Frankl was a Jewish psychiatrist who was imprisoned in a Nazi concentration camp. He was a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP) and in his famous book ‘Man’s Search for Meaning’ he describes how he was called upon to inspire his fellow prisoners, how he intuitively understood what they needed. He observed that under those awful circumstances,Continue reading “Comforting Thought: Viktor Frankl knew a lot about finding meaning even in the worst situations”
Tag Archives: empathy
Comforting Thought: A highly sensitive person (HSP) can be an enduring anchor during difficult times
Whatever the times, suffering eventually touches every life. How we live with it, and help others to is one of the greatest ethical and creative opportunities for HSPs. We HSPs do a great disservice to ourselves and others when we think of ourselves as weak compared to the warrior. Our strength is different, but frequentlyContinue reading “Comforting Thought: A highly sensitive person (HSP) can be an enduring anchor during difficult times”
Ancient Word of the Day: Ubuntu
A beautiful and ancient word that denotes the deep collective power of empathy and humanity. Ubuntu is a Xhosa word that denotes sharing what you have. As in, my humanity is inextricably linked and bound up in yours. Ubuntu recognises that true healing is impossible without recognition of our common humanity and common destiny. ‘TheContinue reading “Ancient Word of the Day: Ubuntu”
Comforting Thought: We all have four limbs and a shared history
“Just as all humans are the same and each human differs. All species are the same and each species differs, and within that, each creature too, is an individual. It is a matter of mystery and delight compounded that so many species can bring that buondary between us, so that the hawk looks for theContinue reading “Comforting Thought: We all have four limbs and a shared history”
Comforting Thought: Live now, as we think human beings should live @jhalifax
“To be hopeful in bad times is not just foolishly romantic. It is based on the fact that human history is a history based not only on cruelty but also on compassion, sacrifice, courage and kindness. “What we choose to emphasise in this complex history will determine our lives. If we see only the worst,Continue reading “Comforting Thought: Live now, as we think human beings should live @jhalifax”
Comforting Thought: The Five Precepts of Buddhism @jhalifax
“When I am not clear what road to take, I might ask myself: ‘What would Buddha do?’ This is not to ask the impossible of myself. Rather, it is a reminder that the seeds of freedom are already in me. My vows water those seeds, and this seemingly innocent question has helped me to avoidContinue reading “Comforting Thought: The Five Precepts of Buddhism @jhalifax”
Comforting Thought: Empathy Between Gift and Invasion
“I’m interested in everything that might be flawed and messy about empathy, how imagining other lives can constitute a kind of tyranny, or artificially absolve ourselves from guilt or responsibility. How feeling empathy can make use feel we’ve done something good when we actually haven’t. “We start to like the feeling of feeling bad forContinue reading “Comforting Thought: Empathy Between Gift and Invasion”
Comforting Thought: Ep’humin et ouk ep’humin
Ep’humin et ouk ep’humin (from Greek) Things that are under our control and things that are not under our control. Of things that exist, some are in our power and some are not in our power. Those that are in our power are conception, choice, desire, aversion, and in a word, those things that areContinue reading “Comforting Thought: Ep’humin et ouk ep’humin”
Comforting Thought: Diogenes on the human race
Not least for those who are called foreigners, for they are not foreigners. For while the various segments of the earth give different people a different country, the whole compass of this world gives people all people a single country, the entire Earth, and a single home, the world. Diogenes of Oenoanda Diogenes of Oenoanda,Continue reading “Comforting Thought: Diogenes on the human race”
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