Seeing the View from Your Shoes: My Journey with Empathy (and My First Video with Visual Effects!)

 

Hello, amazing community! Today is a special day, as I get to share something deeply personal that I hope serves as a true Happiness Booster for you: a visual journey into the heart of empathy.

We all move so fast. The world is a blur of hurried feet, and it's easy to live safe within our own spaces, building up what I call "walls of judgment." But behind every hurried step and every quiet smile is a story—sung either in minor or in sweet.

The Power of the Silent Strain

This realization inspired the lyrics for my new piece, "The View From Your Shoes."

We hear the words they're saying, but the silent strain is weak. We build up walls of judgement, safe within our little space Never stopping to imagine the lines drawn on their face.

My goal with this song is simple: to shift our focus from judgment to genuine connection. True empathy isn't a quick glance; it's the willingness to put yourself in that worn-out leather—to feel the thin, cold air and the heavy weight another person bears. That connection is a profound lesson that a lecture can never teach.

Introducing Visual Effects to My Music!

I'm thrilled to announce the release of the music video for this song. While I've done music videos before, this one marks a major milestone: it is my first music video featuring sophisticated visual effects!

Creating this video was an artistic challenge and a huge learning curve. I used striking visual metaphors—from digitally split screens showing two sides of a story, to the journey of hikers climbing a steep mountain path—to bring the lyrics to life. The visual effects underscore the central message: that empathy is about showing up and holding a gentle space.

It's about seeing "the reflection, the light and the storm combined," and truly believing you can "leave no soul behind."

Your Health & Happiness Booster Challenge

My hope is that this video encourages you to drop your own wall. Empathy doesn't mean you have to fix someone's pain; it just means you hold space for them to be real.

Watch the full music video for "The View From Your Shoes" here: [Insert YouTube Link to your Video]

Take a few minutes today to practice this:

1. Stop: Pause during a busy moment.

2. Observe: Look beyond the surface of someone you encounter.

3. Imagine: Try to feel the weight of their current journey.

Thank you for being part of this community. I can't wait to hear what you think of the video and the new visual direction!

Empathy is the courageous choice to lower your map of the world and step entirely onto the terrain of another's worn path. It is not fixing their mountain, but feeling the thin, cold air yourself - Ashley Goodale

If You Feel Stuck, Please Remember This: You Are Still Moving

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If You’re Feeling Stuck, Please Read This: You Are Still Moving

My 1:05-Minute Reset for Finding Quiet Strength When You Need It Most

Listen, if you’re anything like me, you’ve had those days—or weeks—where you check everything off the list, you put in the hours, but you end the day feeling like you made zero progress. It’s exhausting, and it makes you question what the point is.

If you’re feeling lost right now, overwhelmed, or like your effort just isn't paying off, this post is absolutely for you. I was feeling that way too, so I sat down and created this little 1-minute, 5-second video as a reminder. I truly hope it helps someone else out there who is having a hard time.

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The Things We Forget When We're Struggling

The simple truth I keep coming back to is this: Progress doesn't always come with a huge fanfare. Most of the time, it looks like just choosing to continue.

Here are the three big reminders from the video that always help me re-center:

1. It’s Okay That You Don't Have the Map

We all start in that metaphorical dark forest. The most courageous thing you can do isn't to suddenly find the path; it's to simply accept that you can’t see the way right now. Don't waste energy beating yourself up for not having all the answers. Your strength is in the pause.

2. That Little Light Is Your Victory

When life feels like intense pressure—like you're stuck deep underwater—you have to protect the little glow near your heart. That's your will, your purpose, your you. It might feel tiny and fragile, but it’s persistent. As long as that flicker is there, you’re winning.

3. Being Stubborn Is Moving Forward

Think about climbing that huge wall. The little movements—the inhale, the tight grip, the next step—that's all it is. You're not just surviving; you're actively defying the pressure just by continuing to breathe and keep going. Your effort isn't wasted.

All of those quiet, relentless choices you make are stacking up and shaping the amazing person you're becoming.

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Your Happiness Booster Challenge

Before you click away, I have one small challenge for you:

What is the one small, quiet thing you did today that you haven’t given yourself any credit for?

Acknowledge it. Be fiercely proud of it.

You are still moving.

The true measure of progress isn't how fast you run, but that you refused to stand still when the world asked you to stop -Ashley Goodale