Faith for the Times We Live: The Six Pillars
- RDW
- Jun 28
- 3 min read
Updated: Jul 7
God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.
Understanding Trauma and Its Impact
Genuine care and concern can be assessed through supportive trauma-informed care. This approach is essential for differentiating between personal interest and personal investment. Each is motivated by different intentions and demonstrated through varying levels of care.
Every year, billions are spent to address the consequences of trauma. Data shows that 70% of all people will experience at least one traumatic event in their lifetime. Trauma is simply defined as a profoundly distressing experience; it is an injury that leaves lingering scars. We witness daily how trauma influences healthcare, housing, and homelessness. It impacts everyone.
Just take a moment to pause... What do you see when you look outside? What do your eyes and your mind tell you?
....take a moment to reconsider what is truly being observed in life's surroundings.
Not JUST YOUR LIFE...
....The world is too vast to focus solely on one thing.
Start Talking About It:
Our approach to trauma should utilize language that reflects six supportive pillars. Those who experience trauma have likely faced mistreatment or manipulation. However, this does not imply they are BROKEN people. Instead, it signifies they are individuals with stories deserving recognition beyond mere talking points.
Take, for example, the common perceptions of homeless individuals. They are often regarded as undesirable or severely flawed, with facts used to justify these views. However, these common derogatory terms create a false narrative based on PERCEPTION. When a homeless person seeks assistance, the universal intake questionnaire asks several personal and intrusive questions. Each question carries a point value, and accumulating more points increases the likelihood of qualifying for help. Guess how you earn the most points? The psychological burden placed on the most vulnerable is intentionally designed to influence and mold opinions.
FEAR encourages repeated focus on whatever may be wrong, rather than nurturing what is right! This constant attention to negative details is evident in every aspect of modern life. It creates hesitation, and for some, such comparisons boost their self-image or skew the situation in their favor. This approach makes it easier to overlook individuals and their challenges, significantly hindering the provision of necessary support and development.
Supportive language should be deliberate, not just habitual. The focus should be on progress rather than on highlighting judgmental faults.
The Six Pillars of Supportive Language
Trust
Collaboration
Inclusivity
Safety
Empowerment
Choice
Overlooking the needs of those exposed to trauma is one of the most insincere and damaging actions. HELP is best demonstrated through compassion.
Enduring support is gauged by the freedom of choice rather than control.
Effective t**rauma-informed care** should involve establishing boundaries and creating standards that benefit both the survivor and the service provider.
Discomfort versus Disrespect
GROWTH happens in uncomfortable situations. Safety does not necessarily equate to silence. Sometimes we may not appreciate what others say and think that staying silent creates peace. However, the readiness to engage in difficult conversations is the needed path to finding solutions. Often, inaction never shows up as such. In fact, the world suggests that we must agree with the messenger for the message to have an impact. Yet storms often come to clear the path. Faith and awareness require disruption in our habits. Purpose *requires thoughtfulness and consideration of the larger picture. *
The Supportive Pillar of Safety According to Faith
All faith is rooted in trusting a higher power, achievable only by seeking refuge. Creating a safe space involves vulnerability as trust is shown through your imperfect self, not the polished version.
Using language that makes others feel secure fosters an environment where honesty thrives, healing is sustained, and problems are solved!
Final Thoughts
Trauma survivors often feel blamed and misunderstood, largely due to poor communication methods and incorrect information. The best way to address this is by fostering a respectful environment, which involves:
Asking before intruding or making assumptions.
Understanding that when a trauma survivor opens up, it is an effort to build trust.
Honoring by keeping shared personal information or conversations confidential.
Taking time to listen and reflect, rather than quickly responding.
Even small steps forward are still progress!
In conclusion, let's remember that trauma-informed care is not just a concept; it’s a practice that requires our commitment. By embracing the six pillars of supportive language, we can create a more compassionate world. After all, everyone has a story worth telling.
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