It has been a week since the election and during that time a lot of “silver-lining it” has been going on. It’s a term coined by author/researcher Brené Brown to describe situations of sympathy instead of empathy. People who are trying to be comforting put a silver lining around the issue, often starting with the phrase “At least…” At least you won those down-ballot races. At least it’s only for four years. At least voters still approved some pro-choice referendums, etc.
There is probably a time and place for “silver-lining it” but I don’t think it belongs in close proximity to the event itself. Sometimes, people need to feel their disappointment and take some time to be sad rather than being cajoled into looking on the bright side right away. It goes back to my dot #4384 about the three choices in an encounter: do people want help, a hug, or to be heard? Sometimes, they want others to acknowledge the cloud rather than try to make the sun shine.
Watch the 3-minute video on sympathy vs. empathy here.
