Tuesday, March 17, 2015

Belief

Belief is on my mind.  But not in the way that I thought it would be.  Last week I taught a leadership class and the focus was on belief.  What are my beliefs about education?  What are my beliefs about life?  What are my beliefs about myself as a leader?  How can I most fully live my beliefs?  How can I create conditions that allow my beliefs to flourish?  How can I support and lead a community that creates group principles guided by individual and group beliefs?  That was what I was thinking about when I decided to write about belief earlier this week? 

Then I lived today.  And, as I stood by someone I love, my questions, for today, about belief changed.  What happens when you are hanging by a thread of belief for yourself and a situation causes you to doubt that belief?   What if a situation causes you to jump through hoop after hoop after hoop to show that you do belief in yourself only to, in the end, be told that is not good enough?  What if being told that’s not good enough makes you feel desolate, driving belief in self further down so that it seems impossible to pull back up?  What if the system doesn’t believe in you?  What if, in that situation, you want to go to the very place the system believes you to be, believing it impossible to be anyplace else?

What do you hold on to in this place of utter disbelief?   In a loss of words, I found myself saying over and over…I am so sorry.  I am so sorry for your pain.  I am so sorry that you aren’t seen. 

I see you.  I believe in you.  And somehow, today, that is not enough.




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13 comments:

  1. Linda BMarch 17, 2015 at 12:30 AM

    And sometimes there are no good words, but the fact that you were there listening was something. I'm sorry for your friend and/or colleague. Being so down is very hard.

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  2. JulieanneMarch 17, 2015 at 3:11 AM

    "Then I lived today." When life just disappoints. Let's you down and tests those beliefs. UGH. That is the test. I'm so sorry for you and your friend. "I see you. I believe in you." May have a bigger impact than you thought.

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  3. drferreriblogspot.comMarch 17, 2015 at 5:36 AM

    Sometimes there are no words. Sometimes, life is sad and sometimes it is unfair. Our belief and our support in another during their darkest of days is sometimes all we can give up - except a few prayers that things will get better.

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  4. shogemMarch 17, 2015 at 5:55 AM

    Hopefully there is someone in your world who believes in you and offers support as you do for your friend.

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    1. UnknownMarch 17, 2015 at 6:57 PM

      I am very fortunate in that regard. Thanks for your good wishes!

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  5. JaanaMarch 17, 2015 at 6:31 AM

    These are the moments when we need friends and loved ones around us who believe in us and with us. Whose belief in us is unshakable. Wishing a better day today.

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  6. AnonymousMarch 17, 2015 at 7:36 AM

    What a beautiful tribute to a friend. You are offering the best that you can and your belief probably means so much. So much of life is the current context.

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  7. AnonymousMarch 17, 2015 at 7:36 AM

    What a beautiful tribute to a friend. You are offering the best that you can and your belief probably means so much. So much of life is the current context.

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  8. fireflytrailsMarch 17, 2015 at 7:59 AM

    Such powerful words. Thank you for sharing these feelings, and for such honesty. Sometimes life brings us to a crossroads, Sounds like you have enough belief to choose the right path.

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  9. elsieMarch 17, 2015 at 1:56 PM

    You were there, that is what matters most.

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  10. TaraMarch 17, 2015 at 5:46 PM

    As Elsie said, you were there and you listened...that's what matters.

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  11. TaraMarch 17, 2015 at 5:51 PM

    As Elsie said, you were there and you listened...that's what matters.

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  12. writekimwriteMarch 17, 2015 at 9:34 PM

    I know this from my own experience. Sometimes words fail but to be there, to stand by someone is everything even when it does not seem so at the moment. When we know we are not alone we can carry on. I am sure you were a blessing because of this!

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