Recognize the Good in Others — Lessons My Mama Taught Me (Part 2)🎧Episode 65

🎧 Episode #65 Recognize the Good in Others — Lessons My Mama Taught Me (Part 2)

Here we are with the second in my 10-part series on lessons my mama taught me. Today's episode reveals an important lesson that is one of my mom's core beliefs. She lived this one and held tight to it her whole life. It's simple, but not always easy to do, and often not our first impulse. She saw the good in people and worked hard not to judge them. She could see beyond appearances, labels, and quick judgments, and that helped her stay open to human connection, wonder, friendship, and love.

Check out episode #65 and explore the benefits of acceptance and the freeing effect it has on your wellbeing. Recognize the good in others – that's my mom's second lesson.

💭Key Takeaways from this Episode:

• Don’t rely on outward appearance to reveal who a person truly is. Labels, race, age, body shape, and clothing aren’t reliable predictors of a person’s identity and tell us only a fragment of their human story.
• It’s hard to connect to someone when you are judging them. The quick categorization and assumptions you make are often false, and you miss a person's potential to reveal a complex mix of hidden talents, creativity, kindness, and humanity.
• Looking for and recognizing the good in others is an act of compassion. It keeps you open and ready to accept, and that state of being feels good.
• Accepting others helps you and the people around you. Nonjudgment and acceptance increase your feelings of empathy, help you develop relationships based on shared interests and viewpoints, and build your capacity to be kind (and feel proud of yourself for that kindness).

We Made It Out

By Jill Hodge

A shelter from the wandering eyes that scoped me out
As if they knew where these curls came from
As if they knew what painful past we walked through
And made it out

No one knew what happened as the incense burned, the record table turned
And our lives went in and out of sense and mayhem
As if they knew what your struggle was
They supposed you had it easy, but they were wrong
Cause even when love leads, it’s a stormy journey
Uncivil unrest, ill ease
As if they knew the painful past we walked through
And made it out

The men were stormy, energized by substance
But all the while trying to fill the void so as to
Remove the bitter taste of life unkind
They never succeeded, the bottle clutched too tightly
All the while, we were tearing, and we were bleeding

We could not explain what it all meant
Nor wrap it up in blonde hair or freckles, a mixture
No one understood until we realized that they
Were not in our lives, they little knew of us
We owed each other everything, but to them
Not a speck of coin, attention, or trust

And over the years, we grew strong on our own
We owned this life and vastly nurtured
It grew strong and well imbued with
Flourishes of color and of light
Of sense and warmth and softer hues
And we remembered the painful past
And walked through it
All the way to the other side, we made it out
And we made it out alive

Journal Prompts to Explore Your Love for Someone Special

Here are some journal prompts to explore how nonjudgment and acceptance can lead the way. Write or reflect on the following prompts:

“Your mom wasn’t like the rest,” that’s what one of her old friends said to me recently. I often think that the hardest part of saying goodbye to my mom is knowing that we have lost her spirit here on this planet, and that her way of connecting to others based on interests, respect, love, and understanding is dying out. My mom was the most interesting, honest, humble, creative, and open person I’ve ever met. I hope I have given you a taste of her beliefs, for it is up to us to keep this spirit of acceptance alive. Recognize the good in others – that is the second lesson my mom taught me. 🌞

Podcast Music: My thanks to all the musicians who make incredible music and have the courage to put it out into the world. All music and sound effects for my podcast are sourced and licensed for use via Soundstripe.

Songs in this podcast episode: Cream Soda by BRASKO; Some Kind of Wonderful by Nu Alkemi$t; Con Sazón by In This World

Related Episodes:

Let People Know You Love Them — Lessons My Mama Taught Me (Part 1) – Episode #64

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Journaling Resources

30-Day Journal Challenge (Writing Prompts to Get Started)

Here’s a fun & simple 30-day journal challenge for beginners (or those who need inspiration). Use the daily prompts to rediscover yourself.

Let the Verse FlowJill Hodge

Journaling 101: An Inspirational Guide to Start (or Revive) a Practice

Whether you write, doodle, draw, or keep memorable quotes, journaling uncovers YOU. Let your unconscious mind speak, download my free guide.

Let the Verse FlowJill Hodge

Let the Verse Flow (and its companion newsletter Flow & Voice) is a creative project created with love by writer, podcast host, and narrator Jill Hodge. If you subscribe today, you'll have full access to the website and newsletter, including articles, podcast episodes, and the Flow & Voice monthly note. Members are vital to building a rich community of diverse voices. Join us by subscribing today; consider a paid subscription to support Jill's work. Thank you!