or, “The Doom Loop of Righteous Indignation”
I have been having a lot of encounters with people lately who have very strong opinions about our political and humanitarian situations and global issues threatening our planet.
The thing is, I usually agree with whatever they are saying, since we all typically surround ourselves with those who think like us and agree with our point of view. But I hate the conversations. The energy between us feels negative before I have said a word and I begin looking for distractions or ways to change the subject.
As the conversation progresses (mostly one sided) I get more and more desperate to escape. Then, if it is a good day, I am able to find my curiosity and wonder what pain is driving this negativity. I look into the eyes of the person talking and they look angry and somewhat vacant. They are not really connecting with me, they are spewing rhetoric or perhaps well reasoned thoughts. But why the rant?
If I ask, (or they may tell me anyway), they say “We have to take a stand, we have to make a difference.” And I wonder how more righteous indignation and pain will make a difference in our world.
I listened to an inspiring dialogue yesterday between Russell Brand and Brene Brown. Their conversation spanned many topics, but inevitable led into politics and planetary concerns. They discussed how politics can never be separated from spirituality (Brene defines spirituality as love, compassion, kindness and oneness.) They conclude that since our politics are about humanity they must include these very human qualities.
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