Tag Archives: tolerance

Same Storm. Different Boat.

22 Apr

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While Mahatma Gandhi once said Dignity of human nature requires that we must face the storms of life, this present storm, the way we face it and the impact it will have on each and every one of us, will be incredibly diverse. 

In the midst of disruption, there are commonalities. Heightened reactions, moments of confusion and clarity, and concern for safety and security. Human nature dictates we do what we can to save ourselves and then look around to offer a (socially distanced) helping hand. 

We react in a thousand different ways because how we think, feel, act, need, want, hate, love and believe, stem from a huge variety of factors from our past experience, our resilience, the extent of support we have available, the size of our bank account, to where we’re positioned physically, socially, economically and emotionally.

While some may have anchored calmly, and others adjusted their sails towards rainbows and pots of gold, we cannot underestimate the emotional gale and financial swirl that this storm has brought upon many. Continue reading →

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Beauty And The Beast.

4 Apr
Credit: Wallpapersus.com

Credit: Wallpapersus.com

I have noticed a bit of a trend here in New Zealand on open social network platforms, a trend that I believe probably needs a lot of education and a slather of magic to actually create change. It’s a modern version of the tall poppy syndrome.

Working with couples for a quarter of a century I’ve noticed a similar trend.

  • It’s easier to be negative than it is to be positive.
  • It’s easier to take offence and be offensive, than it is to distance and disentangle.
  • It’s easier to point the finger and blame than it is to drop deeply within oneself and wonder why such a strong response got activated within us.
  • It’s easier to jump on someone when they are down than it is to realize we all make mistakes, we are all imperfect and we all have beastly parts that luckily don’t appear very often in a public arena.
  • It’s easier to fight and fume than it is to let it go, forgive or forget.
  • It’s easier to criticize and feel contempt than it is to stay curious and compassionate.

If a news reader makes a mistake by not realizing their microphone is still on when they expresses a personal opinion, how come it is so difficult for so many to be able to simply say “Gosh, how interesting.” Or, “How embarrasing.”

It’s good to remember my saying,”Opinion is not truth.” Whatever she said is really just an estimation of reality. Is it fact, fallacy or fiction? Rather than telling, teaching or preaching and trying to force someone to recognize an error, whatever happened to gently encouraging someone to question more thoroughly what they accept as truth, or trusting that they are capable of learning their own lesson?

When we are able to move away from reacting with biased viewpoints, discrimination and prejudice and are able to move towards tolerance, fairness and equality, pure hearts begin to shine.

 

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