Comments on: Change The World: Or Is This Weakness Stopping You? http://cathlawson.com/2008/08/27/change-the-world-or-is-this-weakness-stopping-you/ Bold Advice For Success In Business & Life Sun, 21 Mar 2010 03:25:55 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 By: We're All Responsible For The Walmart Tragedy http://cathlawson.com/2008/08/27/change-the-world-or-is-this-weakness-stopping-you/comment-page-1/#comment-17062 We're All Responsible For The Walmart Tragedy Sat, 29 Nov 2008 14:40:48 +0000 http://cathlawson.com/blog/?p=632#comment-17062 [...] Have Never Been More Powerful Change The World: Or Is This Weakness Stopping You? How To Make Good Money In Terrible Times Did Black Friday Steal All Your [...] [...] Have Never Been More Powerful Change The World: Or Is This Weakness Stopping You? How To Make Good Money In Terrible Times Did Black Friday Steal All Your [...]

]]> By: cathlawson http://cathlawson.com/2008/08/27/change-the-world-or-is-this-weakness-stopping-you/comment-page-1/#comment-12967 cathlawson Thu, 28 Aug 2008 22:38:40 +0000 http://cathlawson.com/blog/?p=632#comment-12967 Hi Urban Panther - Thanks. I'm so much better now than I was years ago - but there's certain things that won't go away. It's great that people like Urbane Lion are helping folk to recover though. I'm betting there's thousands of people out there who really need help and don't know who to ask. Hi Urban Panther – Thanks. I’m so much better now than I was years ago – but there’s certain things that won’t go away.

It’s great that people like Urbane Lion are helping folk to recover though. I’m betting there’s thousands of people out there who really need help and don’t know who to ask.

]]> By: Urban Panther http://cathlawson.com/2008/08/27/change-the-world-or-is-this-weakness-stopping-you/comment-page-1/#comment-12962 Urban Panther Thu, 28 Aug 2008 21:32:13 +0000 http://cathlawson.com/blog/?p=632#comment-12962 @Cath and Ellen - quite a few of the Urbane Lion's clients suffer from PTSD. To be honest, I have never paid it much attention until he started coming home with daily stories. All I can say is hugs to both of you. <em>Urban Panther's last blog post..<a href='http://www.urbanpantherslair.com/2008/08/out-of-gas.html' rel="nofollow">Out of gas</a></em> @Cath and Ellen – quite a few of the Urbane Lion’s clients suffer from PTSD. To be honest, I have never paid it much attention until he started coming home with daily stories. All I can say is hugs to both of you.

Urban Panther’s last blog post..Out of gas

]]> By: cathlawson http://cathlawson.com/2008/08/27/change-the-world-or-is-this-weakness-stopping-you/comment-page-1/#comment-12961 cathlawson Thu, 28 Aug 2008 21:28:33 +0000 http://cathlawson.com/blog/?p=632#comment-12961 Hi Ellen - It's awful how tv programs trigger, films etc can trigger that kind of reaction in PTSD sufferers isn't it? It must be difficult having to walk out of a cinema when you're feeling like that. I must admit - sudden noises can sometimes still get to me now. If someone bangs on the door loudly - I jump out of my skin. That's one of the reasons I discourage folk from just popping round. It is a difficult subject isn't it? And as you say, some people probably find it easier to disengage from other people's pain. Hi Ellen – It’s awful how tv programs trigger, films etc can trigger that kind of reaction in PTSD sufferers isn’t it? It must be difficult having to walk out of a cinema when you’re feeling like that.

I must admit – sudden noises can sometimes still get to me now. If someone bangs on the door loudly – I jump out of my skin. That’s one of the reasons I discourage folk from just popping round.

It is a difficult subject isn’t it? And as you say, some people probably find it easier to disengage from other people’s pain.

]]> By: Ellen Wilson http://cathlawson.com/2008/08/27/change-the-world-or-is-this-weakness-stopping-you/comment-page-1/#comment-12957 Ellen Wilson Thu, 28 Aug 2008 21:13:04 +0000 http://cathlawson.com/blog/?p=632#comment-12957 I've had PTSD too in the past and really you just shut down from the pain. Your mind says enough. And if you are lucky enough not to be in a war situation you can walk away. I suppose PTSD is akin to suffering the emotional fallout of war without the bombs exploding around you. It is like an emotional ticking bomb about to go off. Very painful. I remember watching Saving Private Ryan in the theatre and I actually had to get up and leave during the D-Day scene where the soldiers were coming to the beach in Normandy. I started having an anxiety attack and I felt like I was there. So I left. I will never ever watch Sophie's Choice. Or anything that is too violent for that matter. But I understand what your saying - disengaging from the pain to help others. I think some people probably can do this better than others. Other's pain reminds us of our own. I've found I've had to sit with my own pain for awhile before I can help anyone. This really is a difficult subject and a very good one to bring up. Thanks Cath. <em>Ellen Wilson's last blog post..<a href='http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/wilsonswordsandpictures/oiRe/~3/377385852/' rel="nofollow">How to Critique a Short Story</a></em> I’ve had PTSD too in the past and really you just shut down from the pain. Your mind says enough. And if you are lucky enough not to be in a war situation you can walk away. I suppose PTSD is akin to suffering the emotional fallout of war without the bombs exploding around you. It is like an emotional ticking bomb about to go off. Very painful.

