What if Irony is Judging Others for Lacking Empathy?
I hate the fact
that the only way
I can feel better
in my co-founder relationship
is to think of my co-founder
as an employee.
What do you mean?
I asked.
I have to lower my expectations.
he answered.
Lower how?
I asked
That he may not be able to support me
the way I want him
to support me.
Some say
realizing empathy
requires
imagination
Sure.
But perhaps more importantly,
realizing empathy
develops
our imagination.
Lack of experience
can allude us to think
that there is such a thing
as managing “up.”
Just as we eventually learn
that our parents
need our support
just as we need theirs,
what we misunderstand as “up”
What we eventually learn
is that “up” is an illusion.
Once we realize
that parents manage us
primarily because of the conern
they feel
we can proactively manage them
by alleviating their concern
When disagreeing
it may be important to recognize
that we need not take responsibility
for someone else’s choice.
If the disagreement is because we feel like well have to take responsibility
for someone elses choice,
then make that clear,
I choose to support you on your decision
provided you make clear that you will take responsibility
for the consequences.
When we see art
we see our loneliness depicted in the art
and in that moment
we realize that we’re not alone
in our loneliness
and somehow we can feel a surge of strength supported
At the end of the day
we are all alone at some level
Unless we hold hands with another person
and die exactly at the same time with them
we will die
alone.
Unless we vow to only make decisions
unless someone else approves of our decisions
we will make decisions
alone.
The question is
are we isolated
in our loneliness
or are we
connected
through our loneliness
or supported in our loneliness
Assumptions
and expectations
can arise
from a place of hope
or judgment.
If we find ourselves
judging ourselves
for having judgments
we may also choose
or learn to choose
to clarify,
accept
and appreciate
the hope we have
There are minor details
that warrant perfection
before release
even if it doesn’t matter
to some.
Then there are major details
that does not warrant perfection
before release
because the point
is to test our fear.
Where failure itself
will be as valuable
as success.
We are often paralyzed
in front of the prospect
of doing the latter.
May we understand
our past self
without acting as one.
May we act
as our present self
without .
May we feel inspired by our future self
without expecting our present
to be one already.