post written by: Marc
15 Things Everyone Needs You To Do
Dare to reach out your hand into the darkness,
to pull another hand into the light.
-Norman B. Rice
A silhouette of a human being stands before you.
Perhaps a friend. Perhaps a lover. Perhaps a perfect stranger.
They need you to connect with them. They need you to share this moment.
They need you to…
- Notice without critiquing.
- Appreciate without comparing.
- Listen without interruption.
- Question without objection.
- Challenge without mocking.
- Consider without doubting.
- Discuss without criticizing.
- Smile without hesitation.
- Give without expectation.
- Comfort without lying.
- Guide without misleading.
- Forgive without resentment.
- Rest without judgment.
They need you to be you – just the way you are.
And they need you to respect them – just the way they are.
Photo by: Evan Lane
If you enjoyed this article, please subscribe via email or RSS.
Or for a powerful dose of inspiration download our new ebook.
22 Comments
July 31st, 2011 at 2:04 pm
Comfort without lying is a really good one I’m sometimes guilty of breaking. If you’re just saying what they want to hear instead of telling them the truth, even if they don’t necessarily want to hear it, you’re still helping them far more than lying just so they can feel better in that moment but their problem still isn’t solved.
July 31st, 2011 at 2:36 pm
Awesome list!
It makes me smile without hesitation.
July 31st, 2011 at 11:11 pm
So true, on all counts…thank you so much for the inspiration.
August 1st, 2011 at 6:16 am
Just found this blog and love the inspirational posts (like the 50 questions to ask yourself). I’m on a 3-month trip through Asia before returning to grad school, and I have a lot of time for introspection. Thanks for providing some interesting topics to ponder!
August 1st, 2011 at 11:03 am
Concise, inspiring and useful
We tend to rush in with our own opinions and solutions, when what is required is our compassionate presence and if asked - appropriate action. I have written a blog post on this at http://serenereflection.wordpress.com/2010/09/15/silence-speaks/ - Silence Speaks.
Thanks!
August 1st, 2011 at 1:06 pm
Would it be great if EVERYONE lived by these simple considerations? Well, I’m going to try and set a good example… nice post! Thank you.
August 2nd, 2011 at 10:12 am
Simple and wonderfully insightful as always. “Give without expectation” is one that really resonates with me. In my past relationships I would often do things while expecting something in return. I would get frustrated when my partner didn’t automatically assume to return the favor.
Now that I’ve matured, I’ve learned to truly give because it makes me feel good and not because I need something. It’s a completely different attitude and I believe it’s extremely important for us to reach that point in all of our relationships. Give just to share your value
with people, it makes the world a better place.
August 2nd, 2011 at 10:19 am
Awesome as always…
Thank you Marc
August 2nd, 2011 at 11:48 am
Thanks! So simple and relevant.
August 2nd, 2011 at 11:50 am
Perfect!……so succinctly said.
So true, yet so hard to do.
And, your last week’s list/post was so good, I copied it to all my colleagues. They all enjoyed it.
August 2nd, 2011 at 12:51 pm
Short and sweet this time around. But I think the point is clear:
Be open minded. Be kind. Be your awesome self.
Thanks for the comments guys and gals!
August 2nd, 2011 at 3:11 pm
Great list to live by! Each one makes you stop and think. We often forget to do these things due to the craziness of life…thank you for the reminder!
August 2nd, 2011 at 11:48 pm
I love it! Short, sweet and full of wisdom.
August 3rd, 2011 at 10:46 am
Hi Marc
Thank you for yet another inspiring post. Forgive without resentment is the one that poses a challenge for me. But then if we are resenting the other person, we did not really forgive them. We need to observe our feelings and emotions. Are we really taking responsibility of our lives? We actually lose out for not forgiving. We will achieve and grow more by forgiving others and moving forward.
Thanks for this short post. It is so insightful.
Andrea
August 8th, 2011 at 8:29 pm
These are little values we forget, ignore, overlook, etc. And yet without them we are lost. I love this.
August 28th, 2011 at 1:13 pm
Ah, refreshing! Think about it……when at one point of time we shuttered at the site of a man in full armor wielding a sword. Yet the sword is no where to be found. Now the real men/women wield pens.
It’s a great list one that should probably be laminated as place mats. In time, it is my hope as I’m sure it is for many others living in these times that the thoughtful phrases written above will eventually set a permanent home in all of our hearts and minds.
” It all starts with empathy”
Thank you for your time Marc on this piece as well as your other work.
September 20th, 2011 at 10:59 am
I love the brevity of this post. True to the core.
December 5th, 2011 at 10:52 pm
Wow! I mean this is the most inspiring website on the internet! I am always amazed how each time I read a new post it is just as refreshing as the day it was posted! It seems like Marc will be writing a book one of these days.
January 29th, 2012 at 11:15 am
Another one that may also be added is “Love without reservation.”
March 6th, 2012 at 6:14 pm
Is there a ‘how to’ for each of these? I sure could use one!
April 12th, 2012 at 3:37 pm
This short read truly inspired me. Many thanks!
November 18th, 2012 at 11:19 am
Awesome!
I would add: seize your chances without rumination.
Leave a Reply