There is a saying that goes like this, a small action creates a ripple, which becomes a wave of change. Never underestimate the power of a single ripple.
You know what I’ve learned firsthand over the past few years? We just can’t make sense of someone else’s suffering. When a person’s in pain, it’s like a ripple effect that touches everyone. When anyone bottles up their inner pain, it tends to ripple and land on the people around them. And they can get us all tangled up in their own suffering and start acting out.
But guess what? We have a choice whether or not we get caught up in conflicts or take on someone else’s pain. This isn’t just about our personal relationships; it’s also about the crazy stuff happening all around the world right.
Right now, there is a ripple of pain coming to the surface. It’s an opportunity to figure out what’s ours to deal with and what isn’t.
Sure, we can lend a listening ear and be supportive when people ask for help. But sometimes, a person’s pain is so intense that we need to step back and become compassionate toward ourselves as well. Recognizing when someone or something doesn’t vibe with us is powerful. It lets us know when it’s time to let go and move on without creating any unnecessary drama. It is actually an act of love because no one can do deep inner work for another.
And when we set boundaries, sometimes people lash out at us directly or talk behind our back. But at the end of the day, these are toxic stories that we can choose not to engage with. We each express our pain in our own way and radical honesty determines whether someone chooses to hide behind pain and suffering, or creates a caring relationship with us.
This is what happens in an authentic world. We get to talk openly and show up as ourselves no longer needing to suffer through life.
Getting to this point takes effort. For me, I had to unlearn a lot of stuff. I became aware that the choices people make and how they react, well, that’s not on me. Instead of feeling worn out by taking on pain that wasn’t even mine, I learned to figure out what was really my responsibility and what wasn’t.
Practicing discernment means understanding that anything toxic to our wellbeing doesn’t have to stick around. Once we know ourselves, we get to set our boundaries. Maybe we were taught to just “deal with it” or come out on top, at our own expense? But standing firm in our own power with clear limits actually helps us heal.
And the cool part is, when we choose to focus on healing and understanding, we’re making our world a healthier place, one person at a time. We help reduce the strife that often splits us apart.
By doing this, we create a ripple effect, inspiring each other to walk a healthier path. And maybe eventually creating a more united and compassionate global community. How incredible are the opportunities ahead of us to truly step into our power?