![]() Take a breath, ask yourself if there is another alternative and remember that we are all doing our best. What could be some alternative thoughts? There is no harm if you are “wrong” or “right.” With a generous assumption you are simply letting go of your own shenpa or hook. When you feel pulled and reactive, see if you can take a step back and look at the situation from afar – the balcony.Ĭonsciously, make the generous assumption. This week, see if you can make a conscious effort to get on the balcony. When we are mindful, we can make the generous assumption. ![]() When we step back or take a balcony view and resist the urge to react we are practicing mindfulness. It is up to us to be mindful of our shenpa, the urge or hook to react or shut down. Mindfulness encourages us to remember that each one of us is faced with unique circumstances. Even though we lived in the same house with the same family, my sister had a different experience growing up than I did. Each of us is unique, has a different perspective and therefore each of us has a different reality. In order to be generous and compassionate, we must be mindful of the present moment, including how we may feel and think about a particular situation. Regardless of the situation, having a generous assumption or compassionate response is something each of us has a choice about and requires mindfulness. How different would things look if we were able to make the most generous assumption? When that car cuts you off in the morning rush hour traffic – would it feel different to assume they were rushing to an appointment with their oncologist? What if we assumed that our family member’s snide remark came from a place of feeling left out and isolated? Maybe your co-worker isn’t out to get you but simply feels overwhelmed and helpless in their own life. ![]() In her book Rising Strong, author and researcher Brené Brown defines generosity as the ability to “extend the most generous interpretation possible to the intentions, words, and actions of others.” While this sounds simple, it is one of the most challenging tasks of being in relationship with people – friends, family, co-workers and even strangers.
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