Sit Down to Stand Up

What

Sit Down to Stand Up - I heard one of my colleagues use this term over the past few weeks and it really stuck with me. It’s an invitation for all of us to sit down and listen before we stand up for what we believe. I mean really listen; listen to connect not to judge, reject, or appease. Be open and willing to stand under another’s current reality.

So What

The commitment to sit down before standing up requires patience, openness, and a deep sense of empathy to see from another’s perspective. Taking the time to sit down and listen to someone else’s story validates their narrative and builds a foundation of trust. The “so what” is the willingness to admit there may be another way forward.

The gift of being truly seen and heard, sometimes for the first time in a long time, is a simple act. Sit, asks questions, learn painful truths, and help the healing to begin.

All forms of media certainly relay information, true or not, to launch us into Stand Up. It’s up to us to dig deeper, to learn more, and to act on facts. Seeking the whole truth makes us better.

So What Now

Can you imagine how different our worlds would be, at work and home, if we could make this an effortless habit? When we do Stand Up, we are better informed and gain perspectives other than our own. So, take a stand for yourself, and for others around you.

Commit to Sit Down first, then Stand Up!