Hope in Humanity

Let us renew our hope in humanity. It's so easy to lose faith when someone cuts us off on the highway, when a 'friend' blows us off (for the second time) and fails to show, when we get burned in a business deal, when a co-worker doesn't do what they said they were going to do, or when a colleague fails to keep their promise, etc.

At the same time, we DO encounter people showing heroic acts of kindness in our day-to-day lives. I'm talking about the simple things. In my case, there have been many examples:

* When I was running in the pouring rain, without an umbrella, wearing a spiffy suit, on my way to a meeting, a kind lady (a stranger) offered me her umbrella, gave me her address, and trusted I would return it when the rain died down.

* One day I had left my clothes in the Laundromat's drying machine. When I returned to get my clothes, I was expecting a big piled-up heap of clothes to be thrown on the table, as usual. But this one time, some stranger had neatly folded ALL of my clothes right down to the socks and put it in a neat little pile beside the drying machine.

* I had lost a very nice leather-bound binder that was as good as new and would have made a really nice accessory. A couple days later I got a kind note from a stranger saying they had found my binder and that they would keep it in a safe place until I picked it up.

These random acts of kindness prove that people have an enormous capacity for good. I'm sure we've all seen this in action during the wake of the Tsunami disaster where so many Tsunami Heroes rose to the occasion risking their own lives to help save the lives of others.

And yet, when people don't meet our standards of proper conduct and common courtesy, it can sometimes be so easy to lose hope, become bitter, and develop a hardened heart. I myself had an unspoken rule that came down to: "three strikes and your out." It was pretty ruthless when I think back. Although I didn't follow that rule right down to the letter, it was pretty close. So if someone failed to come through for me three times in a row (didn't show up for a meeting or came really late, failed to honor their word, or kept avoiding an important issue that needed to be addressed) they were basically 'cut-off' from my life. Needless to say, I lost a lot of friends (and business) that way.

Life is not a baseball game. Life is life. It's an unsolved mystery. Shit happens?but if it didn't we'd all be constipated. We need to renew our hope in humanity and embrace people with a wider-vision of who they are so they can eventually expand and grow to fill that space. If we don't give people much space we will continually be disappointed as people keep coming short of our expectations.

It is far better to make the extra effort to look for the good, to look for the Buddha within, than to look for the bad. Nelson Mandela could have come out of jail a very bitter man. Yet he CHOSE to hope! Here is an excerpt from my book, Psychology of the Hero Soul, which illustrates the point:

"Nelson Mandela, a man who suffered years of cruelty and injustice in the hands of his enemies, was still able to see a ray of hope in humanity. In his autobiography, he wrote: 'I always knew that deep down in every human heart, there is mercy and generosity. No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or is religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than it's opposite. Even in the grimmest times in prison, when my comrades and I were pushed to the limits, I would see a glimmer of humanity in one of the guards, perhaps just for a second, but it was enough to reassure me and keep me going. Man's goodness is a flame that can be hidden but never extinguished.'"

Let us renew our hope in humanity. And if we are to err, let us err on the side of compassion, generosity, and tolerance.

Sharif Khan is a professional speaker and author of "Psychology of the Hero Soul," an inspirational book on awakening the Hero within and developing people's leadership potential. You can reach him at sharif@herosoul.com or by visiting http://www.herosoul.com

Sharif provides inspirational keynotes and leadership development workshops that entertain, educate, and empower. To book Sharif as a speaker for your next event call: (416) 417-1259.

---

Playing With Fire

Direct Answers - Column for the week of October 21, 2002I am a stay-at-home mom, 24, married to my husband, 26, for six years. He has a problem chatting with young girls online.I... Read More

Small Wonder

Wonder:~~To think or speculate curiously~~To be filled with admiration, amazement or awe; marvel~~A cause of surprise, astonishment or admiration~~A feeling of surprised or puzzled interest, sometimes tinged with admiration.So what is it about... Read More

Why Read Inspirational Quotes?

