Our Behavior Lately

Have you noticed when we are frustrated by something, we immediately use a generalized way to group people when blaming them for the issue? This behavior is a way our minds make us forget our morals. Dehumanizing also makes it easier to lash out at others. It makes us forget that we are talking about people with thoughts and feelings.

I have been thinking a lot about this since the storming of the Capitol. When we refer to republicans or democrats, we assume people that associate themselves with these groups all think the same way. However, we also know that humans are all different. So, it cannot be true that all republicans and all democrats believe the same way. Sometimes, we want to make the issue so simple that we think there is one right answer and one wrong one. That is how groups end up feeling animosity toward each other. NEWS FLASH! There are MANY different thoughts, whether we agree with them or not. Accepting diversity is how we get through this. The good news is, we are on our way there. Change is a long process, especially with the number of people that live in the United States. I like the way Dr. Brene Brown talks about change. She would refer to this as the “messy middle.” We are in the middle of change. It is scary to leave the comforts of old ways, but the new methods are intriguing too. Some people have already made the change, while others are slower to do so.

Now that we recognize this, what can we do? We can be patient with each other. Let’s respect everyone’s journey through this change. Talk to each other from a place of curiosity instead of anger. It’s OK to be angry. It’s not OK to release that anger on others. Take the time to calm down. Revisit the idea, asking them to talk more about why they feel this way. You would be surprised at how much you could have in common with someone that believes something so different from you. Let’s remember that we are unique individuals with our own ideas.