Why Does it Hurt To Watch?

Why does it hurt to watch?

You see it on the screen - a story of pain, loss, or struggle - and it catches in your chest.

A tightness you can’t explain, an ache that lingers.

You’re not there, it’s not your life, so why does it feel so personal?

Because it is.

What you’re feeling is the invisible thread that ties us all together.

That pain isn’t outside of you—it’s a reflection of something you know, somewhere deep within. A reminder that even when life feels distant, we’re not as separate as we think.

The ache is proof that your heart is open, that you’re tuned in to the shared rhythm of being alive.

This is not weakness.

It’s your humanity calling you to pay attention, to care, to remember that the world’s story is your story too.

You don’t have to fix it all.

But you can let it shape you, soften you, and move you toward something better.

The hurt is there because you’re connected.

What if that’s the most beautiful thing about you?