I remember watching Saving Private Ryan in the theatre and I actually had to get up and leave during the D-Day scene where the soldiers were coming to the beach in Normandy. I started having an anxiety attack and I felt like I was there. So I left.

I will never ever watch Sophie’s Choice. Or anything that is too violent for that matter.

But I understand what your saying – disengaging from the pain to help others. I think some people probably can do this better than others.

Other’s pain reminds us of our own. I’ve found I’ve had to sit with my own pain for awhile before I can help anyone.

This really is a difficult subject and a very good one to bring up. Thanks Cath.

Ellen Wilson’s last blog post..How to Critique a Short Story

]]> By: cathlawson http://cathlawson.com/2008/08/27/change-the-world-or-is-this-weakness-stopping-you/comment-page-1/#comment-12903 cathlawson Thu, 28 Aug 2008 01:40:04 +0000 http://cathlawson.com/blog/?p=632#comment-12903 Hi Mare - I feel much the same why you do - it's not like anyone likes seeing others suffering. But as you said - the only hope some of these people have is that others are watching. Hi Mare – I feel much the same why you do – it’s not like anyone likes seeing others suffering. But as you said – the only hope some of these people have is that others are watching.

]]> By: cathlawson http://cathlawson.com/2008/08/27/change-the-world-or-is-this-weakness-stopping-you/comment-page-1/#comment-12902 cathlawson Thu, 28 Aug 2008 01:34:51 +0000 http://cathlawson.com/blog/?p=632#comment-12902 Hi UP - Sorry I understand that not all people couldn't do those type of jobs and there's nothing wrong with that. It's very difficult to get everything in such a small amount of space but I've had people add comments like: "children's nurse must have no feelings" etc. Probably I should have explained better. I guess you feel a lot like Kelly does then. Watching too many awful things upsets you too much and you have to pick and choose or it would get too much. I can understand that - I would never suggest that folk surround themselves by doom and gloom 24/7. Hi Kelly - As you said - people actually lived around those places and actually ignored what was going on. I guess many of them probably felt quite helpless as they felt they didn't have the power to stop it. I wonder how they coped with living in that situation? Hi UP – Sorry I understand that not all people couldn’t do those type of jobs and there’s nothing wrong with that. It’s very difficult to get everything in such a small amount of space but I’ve had people add comments like: “children’s nurse must have no feelings” etc. Probably I should have explained better.

I guess you feel a lot like Kelly does then. Watching too many awful things upsets you too much and you have to pick and choose or it would get too much. I can understand that – I would never suggest that folk surround themselves by doom and gloom 24/7.

Hi Kelly – As you said – people actually lived around those places and actually ignored what was going on. I guess many of them probably felt quite helpless as they felt they didn’t have the power to stop it. I wonder how they coped with living in that situation?

]]> By: Marelisa http://cathlawson.com/2008/08/27/change-the-world-or-is-this-weakness-stopping-you/comment-page-1/#comment-12901 Marelisa Thu, 28 Aug 2008 01:15:54 +0000 http://cathlawson.com/blog/?p=632#comment-12901 Cath: There's so much sadness in this world that sometimes you want to turn off the news forever and never read another newspaper in your life. But you can't look away when others are suffering. Even if all you do is send a small donation to help in some tiny, tiny way, or even send a prayer their way, the only hope some of these people have is that others are watching. <em>Marelisa's last blog post..<a href='http://abundance-blog.marelisa-online.com/2008/08/27/30-ways-to-increase-your-creativity/' rel="nofollow">30 Ways to Increase Your Creativity</a></em> Cath: There’s so much sadness in this world that sometimes you want to turn off the news forever and never read another newspaper in your life. But you can’t look away when others are suffering. Even if all you do is send a small donation to help in some tiny, tiny way, or even send a prayer their way, the only hope some of these people have is that others are watching.

