Maybe you can relate to how I’m feeling these days. Here’s a sample of what’s going on in my head:
- I’m still processing the insurrection at the US Capitol.
- I’m hoping the new administration in the White House will do some good, but I’m not waiting for a president to make the world all better.
- I’m sick of this friggin’ pandemic. We haven’t put our artificial Christmas tree away yet, because frankly, we need the cheer to keep flashing from its twinkling lights. It has been transformed into our COVID tree (and yes, I do randomly sing “Oh COVID tree” to the tune of “Oh Christmas tree”).
- I keep wondering if I picked the wrong time to try eating better and cutting back on drinking.
That’s just a small selection of what’s banging around in my skull at the moment. Are you in a similar place? Do you sometimes feel like you’re losing your mind in the midst of current events? I’m willing to bet my fancy cloth facemask you are just as frustrated and off-kilter in the current surreal unreality.
But lately, I have one Godzilla-sized thought that keeps stomping across all the others: Why do angry people shout the loudest? Yes, of course I know about the negativity bias, and how it can make us fixate on the bad things in life until we lose our shit. Uncertainty and fear drive us to emotional outbursts and make us susceptible to stupid ideas like “our problems will miraculously disappear if we just keep out all the illegals.”
Yet I can’t help but wonder: What can those of us who are more level-headed do to counteract the overwhelming volume of our unfortunate brothers and sisters possessed by fear and nonsense? Yes, we can shout back; that’s the easy reaction. But we know countering hate with hate only perpetuates hate.
To add to the conundrum, we know mindfulness and seeking to spread goodwill tends to make us comfortable, and even complacent. When we’re at peace, we don’t easily combine it with fiery passion. Unfortunately, positivity doesn’t perpetuate itself as easily as negativity.
So, I ask: is there a way for us to be “militantly” peaceful? In other words, can we train ourselves to be as relentless as those who are irrationally angry, but instead of spreading negativity we zealously spread compassion, empathy, and tolerance?
I think we can. Heck, I know we can. How? Of course, there’s the time-honored method of non-violent protest and resistance. But let me stress once again the discipline of positive psychology. It is purpose-made for teaching us to actively use positive emotions in daily life to maintain our momentum.
I know “militantly peaceful” sounds like a contradiction. But we need empathic, tolerant people to be as determined as those who seek to divide us. We need disciplines like positive psychology and the heroic mindset to make us resilient, and prepare ourselves for the long haul. Because it’s going to take sustained effort to counteract the rhetoric of the hateful.
In an age flooded with negative words being spewed across all forms of media, actions in the real world are more impactful than ever. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: Someone has to be the first to take action to counter divisive ideologies and other manifestations of negativity. We need more of us to be militant about peace, and set an ongoing example for a better humanity.
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