Are we losing sight of what really matters? - Kindness.
Dr Glenda Rivoallan
Founder of We Talk Wellbeing | Director Your Wellbeing | Creator of Resilient as Fudge| Expert on building the resilient mindset
I am angry and I want to talk about it !
It feels to me like we’re losing our grip on what truly matters—kindness.
Losing Sight of What Matters!
We’re so focused on our own schedules, our next zoom call and our own personal gain, that its easy to forget the importance of empathy and understanding.
And we wonder why there is a lot of unhappiness and dissatisfaction amongst us.
We are so busy chasing things we have forgotten about meaning. We are so busy “judging” and “criticising” others we fail to see the damage that causes to the recipient. We are so busy finding in fault in everyone else driven by ego, that we fail to see or choose to ignore the part we play. It hurts and it saddens me.
A Personal Experience
When my dad was recently diagnosed with cancer, I was stunned how a client of mine was more concerned about their next appointment than the gravity of what I was processing.
Yes I was preoccupied and Yes I needed time out.
Is that not to be expected? My dad who had never been ill in his life called me to tell me he had under 2 years to live for gods sake. It takes its toll. And you know what I was not ready for news like this - who is prepared. I openly admit that.
It was a time that should have been met with compassion, and patience (as I have reciprocated many times) yet it felt oddly cold and transactional. It made me realise how easily we can become detached from others’ pain.
An All Too Familiar Tragedy
We’ve seen this lack of empathy on a much larger scale too this week, with the tragic passing of Liam Payne.
The unfolding of events throughout the day made me so angry. The devastating news was met with a wave of cruel and insensitive comments online. One new agency even posting vile photos online of Liam in his final moments. Get a grip... you should be ashamed of yourself.
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This was a person with a family, with obvious mental health struggles, a person with feelings, and with a life that deserved respect. Yet, the response shows just how far we’ve strayed from kindness.
Did people stop to think that what Liam may have needed more than anything else in the entire world was
> help not sabotage,
> empathy not judgment
> compassion not criticism
> love not hate
How many people have to suffer the same fate before we stand up and say...
Enough is enough.
Getting Back To Kindness
We need to stop and choose kindness—in our conversations, our interactions, and especially in our reactions.
Behind every screen, every appointment, every interaction, and every public figure there’s a human being with a real life, and real feelings and battles we know little about.
It costs nothing to show compassion, yet it can mean everything.
Lets remember that at the heart of it all, humanity is what truly matters.
#KindnessMatters #Empathy #EnoughIsEnough #HumanityFirst #MentalHealthAwareness #Compassion #BeTheChange
Award-winning, Multi-National Workplace Health, Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategist and Consultant. Mentor. International Keynote Speaker. Thought Leader and Advocate for Women's Health.
1moI think a focus on ‘me’ caused by social media combined with so much change and trauma around the world right now has caused people to be in individualised ego centric states most of the time. Whether for survival or just ego I don’t know. But yes you are right Dr Glenda Rivoallan. It has led to many self centred, thoughtless, unempathetic responses. Especially online where people feel (for some reason I have never understood) safer in attacking or critiquing others in a way they never would have to their faces. I suppose a machine easier than insulting a human. It’s a really sad state of affairs. There is much kindness and love round the world Each day. My Uber driver chose not to charge me yesterday. Little acts of kindness and thoughtfulness. We have to remember that when confronted with what you describe. Which we all see in endless supply.
✨Multi award winning✨ Soak: Director & Creator
1moKindness is something I truly value, as it's something I have needed along my own wellness journey...it's why I am so passionate about creating a brand that has kindness at the centre. I want to work with places that share these values to the core. 💙
New things happening soon
1moThere's a certain irony that in social media people who post bekind are often the most intolerant to people that have a differing view to them.
Helping High Performers ,STOP relapsing and beat addiction for good with my award winning Recovery Code System | Addiction Recovery Energetics | Burnout | Speaker | Sober Podcast Host
1moI remember when my Mum had a stroke and had to cancel my clinic more or less immediately. I was shocked to hear from our receptionist what some of my clients said when their appointments were cancelled . Things like " Well, that's not my problem " . Also the other day when my train was delayed when someone had jumped in front of another train ahead.. the comments .." crap! I am going to be late ".. no sympathy at all. I am cery mindful of my thoughts around tragedies such as Liam's and my blessings go quietly out to his family .
(Cert CII)
1moWhat i find the hardest to comprehend, is that it always seem takes a death like, this to remind people about being kind. The followong week or so theres is an obvious change to the keyboard warriors and people in general and then the same old kicks in. Its really not hard to be kind, a simple smile, compliment, are you ok? Can literally change someone's day. Being noticed! Its a sorry world we live in when it takes a celeb death to make some rethink their actions x