Marelisa’s last blog post..30 Ways to Increase Your Creativity

]]> By: Kelly@SHE-POWER http://cathlawson.com/2008/08/27/change-the-world-or-is-this-weakness-stopping-you/comment-page-1/#comment-12900 Kelly@SHE-POWER Wed, 27 Aug 2008 22:02:02 +0000 http://cathlawson.com/blog/?p=632#comment-12900 I think Urban Panther has it exactly right. We pick and choose. To not watch Schindlers List or read ANOTHER article about the holocaust does not mean we are burying our head in the sand. I've been to Dachau and it was a bloody traumatic day for both me and my sister. It had us up talking all night about how ordinary people living around this camp ignored what was happening and went about their business. It was horrifying and depressing and I can still close my eyes today and feel the dead energy of the place. And that wasn't even Aushwitz! I've also studied history extensively so I know about lots of things I can't change. What I suggest is that once we have knowledge and can pass it on, that we preserve ourselves by dealing with the world in a manner which we can handle. And some people have trouble not taking on board everyone else's pain, so they should not wallow for too long it. That doesn't mean we ignore it. It's not 100 or 0. Great article, Cath. Kel xx <em>Kelly@SHE-POWER's last blog post..<a href='http://she-power.com/2008/08/27/when-kindness-becomes-stupidity/' rel="nofollow">When Kindness Becomes Stupidity</a></em> I think Urban Panther has it exactly right. We pick and choose. To not watch Schindlers List or read ANOTHER article about the holocaust does not mean we are burying our head in the sand. I’ve been to Dachau and it was a bloody traumatic day for both me and my sister. It had us up talking all night about how ordinary people living around this camp ignored what was happening and went about their business. It was horrifying and depressing and I can still close my eyes today and feel the dead energy of the place. And that wasn’t even Aushwitz!

I’ve also studied history extensively so I know about lots of things I can’t change. What I suggest is that once we have knowledge and can pass it on, that we preserve ourselves by dealing with the world in a manner which we can handle. And some people have trouble not taking on board everyone else’s pain, so they should not wallow for too long it. That doesn’t mean we ignore it. It’s not 100 or 0.

Great article, Cath.

Kel xx

Kelly@SHE-POWER’s last blog post..When Kindness Becomes Stupidity

]]> By: Urban Panther http://cathlawson.com/2008/08/27/change-the-world-or-is-this-weakness-stopping-you/comment-page-1/#comment-12899 Urban Panther Wed, 27 Aug 2008 20:28:40 +0000 http://cathlawson.com/blog/?p=632#comment-12899 Re: Those type of comments always made me cringe. It implied that folk who did those type of jobs had no feelings or compassion at all. I could never work in a children's hospital, and my daughter tried to work in a nursing home once, but couldn't. This is because we know ourselves and that in these situations we know we would be overwhelmed with sadness. However, this in no way implies that that people who work in these jobs are without feelings or compassions. Actually, they probably exude it. But, they are able to still perform the job through whatever coping skills they have. There maybe things that I can do, that they can't. Do I deliberately avoid the ugliness of humanity. Sometimes yes. I will not watch Schindler's List, although I understand it is a brilliant movie. I will not watch anything to do with Vietnam; I refuse to watch Apocolypse Now even though Heart of Darkness is one of my all time favourite books. We cannot possibly absorb it all. We have to pick and chose. I do not deny the existence of the Holocaust nor Vietnam, and I will certainly do my best to promote understanding across cultures and religion. However, I simply cannot bring myself to watch images of the devastation to human life from these two events. I get too upset. <em>Urban Panther's last blog post..<a href='http://www.urbanpantherslair.com/2008/08/a-sacred-space.html' rel="nofollow">A sacred space</a></em> Re: Those type of comments always made me cringe. It implied that folk who did those type of jobs had no feelings or compassion at all. I could never work in a children’s hospital, and my daughter tried to work in a nursing home once, but couldn’t. This is because we know ourselves and that in these situations we know we would be overwhelmed with sadness. However, this in no way implies that that people who work in these jobs are without feelings or compassions. Actually, they probably exude it. But, they are able to still perform the job through whatever coping skills they have. There maybe things that I can do, that they can’t.

Do I deliberately avoid the ugliness of humanity. Sometimes yes. I will not watch Schindler’s List, although I understand it is a brilliant movie. I will not watch anything to do with Vietnam; I refuse to watch Apocolypse Now even though Heart of Darkness is one of my all time favourite books. We cannot possibly absorb it all. We have to pick and chose. I do not deny the existence of the Holocaust nor Vietnam, and I will certainly do my best to promote understanding across cultures and religion. However, I simply cannot bring myself to watch images of the devastation to human life from these two events. I get too upset.

Urban Panther’s last blog post..A sacred space

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