22 Comments

Oof. Yes. In our honest desire to help others feel better we invalidate their feelings and cause greater harm. Guilty as charged. But hopefully less frequently than before.

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Oct 6, 2023Liked by Nedra Glover Tawwab

Mmm. Lots to chew on here. Thank you.

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Oct 5, 2023Liked by Nedra Glover Tawwab

🤎✨

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Oct 5, 2023Liked by Nedra Glover Tawwab

Cool journal prompt!

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Oct 4, 2023Liked by Nedra Glover Tawwab

Wow. This is such a good story to share because I don't know that we can always see the impact of our words OR that we don't have to respond with our experience.

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“Reducing someone else’s experience.”

Some potent medicine here! 🤎✨

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Oct 4, 2023Liked by Nedra Glover Tawwab

A couple of years ago I entered a tournament with an experienced player. I was a newbie. Before play began I said "I feel nervous". Her reply was "No you don't. You feel excited". Talk about being talked out of my experience 🙂

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I appreciate perspective on the world, i can see it’s taken work to get there. Boy do I appreciate this articulation! It is not the pain olympics indeed.

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I always appreciate your 'nuggets' in my inbox, Nedra. Thank you! This was a great one!

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author

You're welcome!

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I’ve been on both ends of this issue. I’m bringing more awareness to when I do it as I felt very diminished when it happened to me. Very well written, thank you!

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Many of us have likely been on both sides. It's very mature to acknowledge when we've reduced someone's experience. When we know better, we can apologize for earlier mistakes and correct them more quickly.

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Oct 3, 2023Liked by Nedra Glover Tawwab

“It’s not the pain Olympics” such a great way of describing a key to empathy!

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Oct 3, 2023Liked by Nedra Glover Tawwab

I appreciate this. I wish this could be a more talked about topic.

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Oct 3, 2023Liked by Nedra Glover Tawwab

Perfect timing on this subject. Thank you!

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Oct 3, 2023Liked by Nedra Glover Tawwab

This!!!!!!!!

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Oct 3, 2023Liked by Nedra Glover Tawwab

Thank you for saying it! I loved this. Your voice is so clear and warm, thank you Nedra.

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You're welcome!

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Great share. Thnks. Pain is a very subjective processe. And in the case of emotional pain, it doesn't need any logic or valid reason. Has I usually say, it hurts just because it hurts

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Yes. I have just discovered the word "subjective". Our experiences are ours to own.

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