While most elections seem to wrap-up with commentary like “this year has been one of the most divisive in recent memory,” the 2024 US elections certainly qualify, as did the 2020 race. This strong sense of separation around core values and issues – right/wrong, good/bad, left/right – has been building for years in many countries around the globe at an accelerating scale. We shared the following perspective in November 2020, and find it all still relevant as we take stock of the landscape in 2024.
First let’s acknowledge that elections are by their nature divisive. We have to make selections, choosing one candidate over another. The process of voting is an act of distinguishing, categorizing, separating. That does not mean that we become divided in our other actions and attitudes, especially as we lead.
As compassionate citizens and leaders, we can choose not to see the options, the action of others, or our own actions through this black and white dualistic lens. We each have the power to choose reconnection and reconciliation and broaden our lens of perception.
Try practicing these four approaches to constructing a more cooperative, compassionate world after the election.
Remember, life is not a zero-sum game.
Elections are a zero-sum game. For one candidate to win, another must lose. In the midst of election season, with this win/lose dichotomy in front of us every day, it is easy to believe the same thing about life. But it isn’t true. We create more when we cooperate. Darwin, who is probably most associated with the term “survival of the fittest,” was clear that communities with the most cooperative community members flourished the most. In Darwin’s research, cooperative communities had the most offspring and the healthiest offspring.
If we want to thrive maximally as a society, we need to cooperate maximally. While there will always be plenty of individuals who make this more difficult, you can be the person to reach out and offer a cooperative approach.
Reflect, don’t react.
Politicians often use fear for a very effective reason. It gets your reptilian, reactive brain to push your mammalian thinking brain to the side. When we are afraid, we are much easier to manipulate.
Where are you letting fear creep in, perhaps even unintentionally? Settling our mind with stillness and reflection enables us to step back from the current challenge and have perspective from a place of common suffering and humanity.
You have the power to control what you listen to, and where you want to place your attention. Remember you can always pause to reflect between the stimulus and the response. Then you can make decisions based upon your vision for a better world, rather than what might happen under a new administration.
It's also helpful to reflect on our current global circumstances with a historical context. Remembering that humankind has endured plagues, pandemics, wars, and political oppression across the centuries reminds us of the power of our resilience.
Perhaps, we can begin to recognize that this is, sadly, part of the human condition. Humans have navigated stress, unrest, and division before, and we will continue to. These times invite us to call upon the strength of those who came before us, gleaning again the wisdom that applies for our current situation.
Ask “What change do I want to see?”
The divisions in our world are so pronounced right now, that it is easy to focus our attention on what is wrong. Turning your focus toward positive solutions is the important first step. Reflect on these questions.
How would I like the world to look?
How would I like to interact with others?
What is a first step I could take in creating this preferred reality?
When you answer these questions, you have very effectively charted your own course.
As Gandhi wisely said, “Be the change you want to see.” Strive to interact with others the way you answered the second question above. We change the world when we change ourselves. Our constructive acts ripple outward in very powerful ways.
Doing this is, of course, more difficult than just saying the words. With positive intention, consistent attention, and patience, you will be amazed at what can shift for you.
Recognize our interconnectedness.
We know many factors cause us to feel different and separate from others. Political campaigning highlights and weaponizes difference in a way that polarizes our humanity. It is hard not to focus on the difference between “us” and “them” given the nonstop commentary of “blue states” and “red states” in America and the labeling that goes on in the midst of campaigning. This has become more extreme, as the gap seems to be attacking our values and our ways of being.
So where do we go from here?
At the heart of repairing a breach in our relationships is the recognition that those who hold different beliefs from ours also share many deep similarities. Consider this – What if someone you view as hateful were actually happy and healthy and felt safe from harm? Their hateful actions arise from a place of fear, not safety. The path beyond the divide is the path of healing, not the paths of retaliation or further condemnation.
We know this curiosity is a brave place to start. When you’re feeling ready to experience a sense of interconnectedness you can begin with a Just Like Me practice. Part of this practice is recognizing our commonalities, as well as wishing the other person well, as hard as that may be.
If all the divisions showing themselves in the aftermath of this election are making you feel a range of difficult emotions, know that you are not alone. We are built and wired for connection. Take time to slow your thoughts down and keep yourself resourced. Then seek out more connection and cooperation with people in your life and at work, including those who may be challenging. When you foster more care, connection, and belonging for yourself and those you lead, you will be creating a more compassionate, flourishing world.
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