Episode: 322

Episode Title: Do You See Me?

It’s good to see you—how often do we say that phrase and really mean it? Let’s talk about it, coming up next on The Perna Syndicate.

Ep 322 show:

Welcome to the Perna Syndicate! Yesterday, we talked about the three questions that young people are silently asking: Do you see me? Do you hear me? Do I matter? I want to tackle these questions one at a time, because there are specific strategies we can use to answer them effectively for the young people we influence. 

Today, let’s look at the first question: do you see me? Yes, of course I see you, you’re right in front of my face. That’s not the seeing that young people mean. They want to be seen and recognized for the unique individual that they are. In relationships where trust exists, they even want their faults to be seen—so that they can know that the other person truly accepts them for who they are. 

Do you see me? is really just the first part of the question. They also want to know: it is good to see me? 

We say this phrase all the time: it’s good to see you! But is it? Is “good to see you” really our authentic reaction when we see that student, that younger co-worker, or even our own child in our home?

The next time you see that young person, try to really see them. See how far they’ve come, see the areas where they will grow. Try to understand where they’re coming from, the stresses they’re facing, the victories they’ve won, and the things that have made them the person they are today. Let them know that you see and recognize them, that they have value in your eyes. 

And tell them, with all sincerity, that simple phrase: “It’s good to see you.” 

Tomorrow: what is active listening and how does it work? We’re going to talk about it on the next episode of The Perna Syndicate. We’ll see you then!