Do You Have Any Extra Batteries?

We all likely know how comforting it feels to receive undivided, unconditional positive attention, as well as how empty it feels to not have it in a time of profound need.

At one point or another, everyone in our lives will need a safe space that is loving, nonjudgmental, and empathetic. This can be especially helpful when someone is in deep grief, struggling with unresolved trauma, or in the throes of depression.

Sometimes people are not sure of what to do or say, but to avoid is not the thing to do. This analogy grabbed at my heart ...

How do you help? Often, when someone is in pain, we try to fix it for them. While that might make us feel better, the other person may feel even more isolated in their pain. So above all, be there for and with the other person. Do not try to fix them or their feelings. They do not need fixing. The only way to resolve their pain is to allow them to go through it. Instead, sit with what is. This is arguably a difficult thing in Western culture. Sitting with what is means simply being with the person for whom you’re holding space. Do not try to change anything, and resist the urge to do anything. You are only creating a safe space for the other person to express and feel their feelings. Sit with them in the hard stuff.

This Week's Focus:

This week, make the time to sit with someone who isn't shining. Even just providing them a safe, comfortable space for a little while, can make a difference in helping to charge their battery.