Reflection - Learning to See the Stories Behind the Faces

Here's a collection of our videos and picture reflections on social media for today. Enjoy your time to reflect and contemplate in your mood journal.

Seeing Beyond the Surface Through Reflection

When I first moved abroad for work, I thought I was ready for the challenge. I had prepared for the cultural differences, read up on the local customs, and even learned some basic phrases in the language. I was excited to embrace a new adventure and confident I’d adapt quickly. But what I wasn’t prepared for was how much I’d learn about people — and myself — in ways I hadn’t expected.

It happened during my first month in the new country. I was in a completely unfamiliar city, trying to make sense of a different way of life while juggling the pressures of a new job. I’d always prided myself on being open-minded, but the reality of living and working in a place where everything felt foreign quickly became overwhelming. I felt out of place and a little lost.

One afternoon, after a particularly rough day at work, I decided to take a walk to clear my head. I stopped at a small café near my apartment, one of the few places I’d found some comfort in. As I waited in line, I noticed a man behind the counter looking tired and a bit irritated. When it was my turn to order, I did my best to speak in the local language, but my accent was thick, and I stumbled over the words. The man frowned and responded curtly, speaking too fast for me to understand. I felt a wave of frustration rise inside me. Why is he being so rude? I thought. I’m trying my best here.

Everyone Has a Story You Know Nothing About

Feeling annoyed, I quickly paid for my coffee and sat down at a table, stewing in my thoughts. I glanced around and noticed the same man rushing between tables, wiping them down, his movements hurried and his face tense. I couldn’t help but continue to feel irritated. Great, just another person who doesn’t like foreigners, I thought, feeling a mix of resentment and homesickness.

But then, something happened that changed everything. A few minutes later, a small child ran up to him from the back of the café. The man’s entire demeanor softened. He knelt, his face breaking into a tired but genuine smile as he scooped the child into his arms. I saw him gently ruffle the child’s hair, his voice now soft and filled with affection.

I realized at that moment how quick I had been to judge. Here was a man who, like me, was probably doing the best he could in a challenging situation. Maybe he was tired from a long day’s work, maybe he was juggling multiple responsibilities — work, family, and who knows what else. I sat there, feeling a wave of guilt for how quickly I had labelled him as “rude” without even considering what might be going on in his life.

A Moment of Connection

As I watched him with his child, I decided to try something different. When he walked past my table again, I mustered a smile and said “thank you” in his language, this time with more effort and a little humility. He paused, looked at me for a moment, and then his face softened. “You’re learning,” he said, with a small smile, his tone much gentler than before.

It was such a simple exchange, but it felt like a breakthrough. In that brief moment, I felt like I had connected with him on a human level. I realized that, just like me, he probably had his struggles, his own story that I knew nothing about.

What I Learned About People, and Myself

Living and working abroad has shown me just how easy it is to jump to conclusions about people, especially when you feel like an outsider. In those early days, I found myself quick to judge others based on small, surface-level interactions. But that day in the café taught me a valuable lesson: that everyone has their challenges, their own unseen stories, that shape how they show up in the world.

I started to approach my new life differently after that. When someone seemed unfriendly or distant, I tried to remind myself that they might be dealing with something tough. I began to ask more questions and listen more closely. I started to realize how much more there was to every person I met than what I saw on the surface.

The Beauty of Empathy in a New Place

I found that practicing empathy not only helped me connect better with others but also made my experience living abroad more meaningful. I began to appreciate the small moments of kindness — a shopkeeper’s smile when I tried to speak their language, a colleague’s patience when I didn’t understand a local custom or even just a passerby’s nod of recognition.

I also learned to be kinder to myself. I realized that I, too, had my own story, my reasons for feeling frustrated or out of place, and that was okay. I didn’t have to have everything figured out immediately. I just needed to take things one day at a time, with an open heart and mind.

Final Thoughts: The Stories We Don’t See

Looking back, I’m grateful for that experience in the café. It taught me to look beyond the surface and to remember that everyone — no matter where they come from or what language they speak — is carrying their burdens, and facing their challenges. And just like me, they are doing their best to find their way.

So, if you’re ever in a new place, feeling out of your depth, or even just having a rough day, remember this: everyone you meet has a story you know nothing about. A little empathy can bridge the gap between strangers, creating moments of connection in a world that sometimes feels so divided.

That’s why Coach Ignatius created Emotions-Based Coaching, a different way of helping people connect with their emotions on a deeper level. With tools like Emoli Cards, he helps clients explore the stories behind their feelings and understand the hidden layers of what they’re going through. This journey is made even richer with Calm3D, a mood management tool that adds another dimension to the coaching experience, offering a more personal and well-rounded path to self-discovery and growth.

And who knows? You might just find that, in seeing others more clearly, you start to see yourself more clearly, too.

Reflections by Bev Cuayzon

Bev, a devoted mother at heart, finds joy in working from home. Balancing her roles as a travel consultant, self-published author, and SEO analyst, she's deeply passionate about sharing her knowledge to empower others, particularly fellow mothers. During her journey, Bev discovered the importance of mental wellness. She realized that maintaining a healthy mind is essential for navigating the demands of work, family, and personal pursuits.