When Winnie The Pooh Was Scared

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“Piglet” said Pooh. “Yes,” said Piglet. “I’m scared,” said Pooh.

For a moment there was silence. “Would you like to talk about it,” asked Piglet, when Pooh didn’t appear to be saying anything further.

“I’m just so scared,” blurted out Pooh, “so anxious, because I don’t feel like things are getting any better. If anything, I feel like they might be getting worse. People are angry because they are so scared and they’re turning on one another and there seems to be no clear plan out of here and I worry about my friends and the people I love and I wish so much that I could give them all a hug. And, oh, Piglet, I am so scared and I cannot tell you how much I wish it wasn’t.”

So Piglet was thoughtful as he looked out at the blue of the skies, peeping between the branches of the trees in the hundred acre wood and listened to his friend.

“I’m here.” He said simply. “I hear you, Pooh, and I’m here.”

For a moment Pooh was perplexed. “But aren’t you going to tell me not to be so silly that I should stop getting myself into a state and pull myself together that it’s hard for everyone right now?” “No,” said Piglet quite decisively. “No, I am very much not going to do any of those things.”

“But,” said Pooh,

“I can’t change the world right now,” continued Piglet. “And I’m not going to patronize you with platitudes about how everything will be okay, because I don’t know that. What I can do, though, Pooh, is, I can make sure that you know that I am here and that I will always be here to listen and to support you and for you to know that you are heard. I can’t make those anxious feelings go away, not really, but I can promise you that all the time I have breath left in my body, you won’t ever need to feel those anxious feelings alone.”

And it was a strange thing because, even as Piglet said that Pooh could feel some of those anxious feelings start to loosen their grip on him, could feel one or two of them start to slither away into the forest, cowed by his friend who sat there solidly next to him.

Pooh thought he had never been more grateful to have Piglet in his life.

Excerpt inspired by Winnie-the-Pooh, a 1926 children's book by A. A. Milne.

SEED QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION: How do you relate to the notion of holding space as an authentic response to a difficult problem? Can you share a personal story of a time you held space for someone? What helps you commit to being there for someone as a witness without judgment?

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26 Past Reflections

On Nov 3, 2023 Dave wrote :

Just an observation but it was always Piglet who was the anxious one and never Pooh. The most brilliant and succinct example of this is when both are caught up in gale force winds and Piglet, looking anxiously at a bending tree asks his friend "what if that tree breaks and falls on us?" To which Pooh replies; "what if it doesn't?" It is this extract of Milne brilliance, I have reached for on many occasions to reassure troubled minds as well as myself from time to time.

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On Nov 2, 2023 Paul wrote :

So many so called children's books speak to the hearts of adults who are in need of those stories and words. Presence is a powerful healer.

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On Nov 2, 2023 Sandip Sheta wrote :

This is the problem with dealing with someone who is actually a good listener. They don’t jump in on your sentences, saving you from actually finishing them, or talk over you, allowing what you do manage to get out to be lost or altered in transit. Instead, they wait, so you have to keep going...

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On Nov 2, 2023 Barbara S. wrote :

I was with someone just yesterday that I'd had some issues with and was called to come over. I went because I didn't want the tension there and I come to find out this person needed to be listened to as she has so many problems of deep worry in her life currently. I didn't really have much to offer in solutions but I compassionately listened to and empathized with her. She needed some to listen to her so I listened and hopefully gave her comfort and some release of her fears.

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On Oct 31, 2023 Kate Beebe wrote :

That we all could be sensitive and responsive to the needs of others

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On Oct 31, 2023 Susan wrote :

Ironically, I had read that the real Christopher Robin, suffered from intense bullying, as a child,, after his father published Winnie-the-Pooh.

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On Oct 31, 2023 David B wrote :

One of the things about the current time is that consciousness is rising. What this is doing collectively is pushing what is unhealed to the surface for resolution. But because most people don't understand this and how to release, they sit in fear or anxiety or worse, they act out their discomfort.

Key is allowing whatever is arising to be there so it can be felt and resolved. Not taking it personally or giving it special weight or resisting the experience, but simply allowing it to be there. Then we can move through it quickly and help the collective.

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On Oct 31, 2023 Natalie wrote :

So beautiful, it completely touched my heart.
Thank you, for sharing.

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On Oct 31, 2023 Ronald wrote :

Thank you and I love you

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On Oct 31, 2023 Yvonne wrote :

Sometimes holding the space comes spontaneously. But there are times when it is a conscious effort to be compassionate . I physically and mentally stop whatever I am doing and thinking. Sometimes I imagine taking off a heavy coat and hat, and dropping bags I am carrying, to put myself in that space. I make a mental commitment to be completely ‘there’ with the person and to put my self aside for a while. . It may be 2 minutes or 15 minutes.

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On Oct 31, 2023 Melissa wrote :

I'm bothered by this. Not by the sentiment, or the teaching, which are beautiful, but because it just doesn't sound anything like Pooh. It doesn't sound like what he might have said to Piglet. It doesn't sound like A. A. Milne and yet it claims to be 'excerpted' (directly quoted/extracted). This perplexes and intrigues me.

2 replies: Amy, Dave | Post Your Reply

On Oct 30, 2023 Mandy wrote :

I feel very much like Pooh bear at the moment.

1 reply: Annie | Post Your Reply

On Oct 27, 2023 David Doane wrote :

I believe holding space with someone can be to simply listen attentively and respectfully, which supports and helps a person talk and deal with a personal problem. I usually do more in holding space than listen and witness, including to offer my authentic response in the moment. For me, holding space is providing a container in which a person feels safe, cared about, heard and can be open to talk. I have been provided that space, and there are times I have provided that space. What helps me be with someone in that way is my belief that it is growthful for the other and me. When I do well in such a situation, I'm with the person in the present, I pay attention, I listen and witness, and I share my truth. I'm not judgmental -- I do have judgments and use my judgments along with whatever I am experiencing in being with the person.

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On Oct 26, 2023 Stream wrote :

Well, even if I think that I can do much more than "hold space" which I would define as being present with a compassionate open mind, I must start there any way. Otherwise, the action I am taking is not rooted and not likely to be effective.
My son, has been without home , on the streets, with what I would call a mental health breakdown coupled with meth addiction. I was well aware of serenity prayer and that despite being able to see what would be a better path for him also aware that he would need to choose to change. I walked streets with him and listened and watched from as close as I could without interfering with his autonomy which was very important to him.
What helps me be there as a witness without judging is LOVE.

6 replies: David, Annie, Barbaras., Becky, David, Stream | Post Your Reply

On Oct 26, 2023 Jagdish P. Dave wrote :

The dialogue between Pooh and Piglet offers many lessons to me. When someone is anxious, worried and fearful like Pooh, it does not need advice but the authenic and solid nonjudgemental presence and whole hearted support. The wise words of Piglet are worth paying attention to. "I will be always be here to listen and support you and for you to know that you are heard. I can't make these anxious feelings go away, not really, but I can promise you that all the time I have breath left in my body, you won't never need to feel those anxious feelings alone." There have been times when I felt worried, fearful, and anxious like Pooh. Advice that I should not be anxious, worried and fearful did not help me. But when someone heard me empathetically, patiently, and lovingly I felt deeply supported and relieved from anxiety, helplessness and hopelesness. I learned the value and power of authentic presence and support. Experiential leraning is a great tool for deep change and tansfomation. Nama... [View Full Comment]