10 ways to retain humanity during these polarizing times
Because polarity is being weaponized and we need grounded leadership.
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FYI: This article is an updated and edited version of a previous article. I felt called to share it again, but I edited it with context for the current election season.
I am both surprised and not surprised to see the type of rhetoric thrown around online about our upcoming election.
I’m surprised to feel the lack of compassion, empathy, and nuance in these online posts and conversations, yet not surprised at the same time as social media has become a battlefield pinning us against one another.
Every single world event that has been blasted on social media over these past few years has been done in such a way that it is driving many to react from fear or ego.
The oversensationalized headlines that induce sympathetic (fight or flight) and reactive states, the gutwrenching images and videos that leave us feeling shocked and scared, the “us vs. them” narrative that leaves us believing that those who think differently are our enemies, the introduction of AI and deep fake videos that are being reshared without question…
All of this is intentional. This is the Spiritual Battle at play.
We are dismissing the human in each other due to the dehumanization that comes with using our devices. We’ve become blind to our shared basic human needs. We are losing our humanity.
Take the upcoming U.S. election as an example…
It’s easy to get mad at those sharing political views that differ from yours. It’s also easy to accuse those same people of being racist, asleep, brainwashed, or sheep.
It’s easy to shame those who stay quiet about the election while blaming them for being part of the problem, assuming their silence means they are complicit.
It’s easy to lose sight of our collective need for safety, forgetting that we all innately need to feel and be safe.
What’s important to understand is that everyone has their own way of processing significant events.
👉🏽 Some people may feel traumatized or retraumatized, placing them in a flight or freeze state that prevents them from sharing their thoughts online or reading and watching the news (after all, the memes, photos, and videos–deep fake included–can be challenging to view.)
👉🏽 Some people are operating from a state of fight, showing up in reactive ways while dismissing others, unaware of their reactivity because their nervous systems are overwhelmed.
👉🏽 Some people may feel engulfed with emotion, making it difficult to show up online. Instead, they do what they need to do to support their well-being.
👉🏽 Some people allow themselves to be led by their emotions, foregoing all sense of rationality while hurting anyone who seems to challenge their opinions or beliefs.
👉🏽 Some people may fear saying the wrong thing, oversharing, or triggering others, which can lead to being publicly judged, shamed, ridiculed, fired, or worse. After all, this is the era of cancel culture.
👉🏽 Some people may not know what to say, so they don’t say anything online, or they react quickly and share without taking the time to consider what they are sharing.
👉🏽 Some people stay focused on their lives behind their screens and don’t desire to show up online.
👉🏽 Some people may be researching the deeper issues at play to deepen their understanding while uncovering what’s important to them. They have yet to form their thoughts around the election and do not wish to share until they know what they believe and where they stand.
👉🏽 Some people are navigating complex personal events or tragedies that require their full attention.
👉🏽 And some people prefer engaging in deep conversations with those they trust and feel safe with… they just don’t discuss it online.
There is so much more that takes place behind our screens, yet social media has made it far too easy to blame, shame, judge, and cancel those who hold different beliefs or show up in other ways.
The polarization that is currently taking place in our world is intentional. It’s designed to tear us apart and push us against each other. This polarization is encouraging our Great Divide.
This polarity is also leading us further away from our inner power, autonomy, sovereignty, ability to think critically, and the presence of nuance in our world—the vast gray area between each polarity.
Far too many people—including those in positions of influence, leadership, and authority—are projecting their views while shaming those who believe differently, creating more polarity.
Whether they do this as an attempt to increase their engagement (after all, polarity sells,) to feel accepted by a group of people, or as an attempt to feel better about themselves and look better to others because they are flexing their social media justice warrior powers…
This projection is hurting our humanity.
There is a difference between projecting one’s views and sharing one’s views. There is an even bigger difference between leading with fear and leading with heart. And there is an even greater difference between leading with ego and leading with humility.
Polarity is being weaponized, and many have unconsciously become enlisted as online soldiers for this weapon.
Many have lost sight of our shared basic human need for safety and instead accuse the other of being unsafe. In reality, we’re all seeking to feel and be safe in our world. The difference lies in how each person believes they can achieve safety.
Some feel most safe voting Democrat. They believe that by doing so, they are protecting themselves and their loved ones.
Some feel most safe voting Republican. They believe that by doing so, they are protecting themselves and their loved ones.
2020 set off a series of events continuously challenging our sense of safety, leaving many in our world feeling as if the very foundation they stood on was ripped away. When our foundation of safety is challenged, we naturally begin to operate from a sympathetic state, otherwise known as our survival state. And when we are operating from a state of survival, we lose our ability to think critically, remain curious, and practice discernment.
Our collective need for safety influences how we show up, the choices we make, the actions we take, and the political party that gets our votes. The more we recognize this in others, the quicker we can heal our division.
As the illusions in our world continue to crumble and the Spiritual War unfolds, you must remain grounded to retain your ability to think critically and practice discernment. And to stay grounded, you must cultivate a sense of safety from within. This will allow you to stay connected to your inner power while standing in your sovereignty.
Take responsibility for your well-being.
Keep your mind clear, your vessel strong, and your heart open.
Consume less content, trust your inner guidance, remain devoted to your healing, and stay connected to God.
Surround yourself with people you trust and feel safe with.
This is true sovereignty; it is the only way to bridge our divide and get through this Spiritual War.
What’s happening in our world is completely inhumane, but must we also lose our humanity by spreading hate toward those who believe differently?
Here are 10 key ways to retain your humanity during these polarizing times:
Remain curious.
Ask open-ended questions to deepen your understanding.
Be kind.
Do your own research.
Practice discernment.
Lead with love and compassion.
Face the trauma within you that's being triggered.
Focus on your healing.
Think critically about everything.
And be humble enough to know that you don’t know it all.
Refuse to let me, the media, or anyone else persuade you to think a certain way or push you to react in ways that disconnect you from your sovereignty.
In these challenging times, resist the temptation to react quickly and don’t lose sight of what’s truly important—our humanity. Our humanity is the very thing that will support us through these dark times.
Before you hit ‘publish’ on that next post, pause and reflect on whether or not that post feels aligned with your humanity.
We don’t need more polarity in our world—we need more compassion, curiosity, care, and humility.
Refuse to be stripped of your humanity by the inhumane actions of others.
How are you feeling in the days before the election?
And how are you choosing to lead during these times?
👇🏽 Share in the comments. I’d love to hear from you.
P.S.
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