This week’s quote is by Canadian mindfulness teacher, meditation guide, writer and storyteller, widely known for her work with the meditation app Calm, Tamara Levitt. In this quote, Levitt beautifully captures the essence of what it means to connect with another human being. Empathy is not simply understanding someone’s circumstances or feeling sorry for them. It is the willingness to step outside our own experiences and make room for another person’s emotions, even when we cannot fully comprehend what they are going through. Often, when someone shares their struggles, our instinct is to offer advice, suggest solutions or reassure them that everything will eventually be fine. While these responses usually come from a place of kindness, they may not always be what the person needs. Sometimes, the greatest gift we can offer is our presence. To listen without judgement, acknowledge their feelings and allow them to express themselves without immediately trying to make things better.
Empathy also requires us to recognise that another person’s experience may be very different from our own. We do not have to agree with every decision they make or have experienced the same difficulties to respect what they are feeling. It is about meeting people where they are rather than expecting them to see the world through our eyes. Importantly, feeling with someone does not mean carrying all their pain as our own. Healthy empathy allows us to remain compassionate while maintaining our emotional boundaries. Perhaps the most meaningful part of empathy is its simplicity. We may not have the answers or the power to change someone’s circumstances, but we can remind them that they do not have to face everything alone.
Some weeks seem determined to remind me that even the best-laid plans must occasionally surrender to circumstances beyond my control. This was one of them. With October gathering pace, there was plenty to keep me occupied. Work continued its steady march towards important milestones, with details to finalise, conversations to navigate and decisions that needed attention. There is something satisfying about watching months of planning gradually become reality, although the closer things get to completion, the more those little unfinished details seem to multiply!
At the same time, I found myself thinking about transitions, both the ones happening around me and those I am quietly preparing for. Change can be exciting and unsettling in equal measure, particularly when the next chapter hasn’t quite revealed itself. And as if the usual uncertainties weren’t enough, the haze decided to make its presence felt across Singapore. The grey skies, unpleasant air and constant checking of air-quality readings have made even ordinary activities unnecessarily complicated. Outdoor plans have been disrupted, familiar routines reconsidered, and everyone seems to be waiting for the day we can breathe comfortably again. It is remarkable how something as simple as fresh air becomes precious when it is no longer guaranteed.
Perhaps this week’s lesson is about making room for what I cannot control without allowing it to overwhelm everything I can. The skies may be hazy, and parts of the future may be equally unclear, but there is still work to be done, joy to be found and life to be lived. And hopefully, clearer skies ahead.
In this week’s verse from the Bhagavad Gita, verse 17.16 speaks of austerity. When people hear the word austerity, they often think of physical discipline. Krishna offers a different definition. Mental discipline matters just as much. A calm mind, gentle speech and pure intentions require constant practice. This verse reminds us that spiritual maturity is not measured by appearances. It is reflected in how we think, how we speak and how we treat others when no one is watching.
Falling apart is ugly and excruciating. There are tears, anger, and hopelessness. But even amidst all of that, there is hope, light, and balance. This state of vulnerability can become the foundation for a new chapter in your life that makes room for new gifts and enriching experiences. Even in the darkest seasons, light can be found in the most unexpected places. Sometimes, that light is reflected in the smallest choices you make each day; choosing to get out of bed, taking a deep breath while you cry, or simply holding on to the belief that tomorrow can be better. Hold on to the truth that your pure being, despite everything it has endured, is still capable of feeling, loving, and beginning again.
So to those in Singapore and the region, stay home, stay safe if you are going outside and hopefully we see clearer skies very soon!
