my jogging diary 3….. we need more understanding.

Lately, I have started to contemplate the true value of acceptance and the positive and negative role it plays.

The world has come a long way over the past few decades.

Acceptance has become the word of the day, and we pat ourselves on the back for being a generally accepting society.

The concern I have is that we are living in a world with more and more acceptance and very little understanding.

The definition of acceptance according to the Oxford Dictionary is:

1. the action of consenting to receive or undertake something offered.

2. the process or fact of being received as adequate, valid, or suitable.

It would seem from the definition that this is fantastic to live in an accepting society but my experience is that we need more. Acceptance alone will not lead to empathy and without true empathy we can’t have deep and meaningful connections with those around us.

According to the Oxford Dictionary, Empathy means the ability to understand and share the feelings of another.

Acceptance alone does not encapsulate that.

Acceptance becomes a selfish act when it’s not followed with action. Action to understand why things are the way they are, or why a person’s journey looks a certain way. If there is no understanding then the acceptance is just an excuse to judge behind closed doors. Another justification for our own inaction.

If we want a truly inclusive society we need a deep connection to the people we interact with. To have that connection we need empathy. Every single person on this planet has their own story with many chapters and seasons full of beauty and pain. Some have stories that have more pain than others and we need to understand this truth.

For too long we have stood by idly accepting things for what they are and thinking that is enough.

If we want to change the world we need to be able to collectively carry each other’s pain, share in each other’s joy, and be able to hold space for our fellow earth dwellers.

Holding Space means being there for someone without judgment. It means you donate your ears and heart without wanting anything in return or the need to convey your opinion on what they are going through. It means that you offer them the opportunity to be seen and heard fully. It involves practicing empathy and compassion on the highest level.

Many people are living in fear of being their true authentic selves because of what those who are supposed to love them unconditionally will think and do if they were to know the truth. Too many kids and adults are losing their lives.

We need more light about each other. Light creates understanding, understanding creates love, love creates patience and patience creates unity. (Quote by Melcolm X)

We might not be able to change the world but we can change someone’s world by accepting them for who they are. Then take the action required to understand their journey and support them in being their authentic selves unconditionally.