We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Melissa Ohden. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Melissa below.
Melissa , so great to have you sharing your thoughts and wisdom with our readers and so let’s jump right into one of our favorite topics – empathy. We think a lack of empathy is at the heart of so many issues the world is struggling with and so our hope is to contribute to an environment that fosters the development of empathy. Along those lines, we’d love to hear your thoughts around where your empathy comes from?
Going through a life-altering experience.
Hearing from others who have related to that experience in some way, and being entrusted with their stories.
My faith.
Personal experiences with trauma but also my professional experience as a Clinical social worker.
Motherhood also expanded my empathy.
Diligently seeking answers, reading research, “knowing what I don’t know” and being willing to look for answers, be curious and open to it, which includes connecting with other people’s needs, strengths and struggles.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
Melissa Ohden is the Founder and CEO of The Abortion Survivors Network, the only advocacy organization for abortion survivors and their families worldwide.
She is a Master’s level prepared Social Worker and the author of the award winning book featuring her life story, You Carried Me: A Daughter’s Memoir and most recently, the co-author of Abortion Survivors Break Their Silence.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Willingness to pivot, be flexible, “trust the process” personally and professionally
Taking what I do seriously, but not taking myself too seriously
Strategic minded approach, which sometimes includes being misunderstood for decisions made or even unliked because of it
What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?
Unwavering belief in me that allowed me to believe in myself. Loving me enough to have boundaries and expectations but not helicopter parenting me. Unconditional love.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.abortionsurvivors.org
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
