Don’t Let Spirituality Make Us Mean

Take a moment and think about the last time something scary, sad, unjust, tragic, or devastating happened to you. Then think about what the “spiritual” people in your life might have said, in a misguided attempt to make you feel better. Or maybe more accurately, to make themselves feel less helpless or overwhelmed in the face of your painful emotions.

As an empathy-improving practice, let’s take a moment to think about how non-empathic these kinds of emotion-shaming “spiritual” messages might feel when applied to someone in emotional pain who needs real empathy, compassion, understanding and support. Phrases, responses, platitudes, such as:

• Your soul chose this.
• Everything happens for a reason.
• God doesn’t give you anything you can’t handle
• Don’t worry, be happy.
• There’s a lesson to be learned in this.
• Look for the gift in the situation.

If our spirituality is making us “mean”, we might need to rethink these knee jerk responses to tragedy, human suffering, loss and emotions.

Join us to hear more with Martha Creek this Sunday.

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