarding, for example, age, gender, places of birth, educational background and work experiences. 

Reflecting on various experiences I have had in my life living in different countries, I have experienced how important it is for a stranger when locals approach you proactively and help you feel a part of communities.