When the world exposes its darker truths, it can shake how we see humanity and ourselves. In this story, John reflects on what happens when we stay awake to what’s broken without losing our capacity for hope, presence, and compassion.
Life Lessons & Key Themes From This Story
- What we give our attention to shapes how we see the world. Staying informed matters. So does remembering that darkness is part of the story, not the whole story.
- Balance is restored when we notice and acknowledge the goodness still moving among us, often in small, ordinary acts of kindness that rarely make the headlines.
- Giving to others, even in simple ways, reconnects us to our shared humanity and reminds us that compassion is alive and moving between us.
- Many of our deepest beliefs about people and the world are inherited early on. Part of growing is asking which stories still belong to us, and which ones we want to release.
- When we consciously choose kindness, we become light-bearers, offering steadiness, warmth, and hope in a world that can sometimes feel overwhelming.
📍 From Cyprus: One of many inspiring stories shared from around the world, reminding us of the humanity that connects us all.
I stare in disbelief at the Epstein saga unravelling. I feel my heart rate increase and tension in my whole body, “It’s so wrong,” I say in my heart. Why do I keep watching? Because I want to see the truth exposed and justice for the victims.
There is a kind of helplessness that sets in with situations like this - when you see the corrupt ways that powerful people act, without recourse. “Will there ever be justice?” I ponder. It starts to feel like I am surrounded by the dark with no hope, I feel myself slipping into a familiar mindset that I once held – that the world is a dark place.
This dark place was part of my upbringing.
I was raised with the belief that people are inherently bad, the world is getting worse by the day, and that I cannot trust anyone outside of “the faith” as they are likely to be controlled by evil instead of good. The nightly news reinforced my confirmation bias as I watched the worst of humanity every night prove this idea to be true. That is how what I was consuming had become my reality. I truly believed the world was dark.
Snap! I come back from my past, I decide to turn the TV off for a moment, and take some time to breathe and come into the present. I remind myself that the old mindset is not what I truly believe anymore.
I think back to the time when those poop-coloured glasses were broken.
It was like a virtual reality headset was torn from my face and I went from seeing a broken dystopian world to a world full of good, amazing, kind and inspiring people. I started to see amongst patches of darkness there are brilliant shining lights, fighting the darkness with love.
Disclaimer: that is not to say you don’t meet the occasional a*hole 😉
When The World I Knew Began To Change
Everything changed when my wife and I started to travel, and ventured outside the mental bubble I had been living in. As we traversed the globe we met the most amazing people, who were kind and generous. These people were from different backgrounds and faiths, had different traditions and ideals. We had found a common thread – we were part of the same human family.
It was from this supposed dark world, that we received the greatest training in how love can conquer all, how any kind act can light up a path for someone. Their small and large acts of humanity are the touchstone that I come back to.
When I think of these things, this long list of small and large acts of humanity, I’m struck by how frequently people offered help - even when we didn’t need it.
It was from this supposed dark world, that we received the greatest training in how love can conquer all, how any kind act can light up a path for someone.
Seeing The Light in Humanity
I remember a time I filled my car with fuel, and as I went to pay, realised I had forgotten my wallet. I nervously walked into the service station, expecting a huge problem and maybe police to be involved. As I nervously sputtered my story, the man laughed and said, “No problems, come back next week and pay.”
A different memory comes to mind when we were walking in the forest and bumped into a familiar face. We talked about the weather, and I asked how cold the winters get in the area. We had a nice conversation and continued with our day. Later that day there was a knock on the door – there he stood with a heater that we could use for the winter.
Another time we were actually in a predicament. Due to Covid, we could not leave the country we were in and looked like we were going to pay “summer rates” for our accommodation, not a prospect I was looking forward to. However, a friend found out and gave us 3 months’ free accommodation in an apartment they had.
There are so many instances that come to mind - the farmers that leave produce on the doorstep, the neighbours who drop in groceries in times of sickness, the generous soul that sees you in a coffee shop and pays without you knowing.
Light Bearers Who Bring Hope
It is a wonderful gift to come into the present. I see in the present that the world is not dark, and that there is hope. I draw inspiration from humanity and the light bearers that have touched my life, and I think about the light bearers out there helping others.
Now I turn the TV back on because I don’t want to turn a blind eye to what is happening, and I think part of humanity is also about feeling “real” emotion when needed. But now I approach it with a renewed sense of hope, and I am grateful for the brave people day after day reporting to expose this and make it right.
Then I think to myself, how I can be a light bearer for someone needing help?
I am now motivated to join the fight against darkness – whether it be with a big or small act of kindness, a smile, a kind word or even a positive thought.
Meet our Storyteller John Dionysiou
John Dionysiou is a storyteller, speaker, coach, and the CEO of The Authentics, where he helps authors, creators, and business owners grow their presence with honesty and human connection.
His work encourages people to release old stories that no longer serve them and to rediscover what it means to live authentically.
Through travel, reflection, and a deep commitment to understanding humanity, John explores how we stay grounded and connected in challenging times. He currently lives in Cyprus.
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