What if Irony is Judging Others for Lacking Empathy?
There is no such thing
as “over-”
thinking.
There is merely
“thinking”
that either we
or others
judge
as “too much.”
Instead of judging ourselves or others,
may we realize empathy
with our own thought process
so we can learn
why
our mind is behaving the way it is,
then support them
to address its concerns
to relieve it
of its tension.
We say
that when we love someone
we want
what’s best for them.
What we don’t say,
but mean,
is that we may even want to make sure
they get the best.
So much so
that we may personally feel responsible
for giving them
the best.
Even if it means making ourselves vulnerable
to feeling ashamed,
when we inevitably realize
that we are unable
to fulfill our responsibility.
Not because we did not
or could not give
enough,
but because our heart knows no limits
on how much
to give them.
When we delegate
we think
we are delegating
our tasks.
But we are also delegating
our values.
What we consider important.
How we make decisions.
How we prioritize.
Delegating mere tasks
without values
may end with you blurting out
the good ol’ saying:
“If you want something done right,
do it
yourself.”
Sometimes
we hear people say
“But I cannot simply choose
to be some way!”
Indeed.
Making a choice
does not mean change
is necessarily
imminent.
It merely signifies
the first step
of a journey.
But a journey
with a commitment.
A journey
with intention.
A journey
that starts by us taking
responsibility.
Our experiences
are real
and valid.
Our perspectives
are real
and valid.
Our perceptions
are real
and valid.
But none of them
are the whole.
When there is
volatility,
there is likely to be
anxiety.
When there is
uncertainty,
there is likely to be
loneliness.
When there is
complexity,
there is likely to be
overwhelm.
When there is
ambiguity,
there is likely to be
shame.
For some reason,
“winning“
has become a dirty word
in business.
Perhaps what’s needed
is a clear discernment
between winning
a zero sum game,
vs playing our own game,
where “winning“
is not defined
as zero sum.
Sometimes
we judge perfectionism
as if it’s
“bad.”
No.
In the long-term,
perfectionism
is what may be required
to achieve
beauty.
In the short-term,
we may have to prioritize
in order to achieve
other milestones
that buy us the time we need
to achieve beauty
in the long-term.
The challenge isn’t perfectionism,
it’s prioritization.
May we not throw the baby
out with the bath water
For the will to perfect
when managed well
can endow us with the strength
to endure the pain it may require
to achieve
beauty.
If a mentor
is someone who has achieved something
we wish to achieve,
the mere fact that they exist
can give us hope
and the confidence
to do what we want
to do.
We are not
angry.
We have
anger.
We are not
afraid.
We have
fear.
We are not
ashamed.
We have
shame.
The moment we take ownership
of an emotion,
just as we take ownership
of a car,
may also be the moment
we use them
to get to point B
from point
A
instead of letting them drive us
to where we do not wish
to go.
