The smallest act of compassion can inspire the greatest movement of healing.
—
I was finishing up today’s blog post when I realized that wasn’t the article I want to share with you today. Instead, I wanted share a bit of my heart today.
We’re all responding differently to the shocking news of a devastating mass shooting in a gay club in Orlando. Like so many of you, I’m sad and upset. I especially feel for those of you who lost loved ones today.
My mission is to support you in understanding yourself, accepting your imperfections, living with authenticity, and loving your entire self. I write this blog because I think everyone matters and everyone deserves self-acceptance, love, and belonging.
Most of us aren’t directly impacted by the shooting in Orlando.
Some of you may be grieving, angry, or afraid. Some of you may wonder what any of this has to do with you.
The massacre in Orlando has everything to do with you.
Your particular problems aren’t the same as mine. And my problems aren’t the same as my neighbors.
But we all have pain. And if you think this shooting isn’t about you because you’re not gay, you’re wrong.
I’ve been working as a therapist (and as a human being) long enough to know that we all struggle with a lot of the same heartaches. Most of us have been treated unjustly at some point in our lives.
We’ve felt like we didn’t fit in, and maybe like the world was against us. We’ve felt afraid of being judged and rejected.
We’ve felt like we’re not enough (smart enough, thin enough, funny enough, young enough, rich enough, etc).
We’ve lost loved ones.
We’ve had to make hard choices and do things we didn’t feel competent or ready to do.
You know what? We’re all in this together. We can choose to help each up or we can choose to push each other away.
I write this blog every week to encourage you to be courageous; to have a voice; to know you matter; to know you are just as deserving of happiness and success as everyone else.
Today I encourage you to let someone’s hatred bring out the most compassionate parts of yourself. There are people hurting in Orlando and all around you. Maybe you’re hurting, too. Show yourself compassion. Gather your love and show others compassion.
Compassion isn’t complicated.
Compassion isn’t political.
Compassion is just love.
We all need love and we can all give love. A kind word, a prayer, a knowing glance can make all the difference.
—
This essay originally appeared on Pysch Central and is republished on Medium.
***
You Might Also Like These From The Good Men Project
Compliments Men Want to Hear More Often | Relationships Aren’t Easy, But They’re Worth It | The One Thing Men Want More Than Sex | ..A Man’s Kiss Tells You Everything |
Join The Good Men Project as a Premium Member today.
All Premium Members get to view The Good Men Project with NO ADS.
A $50 annual membership gives you an all access pass. You can be a part of every call, group, class and community.
A $25 annual membership gives you access to one class, one Social Interest group and our online communities.
A $12 annual membership gives you access to our Friday calls with the publisher, our online community.
Register New Account
Need more info? A complete list of benefits is here.
—
Photo credit: iStock
—
Read Sharon Martin’s column every week here on The Good Men Project!
And thank you for sharing this!
Join the conversation with Sharon on her Facebook page and Instagram as we inspire and support each other through life’s ups and downs.