What if Irony is Judging Others for Lacking Empathy?
Sometimes
the challenge
is less believing in ourselves
and more believing in others
who believe in us.
Sometimes
our craving for validation
is not mere craving
for validation
but craving validation
from specific someone
or group of people
because we do not deem enough
the validations we’ve already
received.
Sometimes
what we crave
is not mere validation
but revenge
born out of the desire
to prove certain people
wrong.
Few people understand
the feeling of isolation
that comes
from being
wealthy.
Nor do they
want to.
Which makes this feeling
even more
isolating.
I
envision a world,
where each and every one of us,
from the moment we’re born
until the day we die
can feel certain
there’s at least one person
we can reach out to
at any given moment
who can and will support us
in a way
that actually makes us feel
supported.
A goal
is something you can
achieve.
A vision
is a guide
that directs your life.
If all we have
are goals,
once we achieve them
we can get
lost.
If all we have
is a vision,
it can be hard
to make
progress.
It’s easy to think
that the things
other people want us to do
are more important
than what we want to do.
It can seem
that doing what we want to do
is selfish and bad
while doing what others want us to do
is altruistic and good.
And yet,
we are the proverbial “other people”
to somebody else.
May we pause
to deeply wonder
what it is we’re doing
and ask ourselves
the wonderous question
of “why?”
Why have we prioritized
certain tasks
over others?
May we live life
as the wonderous
and paradoxical
mystery
that it is
instead
of merely a series of problems
to be solved,
otherwise
our lives
can easily turn into something
akin
to a hamster wheel.
Imagine
a tight rope
walker.
Without
a net on the ground
for the future,
it can be difficult for her
to feel
safe.
Without
a supportive rope
in the present,
it can be difficult for her
to feel
stable.
Without
sufficient preparation
prior,
it can be difficult for her
to feel
secure.
When we feel
hesitant
or vulnerable,
it may be useful
to ask ourselves
which of the 3
is missing,
Having enough
does not mean
having
abundance.
Having enough
means
having space
without the desire
to fill it.
Having abundance
does not mean
having enough,
either.
In fact,
abundance
can fuel
greed.
Having enough
requires an appreciation
of space.
A to-do list,
can misguide us
to focus on getting things
done.
May we remind ourselves
that it is a to-do list,
not a to-done list.
The list may say
spend 1-hour writing,
as opposed to saying
write 1 page.
Some things
don’t get done
by forcing it.
They get done
as a byproduct
of diligence
and persistence.
Thank you.
Please.
I’m sorry.
Three
magic words.
…
If I may add
one more,
it would be…
“If something goes wrong,
I’ll take responsibility for it.”
When something
or someone
with which we hyper-empathize
is threatened,
we can obsess over rescuing
or protecting
that something
or someone
with which
we hyper-empathize.
This can drive us
to lose sight
of everything around us
and focus solely
on the survival
of only those
with which we hyper-empathize,
even if
it is at the expense of others
with whom
we do not
hyper-empathize,
even if the other
is our so-called
“self.”
