A Kindler, Gentler You
How about a kinder, gentler you in 2021?
I want to offer you a challenge for 2021. The challenge is to focus on two things:
Relationships
Empathy
If you focus on relationships, your life will be better and you will feel better about yourself. Particularly in this difficult time, people are hurting and need comfort and encouragement. You can do this. In your daily encounters with people, focus on listening deeply to them about their concerns or problems. Don’t offer your own solutions, just listen.
That leads to the second word: empathy.
Most men don’t have a good reputation for expressing empathy. But it is so simple and it means so much to others. All it requires is that you acknowledge what you are hearing from someone and express sorrow or concern that they are dealing with that.
And it doesn’t have to be a big issue. Even small things matter. Whenever we can express empathy to others, we are being more fully human and improving our spiritual self.
Some examples:
Wife: these kids have been impossible today. I don’t know how long I can stand this.
You: I’m sorry you’re having to deal with all of that. Maybe I can help out in some way.
Coworker: this place is a zoo. Everybody’s after each other’s throat.
You: sounds like things have got you upset. I’m sorry about that. You’re right, sometimes people can be brutal.
I know these sound like trite, simple phrases. But they work wonders. I’m sure you can come up with your own, but the point is to show people you care about the difficulties they are dealing with.
