Shine a Light in the Darkness
2023 is a new opportunity to begin again and shine light in the darkness.
In this week's episode of Voices In My Head (The Rick Lee James Podcast), I shared the biggest thing I learned in 2022.
If you would like, you can listen to the whole episode below.
“The human soul doesn't want to be advised or fixed or saved. It simply wants to be witnessed - to be seen, heard and companioned exactly as it is. When we make that kind of deep bow to the soul of a suffering person, our respect reinforces the soul's healing resources, the only resources that can help the sufferer make it through.
Aye, there's the rub. Many of us "helper" types are as much or more concerned with being seen as good helpers as we are with serving the soul-deep needs of the person who needs help. Witnessing and companioning take time and patience, which we often lack especially when we're in the presence of suffering so painful we can barely stand to be there, as if we were in danger of catching a contagious disease.
We want to apply our “fix,” then cut and run, figuring we’ve done the best we can to “save” the other person.”
—Parker J. Palmer
If this short excerpt intrigues you, I would encourage you to read the whole article at the link below.
https://onbeing.org/blog/the-gift-of-presence-the-perils-of-advice/
If you want a song to play as you ring in the new year, I suggest SHINE A LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS.
Happy New Year,
Rick Lee James
🥳Happy New Year! - The Biggest Thing I Learned In 2022 - Shine A Light In The Darkness