I wasn’t sure what to write this week. We can’t help but be affected by what’s been happening in our country this month. I won’t preach about political philosophies, or why these things happen or what we should do. The issues facing us are not binary. Nothing is so simple. I will say this though: I believe that what we have been witnessing in our society over the past decades is rooted in the fact that people aren’t dealing with their pain. They aren’t facing their shame, anger, and fear. People are hurting; people feel lost, helpless, hopeless, and isolated with no sense of belonging. For many, the list is long — which is odd in this digitally-connected age. 

Wisdom is the ability to see the bigger picture without losing sight of the smaller picture. It is a heartbreaking picture to be sure. What can you do about this? As I always say, “Nothing changes until you do.”

It all starts with you. Become more self-aware about what is going on internally. If you have anger issues, get real and deal with it. If you can’t let something go, journal or talk to a friend and get clarity for yourself. If you have unhealthy patterns, get help to re-pattern and change behavior, and in turn your reality.

Externally: pay attention to people around you more. Smile at strangers. Say hello. Open a door. People want to be seen, acknowledged, counted. They want to know that they matter. The truth is that you do have an impact. Giving your time and care to a stranger for just a moment can leave an imprint on that person. Being open-minded, supportive and compassionate is how we will collectively heal.