Posted in Being Prayerful, Celebrate Today, Celebrating Existence, Celebrating Life, Life, Love and Blessings

When Helping Hurts: Staying True to Yourself Despite Misunderstandings

Life has a way of testing the sincerity of our intentions. There are moments when you step forward to help, to comfort, to guide—and instead of gratitude or understanding, you meet suspicion, judgment, or even hurtful words. I’ve been there more times than I can count. Each time, I wonder: Why is it that when you try to do good, it’s sometimes met with anything but kindness in return?

Helping people is never just about actions—it’s about heart. I’ve always believed that if you have the ability to make someone’s burden lighter, even in a small way, you should. Whether it’s lending a hand, sharing advice, or simply being present, the goal has always been to leave a person better than I found them. But along the way, I’ve learned a hard truth: your good intentions won’t always be seen the way you hope.

Being misunderstood can cut deep. It’s not just the act of being wrongly judged—it’s the ache of knowing that your sincerity was overlooked. At times, I’ve walked away feeling like I should stop caring so much, stop trying so hard. But then I remember—my actions speak of who I am, not of what others choose to believe about me.

The truth is, you can’t control how people receive your help. Some will accept it and cherish it. Others might question your motives. And a few may even turn your kindness into a weapon against you. That’s the risk of living with an open heart. But it’s also the beauty of it—you keep planting seeds, even if you don’t always see them grow.

So what should you do when helping hurts—especially when people can’t accept your pure heart?

  1. Stand firm in your truth. You know your intentions. Don’t let someone else’s opinion rewrite your story.
  2. Release the need for approval. Kindness given with strings attached isn’t pure kindness. Give freely, and let go of how it’s received.
  3. Set healthy boundaries. Being kind doesn’t mean allowing others to repeatedly hurt you. Distance is not unkindness—it’s self-respect.
  4. Choose your battles wisely. Not every misunderstanding needs defending. Sometimes silence speaks louder than explanations.
  5. Stay soft, but be strong. Don’t let bitterness take root. Protect your heart without closing it off completely.

I’ve realized that being misunderstood doesn’t make me wrong. It makes me human. And as long as I’m acting from a place of love and integrity, I can live with that. I’d rather risk being hurt than live a life closed off to compassion.

In the end, kindness is a long game. Even if the world doesn’t always respond the way we expect, the quiet satisfaction of knowing you tried—really tried—is its own reward. And sometimes, the ones who misunderstood you today may look back tomorrow and realize just how genuine you were all along.

Posted in Being Prayerful, Celebrate Today, Celebrating Existence, Celebrating Life, Helping Others, Life, Love and Blessings, Music

Celebrating Opportunity and Positivity in the face of Adversity!

Indeed, you read the title correctly and you may be wondering how these two come together, but as you go through this post, it will all make perfect sense!

For those who could remember, a couple years ago I would create my own motivational quotes and sure enough they would be a reflection of my own writing. Now, one of the things people either underestimate or remain ignorant of is the power of their words. Words can make you or break you, that is if you let them. If they keep you down, which might probably be the case, it would not be forever. Remember, when you hit rock bottom, the only place after is to go up!

Trust me when I say, everything I do is done with meaning, sincerity, love and a genuine desire to help others. It is my hope that you can be motivated to celebrate opportunity and positivity in the face of adversity.

Yes, I have been aiming for consistency in posting my messages and letting them be a true expression of my thoughts and feelings as I share them with the world and direct them to all who receive them. In case you are wondering what exactly I am referring to, you can check:

  • https://www.tiktok.com/@rachaelathomasj (you can follow me there to get my daily messages)
  • This blog was recently viewed in another new country so now in addition to my home country of Trinidad and Tobago it has been viewed in 138 other countries plus has been viewed over 20.5k times and I also have over 250 followers here. https://rachaelathomasj.com/ Yes, it’s in every continent and that’s at least 70% of all the countries in the world!
  • Time to Travel to Trinidad and Tobago (my latest book) has been released as a Paperback and is due to be released as an eBook in the imminent future. This book is filled with so much information about Trinidad and Tobago, and yes, it is 275 pages long. Some of the things to look out for are lots of photos (yes, I finally got the perfect way to use so many of the pics I have been taking over the years and I also got awesome pics from family members, close friends and some interesting people who provided a wealth of information for me to create a wonderful representation of our twin-island paradise.
  • https://www.instagram.com/rachaelathomasj/ is my main Instagram platform and that continues to grow.
  • https://www.instagram.com/skyprofwritingandtutoring/ I have been sharing more of my professional services here and this is relatively newer.
  • I also have a Spotify channel where I add my favorite music https://open.spotify.com/user/31pyidff5ukqzjeukyrmcryshbh4. Please follow me here if you can!
  • My YouTube channel has gotten over 1,400 views to date https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCm4fdLy4PsNFIcXfNVDzgSA
  • I have invested time in updating my LinkedIn profile as well.
  • Google has reliably informed me that my reviews have received over 8,000 views at present.

I have also been practicing better self-care and for more reasons than one, all of which are good. As always, I believe in the golden rule, ‘Treat others as you would like to be treated.’

As I often say, I am here to help others, one country at a time and I do it in my own way. For me, it is all about helping others and spreading positivity. It is about good vibes and treating others as you would like to be treated. It is about keeping your focus and yes, like everyone else, just like everyone I have my tough days. As such, some days it takes longer to get back up, but I do not quit or do anything to hurt anyone. Simply put, that is not me. I urge you not to quit as well or do anything to hurt anyone. Always be true to yourself!

At the end of the day, let us celebrate where we have come from and where we are! Let us celebrate our journey and keep our focus! Let us take it bit by bit and day by day! Let us count our blessings, our little victories and each challenge we overcome! Let us rise in the face of adversity! Together we can!