Empathy Unleashed: The Power of Attractions, Travel, and Exploration
Young girl learning about sea creatures from a digital kiosk. Image Credit: SeaWorld Abu Dhabi
Empathy is a fundamental human trait that begins to manifest even in infancy. It's that natural response when one infant cries that elicits a chorus of tears from others—a precursor to empathy. While it is considered an inherited trait, research also shows empathy can be nurtured and expanded. Empathy thrives when we actively engage with others, recognizing, connecting with, and appreciating the emotions of others. Active listening, open conversations, reading, and seeking diverse perspectives are tools for fostering empathy.
Attractions and Empathy
Visiting attractions can unexpectedly serve as catalysts for empathy. Attractions introduce us to diverse cultures and ideas through storytelling. Museums showcase culture and history, deepening our understanding of other people's experiences. Zoos foster an appreciation for animals and their ecosystems, while aquariums illuminate our interconnectedness through water. Theme parks can transport visitors to different cultures, historical periods, or fantastical worlds, broadening horizons. A roller coaster can unite a diverse group in shared anticipation and exhilaration.
The Power of Travel
Have you thought about travel as a tool for expanding empathy? Travel exposes us to diverse cultures, languages, and traditions, pushing us beyond our comfort zones. This discomfort leads to personal growth and heightened sensitivity to others' experiences. Interacting with people from different backgrounds deepens our understanding of their daily challenges, joys, and concerns. Travel dismantles preconceived notions and stereotypes, allowing us to reshape our perceptions of other cultures. Learning about local customs, history, and traditions fosters cultural awareness and appreciation.
A Path to Creativity
All these new experiences ignite our brains as our neural pathways respond to new sounds, smells, and sights. Exposure to new ideas, challenges, and ways of looking at the world can inspire empathy, which in turn can inspire creativity. It allows the space to think beyond current viewpoints and understand the struggles or needs of others, sparking new solutions and approaches. Storytelling also shines. The ability to authentically portray various locations, characters, and experiences makes the narrative more compelling and relatable.
The PGAV Approach
At PGAV, we take these principles to heart. We encourage personal development through PGAV Go!; many employees use it to explore the world. Our team members have ventured to South Africa on safari, South America to meet the penguins they adopted, and explored the pyramids in Egypt.
In the same spirit of exploration and development, the entire PGAV team is now headed to Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Abu Dhabi is home to SeaWorld Abu Dhabi, which PGAV team members spent ten years designing. They’ll explore the project in person, but the trip is more than a visit to this new park. It also allows the team to immerse themselves in a rich and diverse culture, expanding their perspectives. Exposure to new experiences and cultures is invaluable to the team. Traveling together can also encourage understanding and open communication, leading to shared ideas and building on each other’s creativity.
Mike Konzen, PGAV's CEO, explains the decision to take the entire team, "Traveling to Abu Dhabi as a team fosters empathy by connecting us to each other and another culture. Those connections and life experiences allow creativity to flourish. In these shared adventures, we discover the world and unleash our creative potential.”
Adults and Children enjoying a character at SeaWorld Abu Dhabi. Image credit: SeaWorld Abu Dhabi
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