Always Stay Humble and Kind ~Tim McGraw
A client just sent me a video of a beautiful song by Tim McGraw that is a great reminder for all of us that true humanity is about being humble and kind. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awzNHuGqoMc&sns=em
We can easily get caught up in our own views, in our sense of righteousness and in our anger. We can also get fooled into thinking that something is OK simply because so many others are doing it. We think that if someone hurt us, we have the right — and almost a duty — to hurt him or her back. We can easily believe that an injustice by the police, our government or terrorists, justifies our own violent acts. What we fail to remember is that no matter how many people are doing something or how angry we get or even how “right” we “know” we are . . . our actions and reactions have long-lasting impact.
Our rage damages. Our cheating breaks hearts. Our criticism chips away at people. Our extreme beliefs result in minimizing or even taking lives. Our bullying others can actually diminish them in their own eyes and in the eyes of those watching. Our arrogance, while falsely “puffing” us up, painfully tears others down.
Our actions have impact. And the impact of our actions often reverberates far beyond the moment itself. To not live with humility and kindness is to leave a tragic mark on our humanity. If we choose to not think beyond ourselves, we will forever struggle to experience loving connection with anyone. When we justify our cheating, raging, lying, killing, badmouthing, etc., we diminish all of us.
We forget that at the end of the day we are ALL human beings who want to be loved and belong. Even in our hate, we want to belong. In our desperation, we don’t care if we belong to a gang, to ISIS, to the Tea Party or to (fill in the blank). We need to feel as though we belong. Perhaps, if we all slowed ourselves down enough to think about how our choices will impact our fellow human beings, we might actually feel a greater sense of belonging than ever before. Perhaps, if we tried to understand the fears and concerns driving our differing beliefs rather than attacking one another for having them, we might forge a connection. Maybe, just maybe, if, rather than getting so caught up in our own experience, we took the time to understand the experiences of those around us, we might be better able to connect.
In life and relationships, we will all benefit when we can step out of our own stories and enter the lives and stories of those around us. We will benefit from holding ourselves in warm regard as a first step toward holding all human beings in warm regard. When we recognize that our behaviors seldom impact only ourselves and begin to think about the ripple effect of our choices, perhaps we will make more compassionate choices. The reality is, we need more love, not hate; greater compassion, not less; warmer hearts, not colder, and less violence, not more. If you want to feel greater connection at home or in the world, be kinder, more humble and far more compassionate.
Challenge: Be kinder and more humble everyday. Leave the righteousness, rage and hurtful actions off the table and, instead, step in with love, compassion, strength and integrity–for your sake and the sake of humanity.