What’s the worst thing about being sick? The mind can really play tricks on you and twist your body to fit the negative frames it fixes itself into. The power of positive thinking is something I’m always encouraged to subscribe to, but something I never fully buy. I’ve always been one to believe that terrible circumstances are beyond our control and nothing one can think or say will lessen the gravity of a tragic incident. If someone beloved has died, how is one to think positively of the situation? That the person is now in a better place? That I’ll see the person again one day? How come these unanswered questions don’t leave me feeling better? While I do believe in suffering ending with death, and a beautiful eternal life after, the sorrow I feel of a life lost in mine overwhelms all common sense notions. That is why we grief. If we never cried, we’d never feel, we’d never work through the pain. Because everyone knows that healing is meant to hurt too.
Sometimes life seems overwhelmingly painful and it becomes a darkness that cannot be dispelled. We see people suffer all the time that we’ve developed a cold unconscious immunity to the pain that rips through our humanity. Everything is solid around us but as thin as vapour when it comes to the impact it makes on our hearts. It is like a wind that whistles through our eardrums and teases our eyes, ever so briefly. Then it dissipates into the surroundings like it was never there.
We have all good things and the fact that half the world doesn’t, makes no difference to us. I think I have sympathy, empathy, compassion. But I really don’t. Because if I did, I’d be out there getting half beaten in the hopes of freeing my fellow men from their slavery.
We are bound in chains and chains that are rusting by the minute if we let this go on. Where do we start? From the self or from our neighbour? Can we really help others without helping ourselves first? We will never be fully helped so why wait forever to do something? The question that naturally follows is, what can I do?
Love, fearlessness, humility.
I believe these to be the recipe of hope and healing. With love, we’ll see each other like ourselves. We all have souls specially created and ordained with a beautiful plan by the same Creator. We are not numbers, we are not faceless. We are each other. And until we realise that, we’ll never truly love or wish to be the best people we can be for others.
Fearlessness. So many times we hold back because we’re afraid of people’s reactions. What will they think of me if I reach out? What if I get rejected? What if I am scorned because I’m speaking out about something controversial? What if they don’t reciprocate my kindness and I get spat upon? What if…I stop thinking and start doing? We’re held back by invisible fantasies of the worst case scenarios, and a lot of the time, our fears are unfounded. Even if the worst happens but good change is made, how can that ever take away from the best we tried to be?
It is natural and wise to maintain a certain degree of fear and cautiousness when dealing with people. But to let it override your decisions of doing good and creating favourable change, is unfortunate. Being fearless doesn’t mean being reckless and overconfident; it simply means being sensible, realistic and doing what’s right and best even if you have a modicum of fear. If this is the best route to take and I know that, then why don’t I take it if the consequences will be better for everyone?
Humility. Being able to put one’s pride aside and take the high road is well desired in this individualistic society. So many times arguments could have been averted if both parties didn’t fight like they hated each other so much and as if they both were right. Because how could they both have been right?
Giving in does not mean being a doormat or being weak. It shows someone who is strong and able to maintain a controlled mind and spirit in the heat of a situation. You don’t always have to win. It’s not easy because we naturally side with ourselves, but sometimes, we are wrong and we have to realise that. If we’re not, we needn’t shove it down someone’s throat either. We put forth our points and if it’s thrown back, we can walk away. We’ve said our peace and we’ll never convince another, at least not in this fashion. They’ll come to realise where you’re coming from one day, and justice will be given, always.
And if we realise we’re not better than the person next to us, we might be a little more willing to listen about their lives, and help if necessary. If we realise there are many hurting souls around us, including our own, we could come together and bring healing.
Love, fearlessness, humility. I believe these can set us free.
