How do you cope with the suffering of people around you if you can't do much to help them, nor ignore it?

Answer 1

If you are talking about people you know:
1) Tell them you care about them
2) Decide what are are able to do and under what conditions you are willing to do it. (for instance : I will come by and help you clean house on thursdays and make dinner with you on condition that you are sober notice you are doing these things with them, expecting they will do so with company and a bit of love)
3) Don't rescue - you can't fix it
4) support their faith in whatever religion they believe in but reinforce that the power to act and change has to come from themselves and for themselves.
5) If this is about illness, physical or otherwise, there is likely more than just you who can provide support - call a meeting and find out what everyone is able and willing to do.

If it is someone you don't know, like the generic suffering folks out there somewhere. I agree with the previous poster - do little things for people, even things they don't even know about and this will help. I liked your list. I personally don't think any God motivates these actions, but my faith and hope is for humans getting a bit of a better life right now. Also, I sleep at night a little better knowing I didn'i ignore someone else's plight. What goes around, comes around, and all that.

~peace

Answer 2

I agree with "m27jean" on the point of just letting them know you care about them.

You must be very careful around the suffering--for their sake. A good model is that of a drowning person. Obviously you want to help, but do so by throwing them a float, and encouraging them to swim toward you. If you just go grab them like a hero, they will drag you under and you may both drown.

Answer 3

i go thru that myself. i don't have the money or the resources to give things to help people, but i look into what is being done wrong to them and try to find actually places that can help them from help centers to free clinics they may not know about. i email news and government officials if i see things that can help or reduce a current problem. my own tool is research and email. i find places where people may not know about, especially if they don't know where to save money on something. i am an idealist. i think of how others who have the money can help and i give them the first push. its worked some and it has helped others who were lost. its not a matter of coping, its a matter of how to try. how to understand they who, what, where, when and why of the situations around you. to see the pro's and cons of what you can look toward or look away from. my strength is god and Jesus, my strength is the gift they gave me to do what i can. to see how others can also help and give them that push if god shows me that answer to where they also didn't realize they can do. i hope you have a wonderful and blessed day.

Answer 4

It doesn't hurt to empathize with someone who is suffering. You do not have to solve their problem for them. Sometimes it is nice to know that others care even if they can't do anything about the situation.