Who’s problem is bigger?

Good morning,

Last night over supper, my friend asked me a very interesting question. He says, “Hitesh, are some problems bigger than others? Is the pain felt for certain things more for some problems and less for others? Is it not true that some problems are really serious and hard like a mum losing a son compared to a child having dropped his icecream?”

My reply was as follows:
There are many problems, challenges and adversities in the world. Yes there are bigger ones and yes there are smaller ones. I know people wouls agree that certain problems are far worse than others. But there is a fundamental factor that makes all problems the same, and that is the emotion felt while facing the adversity. No matter how big or small the problem, the emotion felt cannot be quantified. Even if you are able to chemically measure the proteins or hormones released into the bloodstream during the experience of the emotion, you will be unable to tell just how much of the emotion is felt by the heart. You see whether you date someone for 5 months and get dumped or are married for 5 decades and get divorced… Sadness felt is one and the same. The problems appear to be different in magnitude but the sadness is one sadness. Pain felt in the heart is the same. Love is love is love. Sadness is sadness is sadness. No one will ever know how much another hurts. It is impossible to know the depth of an emotion felt. Whether it is joy whether it is sadness.
So do not judge another by how how big their problems are. Each person experiences life based on their own spiritual growth and their level of consciousness and their perceptions.
You will never know how another feels. You may have an idea if you are extremely empathetic (as I am) but you will never know for certain.
People also almost never express how they truly feel inside. So you make think someome is okay… But really they aren’t.

Your duty, is simply to be there, be supportive. Be loving. Be human. That’s all another person needs.

I hope this has helped you understand yourself n others better.

Love,
H