Maybe you've heard this one:"What does it profit a man to have gained the whole world, and to have lost his soul?" - Jesus ChristInspirational quotes and sayings from the present day or... Read More

Happy Ending

I'm writing to you with a completely shattered heart. I've known my wife for over five years, and we got married last August. It was a fairy tale wedding, everything we always wanted,... Read More

More Than I Can Bare

One of my long time best friends called me the other night with a horrible pain in her heart. She needed someone to talk to. Rumor had it her daughter might be suicidal... Read More

Things Happen Without Reason

Sometimes things happen in life for apparently no reason at all. You think that there isn't any reason for something to happen until after the fact when that something has changed your life... Read More

Reality Check

Direct Answers - Column for the week of September 16, 2002Two years ago I made the greatest mistake of my life. I started dating a coworker. She is this beautiful young girl that... Read More

Practice Being Like a Child

Remember the master teacher once said 2000 years ago, "Unless you can become like little children, your chances are zero, you haven't got a prayer." A major consideration for adults.Be like children and... Read More

False Start

Direct Answers - Column for the week of July 7, 2003.I was married three months ago, and I think I may have married the wrong woman. What do I mean when I say... Read More

War, Disasters and All is Well

It is not very often that I have an issue with writing an article or even a book for that matter. There are so many things to write about, the world is a... Read More

Never Too Busy to Listen

Are things busy at your house or workplace? Imagine how in must be at Celestial Control Central:"Good morning, Gabriel. Let's go over what's on the old schedule for today.""Yes, Sir. We've got a... Read More

Night of the Living Dead

For many people, life has become as dull and despairing as death. We suffer from spiritual inertia. We have allowed ourselves to be paralyzed by shallow beliefs and shackled by the strong chains... Read More

Lessons about Life in an Unexpected Place

Did you ever receive a gift in an unexpected place?I did, when I went to McDonald's recently. My order was mistakenly placed as a Child's Happy Meal. For some reason, I decided it... Read More

The Power of the Tongue

There is an old proverb with a lot of wisdom. It says, "The tongue has the power of life and death, and whoever loves it will eat its fruit."It is so true. What... Read More

Fighting Grief: The Time To Show You Care

The news came as a shock to us all. He who had been ill for days had been taken to the hospital. It was found out that he had very high amount of... Read More

Encouraging Blossoms of Achievement

The tiny dogwood sapling was only a twig when my mother planted it years ago. At age four, with a red wagon and bucket, I was happy to carry water to anything that... Read More

Rightful Owner

Direct Answers - Column for the week of January 20, 2003I was recently looking through some old photos when I found some of an ex-boyfriend when he was a child. I remember him... Read More

Shaping the Future with Positive People Power

We must shape the future and control our destiny.When we examine our world, what do we see? At this moment, we see mass unemployment, a shaky economic system, 'haves' and 'have nots', corporate... Read More

A Prison Planet

I decreed my 'twin' into my life in early 1990. It is a story I tell in other books but I think even Edward House would have a hard time topping my gifts.... Read More

The Challenge To Succeed

So much has been written about success that one often gets confused about what success is all about. Success is such a personal thing that it may mean different things to different people.... Read More

A Lesson From A Hum Of A Bamboo Clump

Have you heard a nature hymn? For example, a whir of ting-a-ling-a-ling sound yielded by bamboo leaves when wind blows to its clump? If you have an opportunity to visit a bamboo garden,... Read More

What We Believe We Create - Love is the Creation

I once was told by the Angels that our concept of Love would fit on the head of a straight pin and the size of the Universe and more is the love that... Read More

Random Thoughts on Living Your Best Life

More things I've noticed along the way:* Our son's birthday is Sept. 11. As we put him to bed on that terrible day, he said,"Daddy, I hate it that I'll always remember this... Read More

America, A Depository Of The Gifts Of The World

Wow, it's a new year and a new millennium! What a privilege it has been to come into your homes and offices around the world. Being able to share with you has been... Read More

Just Think of Kyle!

This morning at 5:22am to 6am, I was overwhelmed. Overwhelmed is an understatement considering I am still crying and it's like 7:15am. I am at work typing away.Kyle Maynard is what overwhelmed me.Kyle... Read More

All You Want is Within Your Reach

If there is one thing that I believe with all my heart it is that you can have any life you choose to. You can live the life you have always dreamed of.We... Read More

The Amazing Destructive Power of Tradition

After more than thirty years of studying the Bible I can say with full assurance that Jesus Christ never contradicted himself. There is one instance where it would seem that he did but... Read More

Top Ten Ways to Retire Retirement

1. Retire the word "retirement" from your vocabulary. Look it up: it means to "withdraw" or "retreat." Words can shape reality, and it's time for this one to go. Doesn't "renaissance" or "graduation"... Read More

The Priceless Gift of a Knee-High Smile

She was just over knee-high standing next to me in the checkout line. I first saw her eyeing a display of candy as she followed her mother and brothers through the store.When this... Read More