Tag: hope

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Victory

Compassion

I am reading the most amazing book at the moment. The Compassion Project : A case for hope and human kindness from the town that beat loneliness by Julian Abel and Lindsay Clarke. It speaks volumes of the possibilities available to us as people, if we use what we already have within it. It speaks of how we all have compassion within us – some in bucket loads, others just a cup full – but we all have it. If we activate it and use it for good, entire communities are transformed. Now I don’t use the word transformed lightly – but the way this book goes into great detail about the hope, kindness, courage and community formed out of activating compassion shows just how simple it is to reconstruct our community to be a place of belonging rather than a place filled with loneliness.

In my new role, I come across loneliness. I am not just talking about meeting people who are socially isolated, but those who have a life full of people around them – yet feel lonely. Feel like they don’t fit in. The challenge to each and every one of us, is to notice. Their are no loud blaring signs that tell us someone is lonely – in the middle of busy and hectic. Their are no arrows pointing to the homes, where some one is socially and physically isolated. Loneliness comes in different forms and attaches itself to every person differently. If we simply take time to chat to those we come across in our world – whether its a work mate, a family member, a person at a shop, another parent at school pick up – where ever your day takes you – take time to notice and include. The greatest gift we can give anyone is to include them. Ask how their day is, listen to their response – don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone and encourage some one – you never know the impact you will have on their life.

Compassion is defined:
as a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering.

dictionary.com

Although that sounds heavy – we can paraphrase it as – simply put yourself in some one else’s shoes. To be included is what we all want – to have some one notice us on a bad day or a good day – to have some one care.

Who have you noticed today?

Who will you intentionally connect with this week?

Let’s be compassionate to a world that truly needs it.

Categories
Victory

Shaping Leaders: Michelle Obama

As I sat and watched ” Becoming”, (for those who don’t know, is the name of Michelle Obamas recent book and the documentary of the same title) so many things about leadership ran through my mind. If you have seen this documentary, I’d love to hear your thougths. If you haven’t it may be something to add to your watch list. It wasn’t all girl power like I assumed, but it was abolsutely inspiring – for men and women alike.

In terms of leadership a few things stood out to me, a few things I feel were confirmed, and other things in the documentary reaffirmed that their is so much good in this world. Here are just a few things that I thought I would share on this incredible leader in every sense of the word.

We need to choose to not be invisible: In a conversation about race, when asked how not to feel invisible, Michelle Obama’s response was it starts in your own heart and mind. She went on to say that the first place she felt seen and heard was her dining table with her family. In hearing these words from Michelle Obama, it reaffirmed the strength of what we as a family are trying to do. It also reminded me of the power parents have and the influence we have on our tribe. How do you make sure each member of your family feels seen and heard?

The haters will hate when you speak hope: One thing that stood out in her interview was, how Americans first reacted to Barak Obama, when he spoke about hope and possibility of a good future. The media, the general public – everyone it seemed got on the haters bandwagon. Michelle Obama spoke about how hard it was, to hear the oposition when, speaking about the future and the hope they had as a family for their country. Politics aside, you will come against oposition when you speak truth, speak hope and speak love. Expect it. Roll with the punches, but don’t ever stop. This world needs more kindness than ever before, more hope to live for and more joy needs to be found. Speak it out and speak it loud.

Do not let those around you dictate your success: One story stood out to me, when Michelle Obama was told by her highschool gudiance officer, to not aim to go to Princeton, because she wouldn’t make it. She knew the undertone was because of her skin colour, but that advice didnt’ stick. She made it and made it well and truly on her own merit and hard work. This achievement was one stepping stone towards meeting her future husband and future as the 44th first lady of the white house. Your success may come in any shape or size, your goals and dreams too, do not let anyone dictate to you, your future or success. Stick to your goals, work hard to achieve them, even when those around you say you can’t. You never know where one achievement will lead to.

In finishing, the lessons learnt from Michelle Obama, and their are many, these are merely a few – remember that we can be shaped by those around us, aspire to be like other leaders, but their is no one like you – be the leader in your family and life that you have been called to be.