Not my problem...Or Is It?

How often have you heard others use "it's not my problem" as an excuse to not step in, help, or be accountable for situations, conversations, or interactions that would help others? If you're 100% honest you'll admit you've used it yourself. 

For example:

You see the hungry, homeless person sitting on the street and walk past because "It's not my problem"...or is it?

You hear a colleague being verbally abused/harrassed but you don't speak up because "It's not my problem"...or is it?

You see an elderly person struggling to unload a cart of groceries in the checkout lane and roll your eyes, while tapping your foot impatiently because "It's not my problem"... or is it?

You observe a child being subjected to horrible bullying and don't intervene because "It's not my problem"... or is it?

Your unemployed friend struggles to get back on their feet while you distance yourself because "It's not my problem" ... or is it?

You suspect a family member is the victim of domestic violence but you stay silent because "It's not my problem"... or is it?

It all comes down to making a choice. We either step up and do what we can to help others rise or we walk/look away and do nothing. 
We get so caught up in our own wants and needs that it's easy to excuse away the things that make us uncomfortable. Thinking "it's not my problem" is like thinking "someone else will help". Everyone gets so caught up in pointing fingers to one another that nothing is ever done. It creates a cycle that's difficult to break and can quickly filter into other areas of our lives.

What if we started thinking this way instead: "While it may not be my problem,  it's about what I can do to help others rise"?  Using this way of thinking, we can easily find ways, both large and small, to help others in all situations; and we might draw like minded others to us, starting a movement that ends social issues like bullying, homelessness or hunger.

Homelessness, hunger, bullying, harrassment, unemployment, or domestic violence...

"It's not really my problem" ...or is it?

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