Fight the Good Fight: a Peaceful Approach to Politics.

Image: Editrrix/Flickr 

If you’re reading this, you’re likely already one of the many and mighty mindful warriors with love in your heart and a desire to create a more peaceful world.

Because this is you, you may be feeling anxious and higher-than-normal-energy due to the current state of political affairs. I want to invite us all to do something with this energy. Instead of letting it drive us into fight mode, knocking down everyone in our way who we think is wrong in some way, let’s try this.

Take a moment. Be honest. No one’s going to hear these answers but you. Now take a look deep into your heart, and really recognize—do I want someone to lose? Am I putting energy into cutting someone else down? Or am I genuinely coming from a place of love?

It might sound radical. But remember this: in our spiritual practice, we aim to emit love to everyone we encounter—the ones we like and the ones we don’t. An election where sides are so polarized does not give us a free pass, but rather a more challenging assignment.

It’s true that times are delicate right now and a lot of freedom and basic rights are being put on the line. But this is only why it’s more important to stick to our principles.

Negative forces are sustained by fear. If we are so against a particular person or political party, we are focusing on the fear of what may arise by their survival. So while our ego might have us think we’re being “better” forces of justice and equality by fighting against those who threaten our sense of freedom, we’re actually fueling the fire.

How do you ensure a plant dies? Stop watering it.

The same goes for anything where energy can be applied. If you cut off the supply of energy to a positive source, it will die. If you do the same with a negative source, it will die. Energy does not have a preference. It only goes where we direct it to go.

We are that powerful, people! So let’s remember our compelling, organizing capacity and consciously use it the way we really want it to be used. Let’s not let external forces deviate our focus and ultimately create (with our unconscious permission) the reality we said we didn’t want.

It’s clear we want change. And it’s high time for some major improvements. But we won’t accomplish anything substantial as long as we are giving so much attention to “the other.”

Marianne WIlliamson’s A Return to Love says, “Shaking our finger at someone doesn’t help them change. If anything, our perception of someone’s guilt only keeps them stuck in it…In choosing to affirm a brother’s guilt, we are choosing to experience more of it.”

We must realize our role in perpetuating the context we actually are wishing would disappear. The stakes are high, and we are being called to take a more aware and enlightened stance.

Marianne also says, “It is an act of gracious generosity to accept a person based on what we know to be the truth about them, regardless of whether or not they are in touch with that truth themselves.”

The first step is believing we have the capacity to create change on this level, and then being willing to do something differently. I’m certainly not perfect at this, but my willingness to try has increased my understanding and compassion immensely.

My practice begins with my morning meditation. I end with the prayer, “Lokah samastah sukhino bhavantu” (may all beings everywhere be happy and free, and may the thoughts, words, and actions of my life contribute to that happiness and freedom for all). In repeating that prayer three times, I invite a gentle encompassment of all beings. Specifically those who challenge, anger, or upset me in any way.

I definitely feel resistance. Why would I want the energy of those challenging people to disturb my peaceful meditation? But that’s how I know it’s important to do so. Any time I am withholding love, wanting someone to lose, or affirming someone’s guilt in my mind—I have work to do in releasing that.

Sometimes if it’s really tough I silently say to myself, “I can’t wish them well without Your help. I offer it up to You and may they be blessed by You.” To God, the universe, my higher self—whatever you want to call it.

Today I even saw our president, with whom I’ve had a very challenging and confusing relationship, in my meditation, as completely healed. Renewed. Showing compassion. Humility. Kindness to those he’d done wrong. He stepped down. He was forgiven. And it was beautiful.

This is a time of drastic transformation. There is infinite potential to transform our world in a positive trajectory, with love and optimism and healing in our hearts. And there is the same amount of potential to continue a spiral into darkness and separation. Where energy goes, energy grows. We have the choice.

We are brilliant. We shine as individuals and we thrive in our communities. We deserve to continue to shine, and we must want the same for all of our brothers and sisters. So especially in this time of tension and conflict, I ask of you, my brother and sister warriors, turn in. Remember the goal you want to accomplish, and unleash your energy there.

Make time in your day to be willing to release negative perceptions you have either of a specific person or a group of people. Create in your mind a reality where they are doing good. See them working as a team for the betterment of society on all levels.

Any time you notice negative thoughts or fears creeping in throughout your day, go back to your place of wishing them well, and sending love towards your goal of peace. If we can approach each day, and the ballots, with this intention, our amount of inner peace will bring healing on many dimensions.

From Paulo Coelho’s Warrior of the Light, “In order to have faith in his own path, he does not need to prove that someone else’s path is wrong.”

Thank you for fighting the good fight. Peaceful voting.

~ 

Comments