Gavin and Gerry watch on as Britney runs out of the building crying. Britney’s boss has just lambasted her again for an innocent mistake.
Gavin: Maybe one of us should go out to console her?
Gerry: Ya we probably should but I wouldn’t know what to say.
Gavin: Yeah I don’t know either.
A moment passes and then Gavin gets up out of his seat.
Gerry: Are you going out?
Gavin: Yeah
Gerry: What are you going to say?
Gavin: I don’t know, I guess I’ll figure it out when I’m out there.
…
Gavin’s got the right idea. He’s taking the leap of faith and not afraid of potentially being poor at consoling.
Gerry doesn’t go out because he knows this is a tricky situation and he’s afraid that what he says won’t be good. What he doesn’t realise is that:
There is no right answer.
Even being consoled in the worst way possible is better then someone suffering on their own. Your presence alone is a display of support and compassion.
Gavin, knowingly or unknowingly, has figured this out and he is going to do a lot better then Gerry for lifting Britney’s spirits.
As Woody Allen once said:
“80% of success is showing up”
