I am deeply saddened by the news of a recent tragedy involving a teenage girl in high school who chose to end her life, and the rippling effects of shock and devastation felt by her family, friends, and peers. Adding insult to injury is the response from some of her peers who choose to judge and criticize her, expressing harsh opinions, instead of choosing to show empathy or compassion. As a mother of two teenage daughters, this tragic incident has prompted heartfelt discussion within our family.

Let us take a moment in quiet thought and reflection to send our prayers and sentiments to the family that has just lost a daughter, a sister, a granddaughter, a cousin, a friend, a best friend…

We all affect each other with our comments and criticisms. A little kindness and compassion can go a long way. We do not know the details or depth of others thoughts and feelings to the extent that one would consider ending their life.

What was this young girl’s perception of reality that she saw no better option than to end her life? How does her family and close friends view this situation?

What is your Perception of Reality? This has nothing to do with being right or wrong. It’s how you see your situation. Book Excerpt from Straight to the Heart of What Matters: “Your personal perception—founded on subconscious and conscious programming, and your belief system—serves to provide you with a baseline reference for how you see yourself, others, and circumstances, as well as how you interpret and interact with life’s events.”

Do you recognize where your viewpoints originate? Why are some people quick to judge others and their behaviors? How does it make you feel when you judge someone? How would you feel to have people judge you? Can you open yourself to appreciate a point of view that is different than yours?

How do you view your life today? Your state of mind matters. Stress, emotional distress, and depression are a few considerations that contribute to our outlook. As a society, we can assist and support each other. We must become more mindful and considerate during our interactions with one another. According to 2007 U.S. statistics, a person dies as a result of suicide every fifteen minutes. As for our youth, between the ages of 15-24, suicide is the third leading cause of death. Keep in mind, for every suicide, there are numerous attempts at suicide.

For immediate help or support Call Hotline 1-800-273-8255 www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/                                                                    www.suicidehotlines.com/  

Our emotional and spiritual health contributes to our physical health and our outlook on life. My recently published book, Straight to the Heart of What Matters, can help you to gain a new perspective on life and your life’s circumstances. In addition, I desire to support and assist you through my Straight to the Heart of What Matters(SM) workshops. www.straighttotheheartofwhatmatters.com  (click on workshops-seminars)

Contact: Deborah@victoryinaction.com  

www.facebook.com/victoryinaction                                                        www.twitter.com/victoryinaction