THOUGHT OF THE WEEK - 10.28.22

Is it possible to have two emotions simultaneously? With my family and children, I have felt anger and love at the same time. Yet in truth, I’m angry with their actions, while still loving them.?

As someone who is extremely familiar with mental illness, this past week or two I have felt a combination of empathy and anger for Kanye West.?

I’ve been wondering, is there a place for empathy when someone truly wishes me and my nation harm? Further, is it possible that empathy will hold me back from defending myself, and from properly making sure that everyone knows his actions were unacceptable?

How do we fight such horrible rhetoric and outright anti-Semitism??

I think the answer is empathy. Empathy is okay, as long as you aren’t so empathetic that you are defending the wrong person. Additionally, reminding myself that while many people have mental illness, it doesn’t make it okay—just because you are ill—to speak poorly about anyone, period.

Now, how do we stop the trajectory we are witnessing? How do we fight anti-Semitism?

I believe the answer lies in setting loving boundaries, with a lot of listening, educating, and meeting hate with love. Love doesn’t mean acceptance, it means letting the haters know that we aren’t scared of them, and we welcome them to converse with us, so they can see our humanity, who we are, and that their beliefs are false.??

This week, let’s educate ourselves and those we love that hate under almost any circumstance is unacceptable, yet that doesn’t give us permission to not speak up when others hate. We must not remain silent.

Accountability, Community, Unconditional Love

Asher

I want to remind all?of?you that you can hear more on my?podcast, Showing Up. We have lots?of?amazing shows with interesting guests on a variety?of?personal development topics. It would be great if you could also rate 5 stars, review and subscribe to?the?show.?https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/showing-up-with-asher-gottesman/id1489856285y ?