What if Irony is Judging Others for Lacking Empathy?
It’s easy
to judge others
for getting addicted
to power.
And yet,
once someone realizes
that what power gives us
is the potential
to never have to expose
our vulnerabilities,
to never have to feel
such unpleasant
emotions,
as shame
and embarrassment
it’s not too difficult to image
why anyone
would not wish to let go
to not get addicted
hard to blame anyone
for not wanting to lose
that way.
A way
called “power.”
People are not rejecting us
They don’t want to sacrifice
for their time
money
or whatever else they have.
They are not our enemy
They are merely people taking responsibility for themselves
Some say
realizing empathy
requires
imagination
Sure.
But perhaps more importantly,
realizing empathy
develops
our imagination.
As we age
we may realize
that what we once considered
“old“
is “young”,
while what we once considered
“young”
is younger.
Our parents
can have the best of intentions
and yet
hurt us
in unimaginable ways.
Our
“You must have had
so much will power
to finish your book!”
someone asked.
“No.
I finished it,
because I promised
my kickstarter backers.”
I answered.
“You must have had
so much courage
to leave your comfortable job
to go to art school.”
someone asked.
“No.
I went to art school,
because it was the only ray of hope
I was offered
by a stranger.”
I answered.
Everything I’ve done
that seems difficult
was done
because someone supported me
to do it.
I yelled at you
for not getting the work done
on time.
What I meant to say
was that Im afraid
to
I
What I meant to say
was that
I
What I meant to say
was that
The fear
that we might regret
isn’t it
it’s more
that living life
with constant
doubt
is not healthy
be honest about the doubt
and either find ways to remove that doubt
even if there is no guarantee
“I overreacted today.”
said the CEO.
I waited.
“They think
I’m a bad leader.” he continued.
I waited.
“They think
I’m toxic.” he continued.
“I don’t know
why I cannot control this.”
he lamented.
“How could others support you
so that you won’t overreact?”
I asked
finally.
“I don’t know.”
he replied.
“What do you not
want?”
I asked again.
“I want them
to stop saying why my ideas
are bad.”
he said.
“Do you want them
to say your ideas
are good?”
I asked.
“No,
of course not.”
he said.
“What do you want?”
I asked again.
“I…
I just want them
to listen.”
he said,
finally.
On my business card,
it says
I’m CEO
of Realizing Empathy.
When I introduce myself
I’m a coach.
But deep down
I’m
an artist.