You’ve probably heard phrases such as “don’t judge a book by its cover” or “before you judge someone, walk a mile in their shoes.” These teach us great lessons but are often relegated to the back of our minds as mere childhood memories. Instead of leaving these phrasings to exist as simple memories, we should pay attention to the knowledge they impart. May is Mental Health Awareness month, and in support of that, below you will find six ways to practice empathy, understanding, and mindfulness of others. For as we are children of God, we are called to practically and faithfully live our faith out in the world. More than that, we are to do so with “compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience (2 Colossians 3:12-14).”
1. We live in a fast-paced world, and we often speak and think in a hurried manner as part of this. Before responding to someone, especially if you are in the middle of a tough talk, take a moment and evaluate both sides. Don’t respond in the heat of the moment or in hate but out of compassion and a desire to seek a peaceful resolution.
2. Set aside time for spiritual reflection and time with the Word; this will help to bring a sense of peace to you and provide perspective on your current circumstances. Seeking spiritual guidance from a trusted friend, mentor, or pastor may also prove illuminating or at least comforting.
3. Don’t be afraid to open yourself up in front of people; being vulnerable can often be one of the best ways to find healing and to make lasting connections even if it doesn’t feel like it initially.
4. People all too frequently ask how someone is doing as part of a greeting without expecting or desiring an answer. If you ask, wait for them to answer before moving on. Show the other person that their time and feelings are valuable.
5. Realize that those who are hurting may respond negatively to offers of assistance. Even if they genuinely don’t want your help, you tried and you’re on the right track. However, don’t push; make sure to respect their boundaries. If you feel it’s appropriate, you can let them know that you are there if they change their mind, though. Also, it can often be more helpful to someone who is suffering or going through a particularly hard time to ask if you can help in a specific manner as opposed to asking if you can help in general. For example, if you know they are having a hard time getting around, perhaps ask if you can cut their grass for them.
6. I believe we, as a whole, are becoming socially insensitive to each other’s individual walk and struggles. When we are growing up we often hear that we should think before we speak and if we don’t have anything nice to say, we shouldn’t say anything at all. Unfortunately, while we are frequently reminded of this growing up (as we should be), we may fail to remind ourselves of this as adults. If we ground ourselves in the Word, yearn to follow Christ and model our actions after his, we may find that this childhood instruction is easier to follow and embody in our words and deeds than our culture would have us believe. For example, if you get stuck behind a slow driver, try not to become rage-filled. Perhaps the driver is learning to drive, has experienced an accident and is trying to overcome their fears, or maybe he/she is extremely cautious because he/she has a newborn in the back seat. You never know what someone is thinking or experiencing.
By Meredith Bond, 2018
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