One of my most recent research reads was the one above, and while Brown doesn't use the words "empathy, kindness, or compassion" a lot, these concepts are at the core of what she discusses.
Essentially, as a way to truly belong in this world, we must have the courage to be ourselves so that we can meet others on the platform of their own unique human-ness. This takes recognizing (and acting with self-kindness and self-compassion) what we have--as individuals--and displaying who we are in the most authentic way. When we do this, we then are more easily able to give empathy and compassion to others because we realize there is a baseline of common humanity.
You see, I truly believe we have moved into a fear-based society, where individuals and politicians have discovered these fears and have exploited them to the fullest. COVID? Blame the ignorant, the politicians, the doctors. You name it. Behind it all is fear. Job security? Ah, yes, blame the immigrants, the President, your neighbor.
What Brown posits, though, is that true belonging is where we need to shift to. And that when we do shift to this, we can help unify. Her definition is as follows:
"True belonging is the spiritual practice of believing in and belonging
to yourself so deeply that you can share your most authentic self with
the world and find sacredness in both being a part of something and
standing alone in the wilderness. True belonging does not require you to
change who you are; it requires you to be who you are."
Imagine if we could all do and be this. What seems to happen is that when you are authentically yourself, you truly belong. And when you truly belong, you recognize that others are either doing the same or are trying the best that they can to get on in this world.
This process can take a long time, and perhaps is never finished. But I believe in it; I believe we can see the good in ourselves and the good in others. People are good. You are good. I am good.
