Mislead by Distress

Kathryn J. Raths, LLC photo- Your world is skewed if you can't see beyond the mirror image. 

My post was inspired by an interview Oprah did with former President Jimmy Carter. He was talking about feeling the world's weight on his shoulders as President of the United States, but this was not because he was self-centered or felt better than anyone else. It was because of the empathy he held for those in the world. He continues to do a lot of work worldwide in helping communities struggling to survive. He communicated that the more he has worked with those less fortunate (post-presidency), the more he realized that these people are not inferior in any way. They are intelligent, loving, decent people he is honored to interface with, learn from, and help. I could feel his empathy and the sincerity of his values.

I, too, have learned the value of empathy. As a child who grew up poor, I felt many adults and peers look down their noses at me through the eyes of individuals who felt superior. Why not? I was a scrappy little girl. I may have been this scrappy little girl, but a vulnerable, innocent child dwelled beneath my second-hand clothes. There was no mistaking the glares of those who didn’t have time for me in their world; the looks spoke volumes. Perhaps this drove me to work diligently to achieve stability in my life. As I became independent, it has been important for me to reach out to others and partner/mentor those less fortunate to empathize with them and extend a hand to help them move beyond the life difficulties that have held them back, which is not their fault.

My childhood motivated my work as a Mental Health Counselor. My foot is in the door as I hold a limited license with sincere hopes to help as many individuals as possible. I want to be a beacon of light that shines into the darkness to warm the world one person's heart at a time.

We'll make the world more loving if we are sincere in our efforts and can make a difference in even one person’s life! I challenge you to look beyond your own needs and reach to another because doing so, I believe it will give back 100-fold!

What are you doing to make the world a better place? Leave me a note, and let’s talk about it.

In a crisis, continued...

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Click on the below article link to obtain background information to this blog post:

Examiner article

I work on a crisis line for my internship and I have volunteered on this line for many years previous to my internship starting and I think one of the things most wanted by callers is validation. It is the same thing Oprah said she discovered about her guests on her talk show over the years. People want to be heard; they want to feel important to someone. Attentively listening without judgment is major in helping a person in distress. This is a wonderful quality to have in a friend. Someone who allows us to be human and to vent when needed helps tremendously in enabling us to process what is going on in our lives without having to worry about this person looking down their nose at us or spreading our business around.

I’ve numbered the support suggestions on GoodLifeZen.com, hopefully they will help:

1        “Make contact…

2     Listen to the story…

3     Be there emotionally…

4     You probably don’t know how your friend feels…

5     Don’t push…

6     Help make decisions…

7     Offer practical help...

8     Bring food…

9     Know that emotion comes in waves…

10          Let your friend cry…

11          Be a buddy…

12          Be aware of your triggers…

13          Get professional help on board…

14          Rally support…

15          You will get through this…

16          Be patient…

17          Encourage basic functioning…

18          Know that nighttime is often the hardest time…

19          Don’t support drinking too much or other reckless behavior…

20         Take care of yourself…

21          Check in over time…” 

Overall human kindness

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Our world doesn't have to feel barren of love; make a difference and be compassionate to others!

Click on the below article link to obtain background information to this blog post:

Examiner article

As we sat at a seafood restaurant yesterday eating shrimp, I remembered this little tidbit of knowledge about their reproductive system and how certain families can actually change from a one sex to another over their lifespan. It is a miraculous concept and although I have not done any real research about shrimp, based on my experience as a mother, I can only imagine the bonds and strengths that manifest from both fathering and mothering a baby through such sex change processes as that of this shrimp family. If you're stumbling on this blog without reading the article, it is worthwhile to click on the Examiner article link above.

I wonder what this type of community would feel like as I discuss in the article. I do see a lot of struggle and suffering in my counseling field today and this heartache comes from an individual who usually doesn’t feel validated; much of these clients are lost and do not see a way out. Of course not all come from broken homes but the majority do. I really do believe by raising a child in a positive environment, one that is founded with love, the majority of the time, even if the child strays in his or her lifetime, this foundation with support a choice of a healthy lifestyle.

Overall, we live in a world that is threaded by compassion and held together with the bond of human kindness but it has many holes. We all need to continue to work together to fill in these gaps by spreading compassion to those who’ve not interfaced with it before. It can be a difficult task but I believe it is a worthwhile one!

What are your thoughts?

Christmas list, continued

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Click on the below article link to get background information to this blog post:

Examiner article

I care about those who surround me and when someone in my circle is struggling, I hurt too. I’m sure you are the same way; we do not like to see others suffering. But, considering this, how much effort or help do we offer to strangers in similar situations? We are all connected in some way. And, in the spirit of Christmas, I am asking you and, of course, myself too, to look deeply within in order to feel this connection and to extend a helping hand to others.

Thank goodness for the humanitarian efforts from those who spread kindness in our world. Rich or poor, I believe any act of giving, whether it be a lot of money or time or just a little of either, it all makes a difference. It really does all add up. Busy or not, because I believe we are all busy, we can make a positive difference. Have you ever been in a bad mood and then interfaced with someone who shared a smile and pleasantries and this, in turn, improved your mood? Gifting encouragement can help an individual who is in need gather the strength he or she needs to overcome.

Whatever you can do in ways of kindness this holiday season, please offer it up. Someone is struggling worse than you and by offering help, you will set love in motion and, I believe, this warmth will gift back to you 100 fold.

Are you willing to spread kindness?

From a place of love, continued...

Lifetime Art Impressions, LLC photo

Click on the below article link to obtain background information to this blog post:

Examiner article

Actually I wasn’t familiar with the word “altruism” until I stumbled on it during my reading in my practicum class, I had to actually look it up. To give selflessly is not something I experienced until I became a mother (during my twenties) and suddenly, I got it. Actually I think I was quite selfish until I became a parent.

While I was mourning the failure of my marriage I started volunteering at a local nonprofit. It has now been 8 years I have been volunteering for this domestic violence and sexual assault shelter and this “giving” has gifted back to me in many ways. The energy seemed to breath life and color back into my world. It has shaped me as a person. It sparked a passion in me that I wasn’t sure I even held. As my world evolved it opened a path for me to go back to school and recreate myself in a helping profession as a Mental Health counselor.  I’m not sure this would have come forward had I not stretched out extending my hands to help strengthen my community and as a result I have been strengthened. I could have never imagined the positive impact this has had on me.

Does your world need improvement? If so, discover the energy that incases altruism. Give from the heart because when you do your heart will grow 10 fold. It is a loop of karma that feels better than just about anything I can think of; give it a shot and then let me know how it has positively impact you.