Going through another divisive political season caused what the brainiacs among us call cognitive dissonance. Huh! Or you could say smoke coming out my ears. So many issues so many positions that you can’t help but feel like no matter where you look friends, family are out to destroy your ideas or commiserate about how duped everyone else is. Think about the feeling you felt toward the people who you may have learned disagreed with your positions completely. I went from feeling sad to angry to sad again.
We can carry this out to religion, lack of religion, left vs. right, and on and on. We are less inclined to embrace the other. In fact when it comes to the president it seems like every four years our country finds a new devil to destroy by any means necessary. Since when is being vindictive a character quality we admire. You can see the same kind of vindictive rhetoric in comments on blogs. We will always have things to agree and disagree about but we must be mature enough to maintain relationships even when we come to the awareness that we don’t agree.
Wow that was a nice little rant and I have not even got to the point I came to make. Why do we hold back? Why are we afraid to give? Why can’t we give more freely?
The answers are personal so if you can relate great, but if you can’t post a comment about what you think.
First we like to serve people who support our positions and in a sense look like us. This is that sectarian us verses them approach. If I help or promote “them” I will hurt my cause.
Second we think that if we give something away then there will be less pie for us. So we err on the side of caution and are very cautious to make sure we get our due. You can see this in a business that is looking to exploit through short sighted means. The CEO’s who are headed to prison. They decided it was better if they took more then they give.
I better stop there, but now the reason behind why I want to do things differently.
Community and family. When we help others grow we are growing at the same time. When we engage others yes they can change us, but we can also change them. I can work for a serve a better end in every one I come into contact with. I can engage them listen and share what I have learned. Should I not encourage a business women who is having a difficult time because we don’t agree on everything. That business may be vital to our community.
Remember that you used to be admit about ideas that you may be embarrassed about now. OK your the only one who has never changed your positions. People are important and they are special and they are worth respecting. I can hear some of you heckling that last sentence, but its true.
The law of the harvest. You reap what you sow. You reap more then you sow. You reap after you sow. This works in life. You sow in your family, friends and co-workers. Last time I checked right and left shared some of the same vises. Last time I checked the rain fell on the religious and the atheist. Let’s be learners who are respectful and seek to have an open heart that is able to see what is unique and beautiful in those around us.
Wow that sounds sappy I admit it. But really think about who you are and what you did today. That friend at work needed some encouragement and support. Why not give it? Someone wants to share their dream why not engage it and encourage them to develop some goals to make their dream a reality?
So I don’t know how to conclude these ramblings other then to say lighten up, take stock of what is really important and give more freely. If i wait to make sure those around me line up on my positions I will never give away from what I have.
